GIRLS SPRING TRACK 2011  

        LCHS  Girls Head Coach: Katie Miller

VARSITY TRACK 2011

Classical runners shine in North Carolina   The Classical High girls 4 x 100 relay finished 13th out of 25 teams at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in Greensborough, NC. From left are Saffie Bangura, Rebecca Potter, Tashanna Brown and Hulerie McGuffie, who finished sixth out of 41 in the 400-meter run. Photo / Erin Coburn   Originally Published on Saturday, June 18, 2011 By Steve Krause / The Daily Item Lynn Classical's Hulerie McGuffie finished sixth out of a field of 41 Friday in the 400-meter run of the national high school track and field championships in the emerging elite division. This was McGuffie's second trip to the University of North Carolina campus in Greensboro. McGuffie, who finished in 57.39, also ran anchor on the 4 x 100 relay team that finished 13th out of 25. In both McGuffie's and her team's cases, they set personal bests. "I think this is just a great accomplishment for them just to be here," said Erin Coburn, the assistant coach who went down to North Carolina with the girls. "I just told them that they'd come this far, and that they'd worked so hard all season, to just leave it on the track. They wanted it. The relay team wanted to break 50 seconds (it finished in 49.89) and they did it. "Hulerie wanted to finish in the top six, and she did," Coburn said. "That's what we talked about ... how to attain these goals. And they did it." McGuffie finished third in her heat - by far the most competitive of the six different groups that ran. "I just knew I wanted to get out early and keep up with the top girls," she said. "And I wanted to finish strong. Now that it's over I feel great. I'm happy it's over, and I'm proud of everybody." First out of the gate in the relay was Saffie Bangura, who tried to set a fast pace. "The race for me was very different, and very exciting," she said. "It was different because there were more people running in our heat. It wasn't like a regular meet. There were so many teams competing ... being down here gave us a new perspective. It made us be at our best." Up second was freshman Rebecca Potter, who said her job was to at least maintain Bangura's pace ... and possibly increase it. "This was so much different than being at a regular meet," she said, "but it really revs you up to run. "But it was nerve-wracking too," she said. "I thought we did really well, but I didn't think we were going to at first." Up third was Tashanna Brown, the lone senior on the team. "I feel we did great ... fanstastic ... and all those words," she said. "All I wanted to do was put Hulerie in a spot where she could put on a good kick. "We had nothing to lose," she said "We didn't have any worries. And then we went out there and did really well. It's a great feeling of accomplishment. "I'm kind of sad now, though," she said, "because it's probably the last time I'll ever run the 4 x 100" Finally, McGuffie finished it off. "I never once assumed we were going to (break 50)," she said. "I always run as fast as I can. And it felt really good. That was our goal, to break 50, and we did it."

 

ALL-STATE TRACK MEET - Hulerie McGuffie came in second in the 400.

NORTHEAST CONFERENCE - Division 2

At Bridgewater State, the Beverly girls had the best showing among area teams in the EMass Division 2 Meet, finishing 12th with 22.5 points. Two relay teams paced the Panthers as the 4x800 unit placed second in 9:51.81 and the 4x400 quartet was fifth in 4:09.34. Nicole Demers finished fifth in the two-mile (11:21.55), Lianne Patruzzo tied for sixth in the high jump (5-0) and Madison Shropshire was eighth in the triple jump (34-3/4).

Hulerie McGuffie carried the Lynn Classical girls to a tie for 13th, accounting for 12 of the Rams' 20 points with a second-place finish in the 400 (57.17) and fifth-place showing in the long jump (16-7). The Rams ran second in the 4x100 relay in a time of 50.26.

Jasmine Bryant accounted for Salem's 11 points by finishing second in the 100 hurdles (15.69) and sixth in the triple jump (34-2).
 

