Palin Qualifies New England as Lancers Compete at MIAA All-States

After a thrilling Divisional Championships a week and a half ago, the Lady Lancers brought their talents to RLC to compete against the very best in the state at the MIAA All-State Championship Meet. Competing in fields comprised of the top runners in the state, Norton fared strong placing 37th out of the field of 53 scoring teams across Massachusetts. (Photo Credits to Hannah Getto of Bay State Running and Coach Kent Taylor)

Freshman Rookie of the Year Isabella Pietrasiewicz started things off for the Lancers in the Mile run. Running out of the first heat, Bella faced an intense and competitive "championship-style" racing, in which few runners wanted to actually take the race out and run a fast time. Coming through the halfway point in 2:40, Pietrasiewicz turned it on over the last 600 meters with each lap outsplitting the previous. Bella closed in a 35 second final lap to finish off a 2:35 second 800, just getting nipped at the line by Nauset's Terra Ellard. Pietrasiewicz's 5:15.48 earned her 10th place overall in the field and the first among freshmen. That, along with 5:12.76 from last week, earns her the unofficial title of Fastest Freshmen Miler in Massachusetts! She will next compete in the freshmen mile on March 11th at New Balance Indoor Nationals in New York City.

Pietrasiewicz closes down the straightaway of the Girls Mile

Next on the track was Lancer MVP Julia Palin in the 1,000m run. Seeded 6th from last week's 2:58.10, Palin was forced with the difficult task of finally racing in a field of competitors. With Acton-Boxborough's Samantha Friborg sprinting away from the field in the first 100 meters, the rest of the field became hesitant to take out the race. The uncommon sight of four-five girls from Lanes 1-2 created a very packed and tight race. Palin's opening splits of 34.3 and 35.1 kept her out of trouble but as she moved into the pack she became trapped looking for space to open up. Despite the enclosing, Palin escaped with 200 meters to go to close in 33.3 in bettering her seed in a blanket finish. Palin crossed the line at 2:58.21 to finish 5th and to qualify for the New England Championships on March 3rd at the Reggie Lewis Center.

Palin, out in Lane 3, looking for space to move

The Lady Lancers closed their day on the track with the 4x800m relay. After winning the Division 4 Championship last week, the Lancers earned their seed into the second, faster heat of the race. Unfortunately, tired legs prevailed and the team of Katie Bradley, Pietrasiewicz, Hannah Delea, and Palin fought hard to the finish. In Bradley's last indoor race as a Lancer, the Division 4 Champions finished in 10:16.64 to place 23rd overall. The time, however, does not accurately reflect all the work and miles the quartet put in this winter and, although it was not the school record run last week, the four can still call themselves Division 4 State Champions.

Palin, Bradley, Pietrasiewicz and Delea wrap up an incredible season!

UP NEXT: Senior captain Mary Diestel will compete in the MIAA Pentathlon on Tuesday followed by the boys team of junior captain Peter Rivard, senior captain Pat Bingel, and Rookie of the Year Paul Wisnaskas competing on Wednesday.