The junior has the best throws in the region this season, and is closing in on the school record.
NORTHAMPTON – Mahar Regional High School's Sabrina Silva traded first place throws with Mohawk Trail's Aurora Rougeau all season long a year ago.
This year, Silva isn't swapping first place with anyone. The junior is keeping that all to herself.
Silva, who won the Western Massachusetts title last season, won her third Valley League meet in as many tries Tuesday at a Pioneer Valley Interscholastic Athletic Conference meet at Smith College.
“Sabrina is very talented – probably one of the best athletes I've ever coached,” said Mahar's Sarah Woodward, who also coaches Silva in volleyball and outdoor track. “She's in the weight room all year long. She's constantly lifting after practice. One hundred and 10 percent would be her every single day.”
Silva won Tuesday's meet by nearly 3 feet with a toss of 34 feet, 11 inches. Her best throw this season is 35-2.75.
“I've been working hard and lifting weights,” said Silva, who's closing in on the school record of 35-9.
But Silva isn't the only undefeated shot put thrower at Mahar this season, as Trevor Borey won for the third time on the boys side with a 43-10.75. It was Borey's best throw in the shot put, which he has done since he picked up the event last outdoor season.
“I've improved a lot (since last year),” said Borey, a senior. “For indoor, the shot seems smaller in my hand than outdoor. I like the indoor shot.”
Borey is also eye-balling the school record. He's roughly 5-feet short, but Woodward said Borey has been steadily getting better.
“We've been working on a bunch of things with Trevor because (last outdoor season) was the first time he's thrown,” Woodward said. “Every meet he's been a foot further, a foot further.”
NO STOPPING NOWELL: In the boys Valley League meet, Central's Perry Nowell stayed undefeated in the 55 hurdles in three PVIAC meets, with his 7.89 tying him for the fourth-best time in the state this season.
“I have to give it to my head coach, Jim Bermudez. He made me work on my starts,” said Nowell, a senior. “I felt my starts were a little weak so we got some improvement on that.”
Bermudez attacked Nowell's weakness during the break and the two saw a marked improvement, with the senior dropping .18 from his previous-best, which is significant for the 55 hurdles.
“We had a month to get Perry in the blocks, working on his starts,” Bermudez said. “We tried various drills to get him quicker and lower, and tonight that came to fruition. He's done a lot of work with coach (Sean) Kavanagh.”
HIGH ON THE HURDLES: Running in the same heat, two of the top 55-meter hurdlers went head to head in the girls Valley League meet, with Mohawk Trail's Tess Forton (9.37) topping East Longmeadow's Casey Foley (9.53).
TWO FOR TUESDAY: Three athletes won a pair of individual events at the Valley League meet, including freshman Natasha Olanyk of Mohawk, who crossed first in the 600 (1:47) before taking the 1,000 (3:29).
On the boys side, Mahar's Trent George sped to wins in the 55 (6.89) and 300 (38.7), and Cathedral's posted comfortable wins in the 2 mile (10:06).
Valley League
Boys Team Scores
Athol 68, New Leadership 22
Holyoke Catholic 54, East Longmeadow 49
Cathedral 56, Greenfield 39
Central 57, Greenfield 38
Holyoke Catholic 63, Mohawk 28
Mahar 82, New Leadership 13
South Hadley 61, Mahar 34
Pioneer 51, Mohawk 44
Central 64, Pioneer 31
Boys Individual Results
(Top 3)
Long jump – 1. Grasso, Mahar, 19-2.5, 2. Simpson, Cathedral, 18-8.5, 3. Perez, Central, 18-6.75
High jump – 1. Breiwick, Greenfield, 5-8, 2. Lewicki, H.C., 5-8, T3. Mercer, S.H., 5-6, T3, Flachs, S.H., 5-6
Shot put – 1. Borey, Mahar, 43-10.75, 2. Lucia, S.H., 42-4, 3. Lockett, Central, 41-0.25
2 mile – 1. Hegarty, Cathedral, 10:06, 2. Aucoin, Greenfield, 10:38, 3. Powell, H.C., 10:40
