Preview of the NS vs LS dual meet tomorrow - girls

The Oracle has sent in a preview of the NS vs LS meet tomorrow at Reggie Lewis. He has told me he has written this with NO input from any coaches or athletes. It is his analysis. He might be way off but it makes great reading. THANKS.

NS vs LS preview
Its time for another battle of the titans between the two best girl's programs in the state. This has been an epic saga over the last few years, and last year's meet was one of the more interesting chapters. It was a meet filled with monster performances for a dual meet and it came down to the 4x4 relay. Both teams had very strong 4x4's, but LS had lined up their fab four - a group that had never lost to another Massachusetts relay team. Going into the last hand off LS had built up a 30 meter lead and was handing off to their state 400 champion Jamieson who had a 400 PR of 55+ seconds. The meet was in the bag as Jamieson cruised to the easy victory. Alas, a controversial DQ cost LS the meet as they were flagged for handing out of the *beginning* of the zone, a call that was hotly disputed by the LS contingent.

I doubt there will be anything as dramatic this year. It looks as if NS is too strong for LS this time around as LS graduated three seniors who had won individual state championships. The problem with trying to predict the outcome is that the coaches have a lot of flexibility in how they can deploy their runners, but even still it is hard to see how LS will win without some decent upsets. Without any inside info, here is one rough possibility at how the meet could go:

Mile - normally Dahlberg would have some leeway in which event she runs since NS has plenty of depth in the mile to cover for her, but LS has Keklak (a 5:03 PR) and Hylton looming out there, so I say Dahlberg stays home, and Karys doubles down to battle Keklak or Hylton. I'd love to see what Hylton can do against Dahlberg, but I assume Keklak stays here and doubles to battle Karys again int the two. NS 6-3.

1000 - This could be a great race depending on who runs. LS's Hylton has been brilliant in the early season, including beating Dahlberg on the opening 1200 leg of the DMR at last Saturday's relays. South's O'Keefe has also looked equally strong in her outings so far. LS can then send Arthur, a state finalist in the 1000 last year, or Rudder, who has run a 3:10 earlier in the season as backup. LS 6-3. 9-9

600 - LS has Griffin, fifth place at the state 600 last year in this event. I am assuming that Ryan-Davis drops down to keep LS from getting second. Ryan-Davis looked very good in a 3:06 1000 in an earlier meet and earned a spot in the state 800 finals last year, however was absent from the state relays this past weekend. Assuming she's healthy I see her battling LS's Arthur and freshman Marika Crowe (1:44 at winter festival) for second. LS 6-3. LS 15-12.

While the running events take place on the oval the field events take place on the infield.

HJ - Flemming is the class of the field in this event and should win easily. Freshman Leah Potter jumped 4'10 in an earlier meet and might sneak out a second place. LS 8-1, 23-13.

SP - Mbianda has turned into one of the top throwers in the state, and the NS victory in the state relay meet in this event does not bode well for an event that has been weak for LS. Unless LS has something up their sleeve, it will be a sweep, LS 23-22.

LJ - Banks leads the way here, and NS could sweep this one too, but I'll give Leah Sax a third. NS 8-1, NS 30-24.

Back to the oval.

300 - LS has a very good freshman in Madison Acton who ran a 44 at the winter festival, however Dani Pensack is still the best in this field, and sophomore Frieze could also factor in. Third place will be a battle, but I'll give it to Schneider of LS. NS 6-3, 36-27.

Two mile - Karys and Keklak yet again. NS will also follow up with Fineman, and LS with Gossels. Karys consistently goes sub-11 while Keklak has yet to break that barrier, but I'll give LS the third to keep the meet close. NS 5-4, 41-31.

Back on the infield:

55 - LS has depth, but that relay meet record that NS set in the 4x50 also does not bode well for LS. Banks should win easily. I'll toss second to Igwe-Kalu or Sax in an effort to keep things close. NS 6-3. 47-34.

55H - Flemming does her part taking her second win of the meet but LS needs the sweep and they just don't have the depth for it. I don't know what NS has in this event, but all they need is one point. I give them second. LS 6-3, NS 50-40.

4x4. Anticlimatic as the meet will be won by this point, but the LS four of Rudder, Acton, Crowe, and Griffin gain a moral victory.

Final score: NS 50-45.

Preview by Oracle