For their exploits on the track this past winter, St. Mary’s runner Taban Manyok and Peabody runner Jolene Murphy have been named the 2019-2020 Item Players of the Year for boys and girls track, respectively.
Manyok took home this winter’s Tri-County League MVP, the third consecutive season in which he’s won the award — he was named MVP in the Spring 2019 and Fall 2019 track seasons as well. Manyok set new personal records in a number of events this winter, including the high jump (6 feet), the 600 (1:26.75), the 800 (2:04.23), the 1000 (2:44.26) and the one-mile (4:47.40). He took first place at the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association (MSTCA) Last Chance Invitational in the 800, first place in the high jump at the Tri-County Championships, second place in the 1000 at the Tri-County Championships and fourth place in the 600 at the Division 5 Championships.
Murphy also set a number of personal records this year en route to an impressive season. Murphy took first place in the 300 (39.70) at the Division 1 Championships, then a week later ran a personal record 39.61 to finish second at All-States. The NEC All-Conference pick also finished first in the 55 dash with a personal record time of 7.54 and was a part of the relay team that took first place in both the Division 1 Championships (1:44.76) and All-States (1:44.46). Murphy, a junior, currently holds Peabody school records in the 55 dash, the 200, the 300 and the 400.
There were also five athletes each who were named to the All-Item teams for boys and girls track. Antonio Craveiro (Peabody), Frederick Koffi (Peabody); Marvens Jean (Saugus), Najique Henry (Swampscott) and Godot Gaskins (Marblehead) were named to the All-Item team for boys track, while Kendra Malcolm (English), Rachel Brennan (Classical), Sadai Headley-Mawasi (Peabody), Ava Mahoney (Bishop Fenwick) and India Ingemi (Beverly) were named to the All-Item team for girls track.
Craveiro had a massive season for Peabody in his final year for the Tanners, competing in the 400-meter, 600-meter, 1000-meter and the one-mile at various points in the season. His best event was the 1000, where he finished second at the Division 1 Championships and fifth at All-States with a time of 2:32.82, which is a Peabody school record. He also set a new school record in the 400 (50.85 seconds). The senior captain and All-Northeastern Conference pick was also a member of Peabody’s successful 4×200, 4×400 and 4×800 teams.
Koffi was named the NEC MVP this winter after a strong season at Peabody. An All-Conference selection, Koffi finished first in the 55 dash (6.47) at the NEC Championships, setting a personal record in the process. He also set a personal record in the 200 (22.42) at the MSTCA Last Chance Invitational. Koffi was also a part of the 4×200 relay team that took first place at the Division 1 Championships with a time of 1:33.99.
Jean had a solid season for Saugus, highlighted by an NEC All-Conference selection. Jean finished fourth in the 55 dash (6.79) at the NEC Championships, a personal record for him. He also finished fourth in the shot put (42-4 1/4) at the NEC Championships and seventh in the 55 dash (6.84) at the Division 5 Championships.
Henry qualified for states in both the 55 dash and the 300, finishing fourth in the 55 and third in the 300. The senior captain set school records in the 200 (22.83) and the 300 (36.23) and was named to the NEC All-Conference team. His personal-record 300 time was good enough to land him in 10th at All-States.
Gaskins, only a junior, ran the third-fastest 300 time in the state (35.04), good enough to qualify him for nationals. The Marblehead school record holder in the event, Gaskins finished second at the Division 3 Championships and fourth at All-States (35.54). The NEC All-Conference pick was also the lead leg for Marblehead’s 4×200 relay team that finished second at the NEC Championships and sixth at the Div. 3 Championships (1:34.01).
Malcolm had a solid season for the Bulldogs after focusing on the 55 dash. She finished in second place (7.61) at the NEC Championships, then moved on to finish in third place at the Division 1 Championships with a personal record time of 7.51.
Brennan saw the highlight of her season at the NEC Championships, when she took first place overall in the one-mile (5:39.29). Brennan also set a number of personal records this winter, including in the 600 (1:48.61), the 1000 (3:12.05) and the one-mile (5:20.43). She notched sixth place finishes at the MSTCA Winter Classic and the Division 2 Championships as well as a 14th place finish at All-States in the one-mile.
Headley-Mawasi was an NEC All-Conference pick who ran in a number of events for the Tanners. The 300 was a great event for her this winter, as she finished second (41.40) at the NEC Championships and third (personal-best 41.22) at the Division 1 Championships. Her other big contribution this season came in the relays, as she helped the Tanners take first in the 4×200 at both the Division 1 Championships and All-States.
Mahoney was undefeated in dual meets this winter, which was good enough to earn her co-MVP honors with the Crusaders. The TCL All-Star finished first in the one-mile (5:30.48) at the Tri-County Championships and then turned around and ran a personal-best 5:21.46 to finish third at the Division 5 Championships. In addition to her personal record in the one-mile, Mahoney also set personal records in the 600 (1:49.25), the 800 (2:36.41), the 1000 (3:17.66) and the two-mile (12:22.85).
Ingemi dominated the 300 en route to an NEC MVP award. She finished first in the 300 at the MSCTA Northeast Invitational, the NEC Championships, the Division 2 Championships and All-States, then went on to finish third at the New England Scholastic Championships. She also finished first in the long jump at the NEC Championships and first in the 55 dash at the Division 2 Championships.
Also getting named Item All-Stars for boys track were Joel Lisoma, Trevor Smith, Jacob Farhat, Logan Trecia, Jordan Ilori and Tyler Surman (Peabody); Loeden Rodrigues, Peter Clifford, Cam Heafitz and Chris Barone (Marblehead); Anton Vasquez and Jackson Brigham (Swampscott); Oladeji Jolaoso and Kyle McCarthy (Classical); Everton Muir (English); EJ Leone (St. Mary’s), Kenny Okoye and Brandon Khath (Saugus); Steven Jackson, Nathan Lopez, Noah Mooney, George Nikolakopoulos and Harry Portorreal (St. John’s Prep); Alejandro Lynch and Joshua Senat (Lynnfield); Wyatt Burr (Bishop Fenwick); Bobby Hubert and Patrick Haskell (Winthrop).
Also getting named Item All-Stars for girls track were Ava D’Ambrosio, Aaliyah Alleyene, Savannah Vargas, Dado Nasso, MaKayla Fisher, Arlene Davila and Jordyn Collins (Peabody); Caroline Johnson and Tess Whalen (Marblehead); Charlotte Andrews and Ciara Espaillat (Swampscott); Slanny Portorreal and Cherish Nwoko (Classical); Ava Fiorino and Jenni Costa (Saugus); Catherine Carter and Corrine Ahern (Bishop Fenwick); Maddie Murphy, Ashley Mitchell and Lauren Mitchell (Lynnfield); Mary Kate Pote, Isabella Mahoney and Clare Nargi (Winthrop).