Classical girls runners ready for Nationals                                    From left, Classical's Hulerie McGuffie, Tashanna Brown, Rebecca Potter, and Saffinatu Bangura look ready to run at Manning Field on Tuesday. (Item Photo / Reba M. Saldanha) By Steve Krause / The Daily Item LYNN - The way Classical's Hulerie McGuffie sees it, when she and three of her 4x100 relay teammates travel to the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for the national outdoor track and field championships, she'll be the voice of experience. "I'm sure," she says, "I'll be able to tell them a lot ... how things are run, what to expect. I'm really excited." McGuffie, who runs anchor on the relay team that ran a 50.4 to qualify for the nationals Saturday at the Northeastern Conference meet, ran the 300 last year in Greensboro and will do so again this year. The category for both McGuffie and the relay team is called "emerging elites," which, says coach Katie Miller, "is for the up-and-comings ... the ones who aren't quite in the elite group yet. But it allows them to go and experience what it's like." And, hopefully, the experience will keep the three underclasswomen on the squad hungry enough to break through next year. That's what happened in McGuffie's case. "Believe it or not," she said, "doing this last year made me really hungry to go back there this year. It was such a wonderful time ... just knowing that you're competing against the best of the best." Last year, McGuffie finished 12th out of 48 in the 300, "and that is excellent for someone doing it for the first time, not knowing what to expect," Miller said. Tashanna Brown, who runs the third leg, is the only senior. McGuffie and Saffinatu Bangura are juniors; and Rebecca Potter is a freshman. They all arrived at their running from different places. Brown, who also played volleyball and basketball, said running "makes me feel free. You just go out there and you don't have to think about anything. You just run. "This means so much to me," she said, "it's a great way to end my high school career." Potter was a whirling dervish as a youth soccer player ... always the fastest one on the field. She began running in middle school after playing soccer and Little League softball and found she liked it. More than that, she found out she was good at it. "The first time I really realized it was when I ran in the Hershey's Track and Field competition at Manning Field, and came in first," she said. "I qualified for the next level, in Bolton, and won that. And I just carried on from there." "She has been a great addition to our program," Miller said. The leadoff hitter in this race is Bangura, a newcomer to the whole running experience, having just taken it up last year. "In the beginning, I just did it," said Bangura, who also plays soccer. "I started in the 100 in the JVs and came in first, then came in first in a varsity meet. And when that happened, it was like, 'Wow ... I could be really good at this.'" "And that's what happens," says Miller. "You can see them growing in confidence. It's a pleasure to coach these girls. I couldn't be happier. I am very fortunate to coach a group of girls like this." The girls will have to raise the money to go to North Carolina. But they are looking forward to it. "I'm really excited to go," says Bangura.

Winthrop 72, Classical 61

At Manning Field, Hulerie McGuffie was a double winner for Classical (0-2). McGuffie won the long jump (16-5), triple jump (32-5) and was part of the winning 4x100 team with Saffie Bangura, Rebecca Potter and Tashanna Brown (51.5). Other winners for Classical were: Saffie Bangura, 100 (13.1); Tatianna Brown, shot put (28-0); Carla Altema, 100 hurdles (18.7, personal best) and Tashanna Brown, javelin (97-0).

Salem 74, Classical 62

At Manning Field, Hulerie McGuffie won the 400, the long jump and ran a leg on the winning 4 x 100 relay. Saffie Bangura won the 100, took third in the long jump and was on the winning relay. Tashanna Brown won the javelin and took second in the high jump and 800. She was also on the winning relay along with Rebecca Potter, who also took second in the 200 and long jump.

