BOSTON — St. Mary’s track and field teams concluded their regular seasons at the Reggie Lewis Center on Tuesday, with the boys facing off against Archbishop Williams and girls taking on Archbishop Williams and Malden Catholic in a tri-meet.
The boys finished the season 4-0 with a 64-26 win over Archbishop Williams, making them Catholic Central League champions for the second time in three years.
“It’s an unbelievable feeling and a testament to the hard work these boys put in day after day to win a second CCL championship in such a short period of time,” said St. Mary’s head coach Tristan Smith.
The girls finished their season 5-2 after winning against both Archbishop Williams, 54-37, and Malden Catholic, 76-15. It’s one of the best dual-meet records in recent memory, according to Smith, whose squad saw five school records fall this season.
“I am so impressed with this girls team,” he said. The way they have pulled together says a lot about the grit and resilience of this group.”
Despite success in the end, both squads faced their share of adversity.
Boys captain Chance Bonfanti was sidelined all season due to an ACL injury he suffered during the soccer season. Girls captain Tina Amin injured her ankle in a December meet and has been unable to participate in any meets since then. Both are former CCL All-Stars and have qualified for states in sprinting and jumping events.
“Not having Chance and Tina this season seriously hurt us on the track,” Smith said. “However, their presence at practices and meets – even when not at meets – has meant a lot to the student-athletes who rely on them as leaders and role models.”
But the program finished in positive fashion behind first-place performances on the girls’ side from Mirabelle Calunan (55m hurdles), Kelsey Kwiatek (mile), Jazmin Rodriguez (high jump), and both relay teams.
And on the boys’ side, from Devin Duval (55m), Brandon Cruz (shot put), Damion Smith (55m hurdles), Nicholas Fusco (2 mile), and both relay teams.
“Meets like today show that it really is a team effort, which is why I always tell the kids that every single one of them on this team matters, and I give so much cred to my assistants, Mark D’Amico, Brett O’Brien, Calie Bridges, and Riley McIlwain, for all they’ve contributed to this season,” Smith said.
The Spartans begin the postseason with the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association Coaches Invitational, a meet that requires individuals to qualify and features the top athletes in the state, on Saturday.
