March 28, 2024

D-R Track Teams Steamrolling the Competition

Girls Track: D-R 70, Somerset Berkley 16; Boys Track: D-R 58, Somerset Berkley 28

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NEW BEDFORD - Make no mistake about it, the Dighton-Rehoboth track teams have their sights set on a conference championship.

Both the Falcons boys and girls teams took another step toward their goal on Thursday night with dominating wins over Somerset Berkley. Both teams saw first-place finishes in eight of the nine events they participated in with a bunch of second- and third-place showings to go along with it.

“We’re blessed to have a lot of athletes who are really committed to this team,” D-R coach Brandon DeLano said. “We had a great night. The whole team stepped up when they needed to. To come out of here with a good win feels good going into (Friday’s relay meet in Boston) and next week against Old Rochester.”

The girls team defeated the Raiders 70-16 behind first-place finishes in every event except the 50-yard dash. The girls are now 3-0 on the season and a perfect 2-0 in the South Coast Conference Blue Division with wins over SB and GNB Voc-Tech. They have outscored opponents 212-45 this season.

“The girls team has been great,” DeLano said. “We have a lot of depth for the first time since I started coaching four years ago. In years past, we had depth in one spot or another spot. This year we have depth throwing, depth in the sprints, good young distance runners; we got the whole package.”

The boys team cruised to a 58-28 win by winning every event except the mile. The boys are also 3-0 and 2-0 in the SCC Blue, and have outscored opponents 173-85.

“The boys are as deep as the girls are,” DeLano said. “We have some throwers and sprinters, and the distance kids are developing and getting better every meet.”

REPORTERTODAY.COM MVP: Junior captain Brodie Jacques won two events for the boys, clearing 6-2 to lead a D-R sweep in the high jump and crossing the finish line first in the 50 dash in 6.6 seconds. “He jumped 6-2 and crushed it in the dash,” DeLano said. “He’s one of the best athletes in the SCC and he doesn’t act like it; he’s so down-to-Earth and easy going. He always works so hard and he’s a real leader. He’s incredible to coach.”

PRACTICE PAYING OFF: Ava Pequeneza exploded in the shot put Thursday night with a throw of 29-4.5, a personal record by four feet. “Thirty is the line of demarcation in shot put,” DeLano said. “If you have a girl who throws over 30, she’ll be a real contender on the state level and she’s knocking on the door.” DeLano said it’s the result of hard work by the sophomore, who works on the shot put at practice after school and then goes home and works on her form in her house. “She’s super committed.”

CLIMBING TO THE TOP: The Falcons have talent in all areas, but they know in order to be the best, you have to beat the best. That’s where Old Rochester comes in. The Bulldogs are like the Patriots of the South Coast Conference track scene, finishing at or near the top seemingly every year. “Old Rochester is a great team on both sides. I feel some confidence after going against some great teams like Somerset Berkley and Greater New Bedford,” DeLano said. “We really have to step up.” The ORR girls will enter next week’s meet with a 4-0 record after beating Seekonk, Somerset Berkley, Apponequt and GNB Voc-Tech, while the boys team is 3-0-1 after a 43-43 tie against GNB Voc-Tech on Wednesday night.

PLENTY OF WINS: Alex Violette led off the boys meet with a victory in the 2-mile (10:34.3) and was followed in the winner’s circle by Tyler Kindberg in the hurdles (8.8), Jacques in the dash, Josh Rebello in the 600 (13:31), Jason Ruta in the 1,000 (2:57.6), Jaren Ramos in the 300 (39.8), Jacques in the high jump and Seth Cordeiro in the shot put (44-6.5). “There were good performances all around tonight,” DeLano said.

FALCONS ARE FIRST: Isabel Murdock got the girls team off on the right foot with a win in the 2-mile (13:30) to start the meet. Julianna DaCosta followed with a victory in the hurdles (9.3) and the Falcons were off and running. Also scoring first-place finishes for D-R were Carleigh Hall and Kameron Marando in the 600 (tied with 1:57.4), Grace Fagundes in the 1,000 (3:46), Kiara Abrantes in the 300 (46.3), Avery Thomas in the mile (6:31), Pequeneza in the shot put and Sophia Fiore in the high jump (4-4). “It’s a well-rounded team,” DeLano said. “I can’t find a weak spot.”

