Against all odds, Amherst girls track ends 21-year WMass Division I title drought

HOLYOKE — After more than 20 years, the Amherst girls track and field team finally reclaimed the Western Massachusetts crown — and they earned it the hard way.

Battling through the rain, roster absences, and fierce competition from four-time defending champion Northampton, the Hurricanes put together a full-team effort to win their first Western Mass title in 21 years, finishing with 136.5 points to Northampton’s 115.

“We’ve sort of built on some really high-quality athletes with a really great coaching staff… it’s just really been a team effort,” Amherst coach Christopher Gould said. “I’m just so proud of everybody, top to bottom in how they were able to come together on a rainy night. It’s hard to do the right thing on a night like this.”

The team was without several key athletes, including star Moriah Luetjen, but that only seemed to motivate the Hurricanes more.

“That was tough, but everybody rallied and made sure that we put our best foot forward on the track anyway,” Gould said. “So I’m really glad we could win this one for her.”

Senior Elizabeth Sawicki led the charge with victories in both the 400- and 100-meter hurdles, powering through the mental challenge of the longer race with her signature endurance — honed through cross country in the fall.

“400 hurdles is always a tough mental game for me, just trying to prepare for it, not trying to think about it before the race,” Sawicki said. “But then just trying to settle my mind before I get on the starting line and trying to just do the best I can.”

Sawicki has seen Amherst’s rise firsthand. As a freshman, the team finished second, but they struggled to replicate that momentum in the years that followed. Until now.

Northampton, the four-time defending champions, led for much of the evening, putting Amherst under constant pressure as the meet progressed.

But even as the gap narrowed and events wound down, the Hurricanes refused to fold.

“I think that it really shows how this team comes together and puts in the work when it needs to be done,” Sawicki said. “We had some people that didn’t show up today or weren’t able to come and people stepped in, stepped up to the plate and just did the best they could.”

Northampton doesn’t go quietly

Though their reign as champions came to an end, Northampton showed incredible resolve, pushing Amherst every step of the way and finishing just 21.5 points back.

“[Northampton] just kept coming back,” Gould said. “I was really shocked at how close they were the whole time.”

The Blue Devils had multiple top three finishes throughout the day, with Mairead O’Neil placing second in both the mile and two-mile, and strong relay performances that kept the pressure on Amherst.

Guzman and Chicopee Comp shine

Few individuals shone brighter than Chicopee’s Sophia Guzman. The sprinter tore through the 100 meters in 12.41 and added another victory in the 200 with a time of 25.5.

Teammate Alexandra Sawicki also delivered, clocking a personal-best 26.08 in the 200 for second place.

Chicopee Comp’s 4×100 relay team finished first in 51.63, capping a strong showing that helped them place third overall with 74 points.

Below are the team results and top three finishers from each event. Full results can be viewed here:

Team results

1. Amherst – 136.5
2. Northampton – 115
3. Chicopee Comp – 74
4. East Longmeadow – 57
5. Minnechaug – 56
6. West Springfield – 52.5
7. Longmeadow – 42
8. Chicopee – 39
9. Ludlow – 37.5
10. Westfield – 32
11. Springfield Central – 28
12. Agawam – 19.5
13. Holyoke – 13

Girls running events

2mile

1. Megan Moran, Westfield (11:48:39)
2. Mairead O’Neil, Northampton (11:57:30)
3. Genevieve Dole, Amherst (12:09:45)

400mH

1. Elizabeth Sawicki, Amherst (1:06.68)
2. Ella Hoogendyk, Northampton (1:08:23)
3. Nessa Gibson, Westfield (1:09.57)

200m

1. Sophia Guzman, Chicopee (25.51)
2. Alexandra Sawicki, Chicopee Comp (26.08) – broke her personal record of 26.16
3. Yasani Thompson, Holyoke (26.13)

1mile

1. Maggie Joyce, Minnechaug (5:17.43)
2. Mairead O’Neil, Northampton (5:19.46)
3. Brooke Nedeau, Amherst (5:21.68)

800m

1. Skylar Fox, Amherst (2:18.35)
2. Maeve O’Neil, Northampton (2:21.00)
3. Maddalena Figueroa-Starr, Northampton (2:22.90)

400m

1. Ololara Baptiste, Amherst (58.86)
2. Ruby Austin, Amherst (59.23)
3. Katherine Munson, Northampton (1:01.99)

100mH

1. Elizabeth Sawicki, Amherst (16.28)
2. Camilla Brewer, Northampton (17.24)
3. Ava Whitney, Ludlow (17.30)

100m

1. Sophia Guzman, Chicopee (12.41)
2. Claire Fortin, Amherst (12.98)
3. Jaylese Mason, Westfield (13.13)

4x800mR

1. Minnechaug (10:18.32)
2. Northampton (10:37.85)
3. Ludlow (10:47.31)

4x100mR

1. Chicopee Comp (51.63)
2. Central (52.12)
3. Amherst (52.23)

4x400mR

1. Amherst (4:05.66)
2. Northampton (4:13.51)
3. East Longmeadow (4:14.33)

Field events

Shot put

1. Nahla Williams, West Springfield (38-01.50)
2. Jenna Lopez, West Springfield (34-04.00)
3. Mo Donoghue, Chicopee Comp (32-07.50)

High jump

1. Lucy Kelly, Longmeadow (4-10.00)
2. Eleanor Lewis, Northampton (4-10.00)
3. Lauren Blanchette, Longmeadow (4-10.00)
4. Lily Tremblay, Westfield (4-10.00)

Discus

1. Mackenzie Pericolosi, Longmeadow (90-10)
2. Nahla Williams, Westfield Springfield (86-03)
3. Taryn Smyth, Agawam (80-02)

Long jump

1. Funmilayo Coates, East Longmeadow (17-06.25)
2. Trinity McCarthy, Chicopee Comp (16-06.00)
3. Kayshaly Garcia, Holyoke (16-05.00)

Javelin throw

1. Alaysia Mondon, Central (367-00)
2. Mo Donoghue, Chicopee Comp (103-02)
3. Julianna Gaudet, East Longmeadow (91-11)

Pole vault

1. Mo Donoghue, Chicopee Comp (9-00.00)
2. Elizabet Sawicki, Amherst (9-00.00)
3. Eleanor Garceau, East Longmeadow (8-00.00)

Triple jump

1. Trinity McCarthy, Chicopee Comp (35-07.00)
2. Ella Hoogendyk, Northampton (35-06.00)
3. Claire Fortin, Amherst (34-11.50)