“The kids showed up,” said head coach Chris Tafelski. Tafelski was referring to his team, which, on Sunday morning, has qualified 15 kids for the New Balance Indoor Nationals this coming weekend.
This year’s Meet of Champions was held at Staten Island’s Ocean Breeze facility and with 15 boys qualifying for the event, Westfield was looking to make a statement. With Avery Keith leading the way with a new WHS record, the Blue Devils did just that. Keith, who is in the midst of a historic season, set the WHS indoor record in the 3200 meters with a time of 9:09. Daniel Cortese followed up Keith in the 3200m with a time of 9:37, placing 19th.
Westfield’s 4×800 meter relay of Graham Korins, Andrew Singer, Alex Valencia and Eamon Mason placed 6th with a time of 8:04.
“We performed well today,” said Singer. “It feels great to qualify.”
The boys had standout performances in all three heats of the 800 meter race, highlighted by both Johnny Scalia and Liam Maurillo running 1:56. Jimmy Gildea followed up with a time of 1:58. All three runners set personal bests in the 800m.
The 1600 saw both Westfield runners break 4:20, with Tage Mehta running 4:17 and Ryan Daly followed right behind Mehta with a time of 4:18. Daly’s time gives him the WHS sophomore record in the mile.
Joe Pierro ran a personal best in the 200 with a time of 22.36, placing him eighth all-time in WHS history in the 200.
The boys 4×400 finished 22nd with a time of 3:30. In the shot put, Owen Paul threw 44’ 6.5” and Leo Schwartz no-heighted in the high jump.
The boys look forward to Thursday, where they will compete in Boston at nationals.
“We are super excited to see what we can do at nationals,” said Cortese. “With the momentum we have as a team right now and the top-notch competition and facility, we are in store for some huge performances.”