QUICK HITS: DeLano pointed to Cordeiro’s winning throw (44-6.5) as par for the course. “He’s been consistent throwing 43-44, but if you ask him, he probably wants 46-47. Consistency is key. We know what he’s capable of every single meet.” … The Falcons altered their usual lineup to account for Thursday’s relay meet at the Reggie Lewis Center at Northeastern University in Boston. With the quick turnaround with two meets in two days, DeLano and the coaches decided to opt for more rest and use the team’s depth to score points instead of loading up in specific events. “The MVP tonight was really the whole team. Because of the performances, we didn’t have to double up anybody heading into the relays (Friday).” Both the boys and girls teams conceded the 4x400 relay event due to load management. … DaCosta had a personal best time in the hurdles, and DeLano said she’s getting back into form as the season goes on. “She’s been battling an injury, but she’s doing great.” … Abrantes and second-place finisher Natalia Martin were separated by .2 seconds in the 300 (46.3 and 46.5). “They were neck and neck,” DeLano said. “This track is so tight, so to run those times, that will translate to a lot faster at Reggie. Taking eight points in that event was huge.” … The Raiders were without several key contributors as the flu makes its way around Somerset Berkley Regional High School. “We had that around Christmastime,” DeLano said of the bug that seems to be going around. “Luckily we’re past it.” … Thursday’s meet was held at GNB Voc-Tech, where the SCC holds its dual meets. While the Falcons and Raiders were running, SCC Gold Division rivals Fairhaven and Wareham were also competing at the same time. … DeLano is assisted on the staff by his brother, Christian, who works with the throwers, and Alex Goss, a D-R grad who coaches the sprinters. … The only event the Falcons didn’t win on the boys side was the mile, and although they didn’t win, Ricky Curtis did have a PR of 5:22 for a third-place showing. “That’s a point we needed. We didn’t want to get swept,” DeLano said. … The D-R boys and girls won the holiday relays at the Reggie Lewis Center before Christmas. … Following Friday’s relays, the Falcons will run against Old Rochester on Jan. 23, Apponequet on Jan. 30, and participate in the SCC Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center on Feb. 8.

D-R GIRLS SCORERS
2-mile
1st Isabel Murdock 13:30
2nd Kristin Corvi 13:58
55 hurdles
1st Julianna DaCosta 9.3
2nd Sophia Fiore 7.6
50 dash
2nd Macy MacDonald 7.6
600
1st Carleigh Hall 1:57.4
2nd Kameron Marando 1:57.4
3rd Avery Thomas 1:57.8
1,000
1st Grace Fagundes 3:46.0
2nd Ashley Damon 3:49.4
300
1st Kiara Abrantes 46.3
2nd Natalia Martin 46.5
Mile
1st Avery Thomas 6:31
2nd Molly Walsh 6:54
3rd Zoey Jestude 6:58
Shot put
1st Ava Pequeneza 29-4.5
2nd Kaylee Goss 28-10
High Jump
1st Sophia Fiore 4-4
2nd Gabriella Cifala 4-4
3rd Grace Sullivan 4-2
D-R BOYS SCORERS
2 Mile
1st Alex Violette 10:34.3
Hurdles
1st Tyler Kindberg 8.8
3rd Colin Foster 9.6
Dash
1st Brodie Jacques 6.6
2nd Jaren Ramos 6.7
3rd Alec Bilodeau 6.8
600
1st Josh Rebello 13:31
3rd James Quirk 13:75
1,000
1st Jason Ruta 2:57.6
300
1st Jaren Ramos 39.8
2nd Matt Duarte 40.1
3rd Hendrix Pray 41.1
Mile
3rd Ricky Curtis
Shot Put
1st Seth Cordeiro 44-6.5
2nd Owen Hebda 40-8
High Jump
1st Brodie Jacques 6-2
2nd Jameson Hughes 5-4
3rd Colin Foster 5-2

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