 

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2010 SEASON 

Classical's Hulerie McGuffie will run the 400 meter in the high school nationals in Greensboro, N.C., Friday. (ITEM PHOTO / OWEN O'ROURKE) Classical sophomore sprinter Hulerie McGuffie ready for Greensboro By Steve Krause / The Daily Item    June 16, 2010 The success of Classical sprinter Hulerie McGuffie has come as a surprise to many people, but if you knew her, perhaps it wouldn't be such a shock. McGuffie, a sophomore, will be traveling to Greensboro, N.C., today to participate in Friday's national high school championships in the 400 meter. McGuffie qualified for the event with a 57.4 in the Northeastern Conference meet ... something her coach, Katie Miller, says came a little out of the blue. "The first time she ever ran track was last spring," said Miller. "She'd been doing the 400 in the low 60s, and then all of a sudden she came in at 57.4 in the league meet. "Then, we found out that the time qualified her for the nationals," Miller said. "This is all simply astounding." If McGuffie seems overwhelmed by it all, it's because she is. "The whole ordeal of going to the nationals is kind of a shock to her, I think," Miller said. "She's very shy ... very humble. But I think she's coming out of her shell a little." McGuffie, who has lived in Lynn since grammar school, said she began running track in middle school, mainly because she'd always liked running around as a little kid. "Back then," she said, "I probably did it for fun. When I got into high school, my coach pushed me into taking it more seriously. She really pushes me." "Right away," said Miller, "we knew we had something special." To even get to Greensboro, the Classical community had to pull out all the fundraising stops. Not only did the school do all the usual things -- raffles, fundraising events, etc. -- but boys coach Ryan Hathaway donated his frequent flyer miles to the cause. Together, Classical and friends managed to raise enough money to allow Miller, McGuffie and her mother to fly down. "Everyone was very generous," Miller said. "There was just tremendous support for her. (Athletic director) Bill Devin made it known that he'd do everything he could to get her down there ... and he did." While down there, McGuffie will probably be nervous, even though she'll try not to be. "But I always get nervous," she said. "Whenever I run, I always think of the worst thing that can happen." About the only time she isn't nervous is during the race ... which lasts just under a minute in her case. "When I'm running, I'm just focused," she said. "All I'm thinking is 'one lap ... one lap' (which is 400 meters). About halfway through, I pick it up. "It's mind over matter with me," she said. "You just stay focused on that one lap" ... and block everything else -- the pain and the fatigue -- out, she says. "And when it's over, you feel such a sense of accomplishment that you did it ... but that's when it starts to hurt, and you have to catch your breath." She knows what she's up against down there. "I'm running against the best," she said. "That's all I know. I'm running against people who have been training for years. "This is my first experience," she said. "I just want to see what it's like ... to see what's in store for me. That, and I want to make sure I do the best I can ... and have fun."

Classical sophomore Hulerie McGuffie qualified for the 400M in the Nike Nationals next month in Greensboro, N.C., by virtue of her 57.4 time in last week's Northeastern Conference meet. McGuffie ran Friday in the EMass Division 2 meet.

McGuffie off and running

By Gordon Vincent / For The Item

Northeast Track Meet Results

In the girls competition, Danvers' wins came from Marlene Christenson in the shot put (33-7 1/2) and Amanda Calderone in the high hurdles (16.1). The Falcons also added six second place finishes to help pull away from the competition. They finished just ahead of rival Lynn English in the team competition.(57.4) to give the Rams their lone first place finish as they finished just ahead of rival Lynn English in the team competition.

Classical Girls Win City Track Showdown

By Mario DiNitto / For The Item

In the girls meet, the Rams (2-7) had winning performances from Katie Thongchanh, who led a sweep of the 100 hurdles with an 18.5; Diamond Doe, who tied for first in the 200 meters (27.2); Hulerie McGuffie, first in the 400 (61.8) and the long jump (16-6); Tashanna Brown, first in the triple jump (31-10); Tatianna Brown, first in the shot put with a personal best 26-6 1/2, and Alison Kurpiel, first in the two-mile (14:30). Other notable performances included McGuffie, third in the triple jump; Tashanna Brown, second in the high jump; Tara D'Avolio, second in the 800; Doe, second in the long jump and Saffie Bangura, second in the 100.

