BOSTON — Peabody thrower Alex Jackson has collected many honors and awards over his four-year high school career, but this weekend’s performance in the New Balance Indoor Nationals at the Track at New Balance tops them all.
All Jackson did was pick up his second All-America nod in as many days, finishing sixth in the 25-pound weight throw Saturday and adding to his third-place finish in the shot put the day before.
Jackson wasted no time getting on the board, throwing 73-00.25 in his second attempt of the preliminary round to advance to the final. There, he opened with 71-08.25, but fouled out on his final two attempts.
Shamrock Thoun (Ocean City Hammerheads) finished first with a throw of 79-09.
Jackson said, while the shot put has been the primary focus in the weeks leading up to the meet, the weight throw has been a “rollercoaster” all year.
“Obviously, I wanted to do well, but there were no crazy expectations,” he said. “Today’s goal was to go out and have fun. To have the opportunity to go out and have those kids push was great. Over time, I have learned how to compete. Thoughts like ‘I got this’ and just knowing all the hard work I’ve put in reassures me that this is where I am supposed to be. I’m so grateful to be one of just two All-America athletes in the country in both the weight throw and shot put.”
Throw Coach Jay Smith said the weight throw “was truly a national championship,” considering that, between the fourth and fifth rounds, the top-six throwers were ranked in the top six nationally.
“Although he struggled a little technically, Alex maintained his confidence and composure and proved he is one of the best in the country,” Smith said. “Two days of throwing heavy objects with the best competition available is no small feat. The preseason work Alex did provided the foundation he needed and he reaped the benefits of it this championship season…He competed brilliantly.”
Declan Smith broke his own school record in the 800 with a personal-best time of 1:57.71. Smith also holds the record in the 1,000 (2:33.50) and his 4:18 mile is the second-fastest in program history.
“Declan is arguably the most versatile distance runner in school history,” said Coach Fernando Braz, adding that Smith’s time in the mile is the seventh-fastest in Massachusetts this winter.
The school record-holder in the 55 hurdles, Peyton Smith ran a personal-best time in the 60-meter hurdles (8.56).
Henry Sawyer, Evan Bedard, Brian Stevens, and Smith ran a PR 3:29.25 in the 1,600 sprint medley relay and finished 57th. Michael Murphy, Tyler Rappold, Omar Mishal, and Mohamed Lhossouani also ran the SMR and finished 76th (3:42.68).
Bedard, who finished 16th in the long jump on Friday, opened the triple jump with a leap of 42-01.25, but then retired. He finished 62nd.
On the girls’ side, Lauren Foley, Jane Haight, Ella Braz, and Avery Marcus finished 56th in the 4×800 relay (10:08.08) and Braz finished 62nd in the freshman mile (5:35.16).
Fernando Braz said, while the spring season “is right around the corner,” (it starts Monday), he was extremely pleased with Peabody’s performance at the meet and through pre-meet preparation.
“As a group, we had a strong showing and representation with two All-America events,” Fernando Braz said. “Personally, the most impressive outcome was witnessing a staff and athletes committed to top-level preparation and maintenance to be their best at the final and biggest stage.”
Marblehead’s Paige Tredwell finished 42nd in the high jump (5-00.25). Jacob Bonowski, Ryan Corrigan, Jacob Szalewicz, and Henrik Adams finished 97th in the sprint medley relay (3:48.48).
St. John’s Prep’s Lincoln Massaro finished ninth in the pentathlon with a personal-best 3,493 points. The 4×110 shuttle hurdles relay team of Leo Emerson, Noah Kabel, Kiernan Brown, and Massaro finished 14th (31.99). Andrew Bertucci jumped 6-6 and finished 22nd in the high jump.
