Somerville's Antoinette Toussaint fails in this attempt at clearing 5 feet 6 inches, but won the event by making good at 5-5.
(Evan Richman/Globe Staff)
MSTCA Elite Track Meet
Two years ago, Ryad Bencheikh played soccer in Morocco, his home country. He didn't run track, he ran with a ball. But since immigrating to Woburn midway through his freshman year, Bencheikh has become a star.
In yesterday's MSTCA Elite Track Meet at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center, Bencheikh earned the award for Outstanding Runner after winning the 600-meter race, then helping to win the 4 x 400 relay.
In the 600, the junior was almost 50 yards back with half a lap to go, but still won by two seconds, clocking 1 minute 20.93 seconds.
"I was in fifth place because that's where I like to be, but then I just came on strong," he said. "I was surprised I was able to get that much ahead."
In the day's last race, Bencheikh was the third runner in Woburn's 4 x 400 team. Michael McDonough and Dan Tobin had the Tanners in fourth place. Bencheikh took the baton and gained ground fast. By the end of his first lap, he had already opened a lead. He handed off to Brett Sullivan, who gave Woburn the victory in meet-record time (3:23.51).
Earlier, Sullivan won the 1,000 in 2:32.52. After an injury last year and a switch to shorter distance sprints, it had been a while since Sullivan competed in the event.
"I think I have just gotten a lot stronger in the past year from sprinting," he said. "These other guys have more stamina than me, but I have the sprinting ability."
A duo from Arlington swept the boys' and girls' 55-meter dash. Chris McConnell and Christina Muccio, who both beat their competition by considerable margins, credited their coach, Scott Price.
"My coach told me if I made a 7:32 he would wear a kilt to practice," said Muccio, who ran 7:31. "It's a big confidence boost."
McConnell set his personal best with 6:45. He has yet to lose a race this season, and now has his sights set on states.
Lincoln-Sudbury's girls' 4 x 800 team lapped a majority of its competition on the way to a meet-record 9:34.82. Claire Arthur, Ellie Hylton, Jess Griffin, and Andrea Keklak hadn't even run together before, but they still thought they could have done better.
"Without competition it's really hard to press," Griffin said. "But we made nationals [with our time]."
Meg Looney, who won the girls' Outstanding Runner award, set a meet record in the 600, 1:33.61.
Christina Izzicupo of Stoneham won Overall Athlete award by winning the 300 (41.13) and taking second in the long jump (17 feet 3/4 inch), all with a injured right ankle.
The Field Event honoree was the high jump winner from Somerville, Antoinette Toussaint, the shortest in physical height but the winner with a jump of 5-5.
On the boys' side, the Field Event award went to Newton North's Sam Arsenault, whose 22-1 long jump was the best in the state this season.
The Outstanding Athlete award went to Corey Thomas of BC High, who won the high jump (6-5) and came in second in the hurdles.
Five meet records fell, including the Woburn boys' 4 x 400 (3:23.51), and Looney's 600. The Charlestown and Woburn boys set a 4 x 200 record with a tie of 1:31.53, though the win was given to Charlestown in a photo finish. North Attleboro's girls also set a mark with a 1:45.93 in the 4 x 200.
The Massachusetts' State Track Coaches Association's seven newest Hall of Fame members were honored at the meet: Kate O'Neill of Milton was an eight-time All-American at Yale and ran in the 2004 Olympics.
Kate's twin, Laura O'Neill, was a five-time All-American and has a Yale record for points in the NCAA championships.
Greg Gonsalves, a 1981 graduate of Falmouth, still holds the state record for the high jump (7-3).
Michael Morris is known as the state's fastest athlete coming out of Ayer High in 1981 with the state and New England record the 100 (10.36).
Dr. Ed Collymore graduated from Rindge Tech in 1955 and was ranked in 1958 as the world's No. 1 in the 440 by Track and Field News.
Standing at 5-9, Phillip Reaves of Somerville (1954) held a record for personal height vs. height of bar when he jumped 6-10 at Villanova.
Once voted the greatest track star from Boston, Bill Smith went undefeated in the 600-yard and 1,000-yard races for two years (1950-51) at Boston Trade School.
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