Winning for English (0-7) were Maria Arzu, 400 hurdles (76.1); Bianca Fowler, 100 (12.8); Alex Henry, mile (6:16); Kelly Roland, 800; and Leah Hall, 200 (27.2).

Salem 82, Classical 53

At Salem, Hullerie McGuffie was a triple winner for Classical (1-6). McGuffie took the 100 meters (13.0), 400 meters (62.0) and long jump (14-10). Diamond Doe won the javelin (94-9). Tashanna Brown was third in the 100 meters (14.0), third in the triple jump (30-4) and second in the javelin (92-9). Tatianna Brown was second in the shot put (24-10 1/2). Faffie Bangura was third in the 200 meters (29.0). Allison Kurpiel was second in the two-mile (14:20).
 

Classical 77, Everett 57

At Manning Field, the Rams (1-5) picked up their first win of the season, led by a phenomenal day from Tashanna Brown. The junior captain won the 100 (13.8), javelin (98-0), triple jump (30-10 3/4) and was part of the winning 4 x 100 relay team.

Hullerie McGuffie won the 400 (1:01.4) and long jump (16-1) and joined Brown, Marina Fernandez and Nora Gomez on the winning 4 x 100 relay. Also winning were Saffie Bangura in the 200 (29.0); Tatianna Brown, shotput (35-10 3/4) and Katie Thongchanh, 100 hurdles.
 

NEC Frosh-Soph Meet

In the Northeastern Conference Freshman/Sophomore meet, Swampscott won both the girls and boys meet for the second year in a row.

The Big Blue's boys team had six first-place finishers: including double winner Jermaine Kelly, javelin (143-1) and 110 hurdles (15.9); Matt Nardiello, 400 hurdles (62.0); 4x100 (48.5); 4x400 (3:48.6); and 4x800 (9:16.2). The girls team placed first in two events: Nancy Do, long jump (15-7 1/4); and Melinda Wilson, discus (80-11).

The other boys to place first were: Tizauni Boyles, English, high jump (5-6); Joe Manson, Danvers, shot put (42-1); Olisa Obiefuna, Saugus, long jump (21-5) and 200 (23.0); Tyree Williams, Marblehead, 100 (11.8); Ben Martinez, Peabody, triple jump (36-2 3/4); Kenny Pierce, Beverly, 400 (54.4); Noah Mondello, Gloucester, 2-mile (10:33.8); Jake Morris, Marblehead, discus (110-1); Matt Carpenter, Gloucester, 800 (2:09.2); and Chris Birotte, English, mile (4:53.4).

The other girls to place first were: Amanda Nielsen, Peabody, high jump (4-10); Lindsay Gotts, Danvers, shot put (25-8); Jessica Dowson, Winthrop, 400 (74.2); Racquel MacDonald, Revere, 100 hurdles (17.2); Bianca Muscato, Peabody, triple jump (31-1 1/2); Hulerie McGuffie, Classical, 100 (12.8); Cayla Bucci, Peabody, 200 (26.7); Bianca Giacalone, Gloucester, 400 (62.8); Haley Dyer, Danvers, 2 mile (12:04.4); Wendi Marciano, Beverly, 800 (2:22.8); Catarina Rocha, Peabody, mile (5:15.3) and javelin (94-3); Peabody, 4x100 (52.5); Danvers, 4x400 (4:29.5); and Marblehead, 4x800 (10:47.9).
 

Beverly 91, Classical 30

At Manning Field, Monica Adler won the mile (5:52), 400 (1:03.6) and shot put (29-10) for the Panthers (3-0).

Marblehead 96, Classical 38

At Marblehead, the Magicians had several people come up big including Julia Kingsley, who won the long jump, triple jump, 200 and was part of the 4x100 relay that won. Marblehead also had several double winners including Madeline Piela in the 800 and the 4x100 relay; Elle Rousseau, mile and 4x400 relay; Marina Hare, shot put and discus; Sara Bittermann, 400 hurdles and 400; Kristy Henrich, 2-mile and the 4x100 relay.

The Rams (0-3) had several good individual performances. Hulerie McGuffie won the 100 meters with a 12.9 and qualified for the states. She also tied for first in the long jump (14-8). Katie Thongchanh won the high jump (4-8) and the 100 hurdles and took second in the 400 hurdles. Diamond Doe won the javelin (94-1 3/4) and qualified for the states. Tatiana Brown took second in the shot put.

Revere 89, Classical 42

At Manning Field, Diamond Doe was a double winner for the Rams in the 200 meters (28.6) and javelin (89-7). Tashanna Brown took the triple jump (30-5). Hullerie McGuffie took the 400 meters (64.7). Katie Thongchanh took two second-place finishes (100 meters and 400 meters). The Rams also won the 4x100 relay with Marina Fernandez, Chrismal Broomfield, Brown, and Doe (56.4). Classical is now 0-2.

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2009 Season

Revere 53 2/3, Classical 27 1/3

At Tech, Katie Thongchanh was a double winner for Classical with firsts in the high jump (4-4) and the 50 (8.1). Hulerie McGuffie also took home first in the 300 (46.6) for the Rams.

Revere topped the ticket in the remaining events. Briana Scata won the shot put (28-8 1/2); Theresa Santiano-McHatton, the 50-yard hurdles; Colby Hough, 600 (1:51.7); Jessica Simpson, 1,000 (3:34.4); Tayla Hough, mile (6:08.3) and Joanna Green, 2-mile (14:04.2). Classical is 0-6 and Revere is 3-3.
 

Classical 82, English 43

At Manning Field, Classical's Katie Thongchanh won the 400 hurdles with a personal best 73.9 and the 100 hurdles (18.8); Allison Kurpiel won the two-mile (14:14.3) and Karla Bermudez finished second (15:22.3); Karen Perez won the 100 (13.1, pb); Hulerie McGuffie took second in the 400 with a personal best of 62.1 and Le Nguyen won the 800 (2:51.7).

 Revere 64, Classical 62

At Manning Field, the Rams (0-6) had a trio of double and a pair of single winners. Tashana Brown won the long jump and the 100 (14.1), Francis Mathieu won the 200 (28.4) and the triple jump (31-9.5), and Katie Thongthanh was the winner in the 100 (18.7) and the 400 (77.1) hurdles. Alisson Kurpiel took the 2-mile (14:22), and Hulerie McGuffie won the 400 (62.2).
 

Salem 81.5, Classical 44

At Manning Field, Frances Mathieu won the long jump (15-5) and triple jump (30-10.25), and was part of the winning 4x100 relay team for Classical. Winning the 4x100 relay were Mathieu, Karen Perez, Diana Abraham, and Tashanna Brown. Also winning for the Rams (0-5) was Hullerie McGuffie, 400 (63.0).
 

Peabody 82 2/3, Classical 34 1/3

At Peabody, Andrea Saccardo was a double winner for the Tanners (4-0) in the 400 hurdles and triple jump. Pinky Ratanajit won the 100 meters, took second in the long jump and was on the winning 4x100 relay, which also included Katrina Petrocino, Katelyn Pinkham, and Mackenzie Carpenter.

Classical (0-4) had several top-notch performances, including Katie Thongchan, who won the 100 hurdles with a personal best 18.5. She also took third in the 400 hurdles (79.2); Frances Mathieu won the 200 (28.1, PB); and took second in the long jump and triple jump. Diana Abraham took third in the 200 with a personal-best 29.2 and Hillarie McGuffie won the 400 (63.9, PB). Freshman Alison Kurpiel took second in the 2-mile (14:07, PB) and Karen Person took second in the 100 (13.3)

Beverly 97, Classical 30

At Beverly, Hillary McGuffie won the 400 and Frances Mathieu took first in the triple jump for the Rams (0-2). Katie Thongchanh also had a good day, placing in the 400 hurdles, the 100 hurdles and the high jump.
 

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2008 Season

English 79, Classical 48

The English girls won 79-48, while the boys won 71-51.

For the English girls, the winners were Bianca Fowler, 200 and high jump; Drenusha Jusufi, 300 and 800; Alex Henry, 2-mile; Nina Barone, mile; Ashley Keighley, shot put and 400; and Shakira Llewellyn, discus.

For the Classical girls, the winners were Shamara Lopez, 100 (13.1) and long jump (16-5); Frances Mathieu, triple jump (32-0); Katie Thongchanh, 100 hurdles (19.4); and Lopez, Tia Murkison, Mathieu, and Sarama Faustin, 4x100 relay (54.2).

Salem 81, Classical 40

At Salem, Frances Mathieu's afternoon totaled close to half of her team's points. Mathieu won the long jump (16-4) and triple jump (32-2.5), and placed second in the 200. Combined with her role on the winning 4x100 relay team, Mathieu tallied 18 points.

Also winning for Classical (0-4) were Karen Perez, 200 (29.1); Shamara Lopez, 100 (13.6); and the 4x100 relay of Mathieu, Lopez, Perez, and Samara Saustin (55.3).

  Girls Lose to Saugus

In the girls meet, Winthrop's Nicole Giaquinto had a huge day, winning four events and setting a school record in one, the 200 meters. Giaquinto's time of 25.7 bumped former record-holder Danyelle Dillard (25.8) off the board. Giaquinto also picked up firsts in the 100 (12.5), the long jump (17-1) and the high jump (4-10).

Jenny Fucillo won the 100 high hurdles (16.8) and the 300 low hurdles (49.0); Mary Anderson, the shot put (26-0); and Lauren LoPresti, the discus (66.5) for the Vikings (1-1).

The Rams (0-3) had some nice performances of their own. Frances Mathieu won the triple jump (31-7 1/2), and took second in the long jump (14-9 1/2) and second in the 200 meters (28.3). She was also on the winning 4x100 relay that included Karen Perez, Renee Jacques and Samara Faustin. Perez also had a second place in the triple jump and third in the 200 meters. Katie Thongchanh took third in the 100 hurdles and Tia Murkison finished second in the 300 hurdles (54.6).

"I was really impressed with their performances," Classical coach Ellen Moriarty said. "They did much better than last year. The times are improving."

Peabody 112, Classical 15   4/15/08

At Peabody, Andrea Saccardo was a triple winner for the Tanners in the 300-meter hurdles, triple jump and long jump. Pinky Ratanajit won the 100 (12.8) and 200 meters (27.4), Joanna Chanaj, the high jump and 400 meters, and Kristen Surman was victorious in the shot put and discus.

Other winners were Mackenzie Carpenter, 800, and Jenn Pickard, mile (5:50).


Saugus 92, Classical 34       4/8/08

At Manning Field, the Rams swept the 100 in their first loss of the season. Winning the 100 was Shamara Lopez (13.6). Karen Perez placed second (14.3), while Samara Faustin came in third (14.6).

Also for Classical, Frances Mathieu placed second in both the triple jump (30-.25) and the 200 (28.5).

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Spring Varsity Track 2007

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Girls Spring Track 2006

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Girls Track Team 2005

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  Girls track Team 2004

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  LCHS Girls Track         

Spring Track is a sport consisting of running and field events and is very easy to improve at.  The races range in distance to fit everyone’s strengths and interests.  They are:

100m, 200m, 400m, 800m, mile, 2mile, 100m high hurdles, 300m low hurdles

Field Events: triple jump, long jump, high jump, shot put, and discus

Relays: 4x100m 4x400m

Competitors may do two running events, one field event, and one relay or one running event, two field events, and one relay at a regular season meet.

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