55 hurdles – 1. Nowell, Central, 7.89, 2. Perry, N.L., 8.50, 3. Grasso, Mahar, 8.61
55 meters – 1. George, Mahar, 6.89, 2. Simpson, Cathedral, 7.03, 3. Lovett, N.L., 7.10
1 mile – 1. Abelson, Greenfield, 4:50, 2. Fullerton, E.L., 4:57, 3. Mueller, Central, 4:58
600 – 1. Pettengill, S.H., 1:29.6, 2.Perez, Central, 1:30.2, 3. Simmons, Mahar, 1:30.7
300 – 1. George, Mahar, 38.7, 2. Lewis, Central, 39.1, 3. O'Connor, S.H., 40.2
1,000 – 1. Hegarty, Cathedral, 2:46, 2. Powell, H.C., 2:53, 3. Hanrahan, S.H., 2:56
4x200 relay – 1. S.H. 1:42, 2. Athol 1:44, 3. East Longmeadow 1:45
Girls Team Scores
Athol 38, New Leadership 27
East Longmeadow 87, Holyoke Catholic 7
Cathedral 60, Greenfield 21
Central 50, Greenfield 32
Mohawk 73, Holyoke Catholic 17
Mahar 64, New Leadership 19
South Hadley 59, Mahar 36
Mohawk 63.5, Pioneer 31.5
Pioneer 49, Central 44
Girls Individual Results
(Top 3)
Long jump – 1. Scott, N.L., 16-6, 2. J.Weithofer, E.L., 16-0.5, 3. Rybacki, E.L., 15-8
High jump – 1. G.Weithofer, E.L., 5-0, 2. Forton, Mohawk, 4-10, T3. Webber, Cathedral, 4-6; T3. Tenney, Mahar, 4-6
Shot put – 1. Silva, Mahar, 34-11, 2. Simonds, E.L., 32-1, 3. Bergeron, H.C., 31-0
2 mile – 1. Yezierski, Mohawk, 13:18, 2. Meehan, Mahar, 13:43, 3. Guertin, S.H., 14:09
55 hurdles – 1. Forton, Mohawk, 9.37, 2. Foley, E.L., 9.53, 3. Zombik, H.C., 9.94
55 meters – 1. Jones, N.L., 7.68, 2. Rybacki, E.L., 7.76, 3. Spencer, Central, 7.85
1 mile – 1. Harrington, S.H., 5:52, 2. Footit, Cathedral, 5:55, 3. Dutille, E.L., 6:01
600 – 1. Olanyk, Mohawk, 1:47.9, 2. Grimes, E.L., 1:50.1, 3. Cominoli, Pioneer, 1:51.0
300 – 1. Kasper, E.L., 46.5, 2. Spring, S.H., 46.8, 3. Webber ,Cathedral, 46.9
1,000 – 1. Olanyk, Mohawk, 3:29, 2. Dutille, E.L., 3:30, 3. Bernard, E.L., 3:32
4x200 relay – 1. East Longmeadow 1:52, 2. S.H. 2:00.6, 3. Central 2:00.7
Pioneer League
Boys Team Scores
Amherst 48, Holyoke 47
Minnechaug 73, Agawam 22
Holyoke 57, Comp 38
Comp 69, West Side 25
Longmeadow 48, Chicopee 47
Longmeadow 51, Northampton 44
Minnechaug 48, Westfield 47
Northampton 77, West Side 18
Boys Individual Results
(Top 3)
Long jump – 1. Niemiec, Comp, 20-8.5, 2. Roy, Chicopee, 19-5, 3. Vyce, Chicopee, 19-3.25
High jump – 1. Niemiec, Comp, 6-0, 2. Roy, Chicopee, 5-10, 3. DeVine, Minnechaug 5-8
Shot put – 1. Hill, Longmeadow, 46-0.5, 2. Rodriguez, Holyoke, 42-0.75, 3. McInerney, Chicopee, 41-4.5
2 mile – 1. Hodgins, Holyoke, 10:05, 2. Landry, Holyoke, 10:21, 3. Mathers, Amherst, 10:31
55 hurdles – 1. Ward, Minnechaug, 8.55, 2. Maysonette, Westfield, 8.61, 3. Burnett, Amherst, 8.78
55 meters – 1. Niemiec, Comp, 6.85, 2. Weaver, Westfield, 7.00, 3. Newman, Westfield, 7.02
1 mile – 1. Shea, West Side, 4:45.74, 2. Coull, Amherst, 4:45.77, 3. Coates-Finke, Northampton, 4:45.86
600 – 1. Sullivan, Northampton, 1:25.8, 2. Brunelle, Holyoke, 1;27.2, 3. Sheldon, Northampton, 1:30.1
300 – 1. Montano, Agawam, 38.68, 2. Niemiec, Comp, 38.85, 3. Neverson, Northampton, 39.32
1,000 – 1. Traester, Amherst, 2:41, 2. Hodgins, Holyoke, 2:42, 3. Fishman, Amherst, 2:44
4x200 relay – 1. Westfield 1:38, 2. Minnechaug 1:39.5, 3. Northampton 1:39.9
Girls Team Scores
Minnechaug 63, Agawam 32
Amherst 72, Holyoke 22
Comp 56, Holyoke 35
Comp 54, West Side 37
Longmeadow 85, Chicopee 10
Northampton 49, Longmeadow 46
Minnechaug 50, Westfield 45
Northampton 91, West Side 4
Girls Individual Results
(Top 3)
Long jump – 1. Pascucci, Northampton, 14-9.25, 2. Michaud, Minnechaug, 14-9, 3. Sharp, Northampton, 14-7
High jump – 1. Tompkins, Northampton, 5-2, 2. Jones, Minnechaug, 5-0, 3. Kapinos, Longmeadow, 4-10
Shot put – 1. Brochu, Holyoke, 33-8.25, 2. Siegel, Longmeadow, 29-10.75, 3. Mack, Minnechaug, 28-11
2 mile – 1. C.Blackman, Longmeadow, 11:28, 2. Gould, Amherst, 11:32, 3. M.Blackman 12:16
55 hurdles – 1. Pascucci, Northampton, 9.22, 2. Berube, Chicopee, 9.83, 3. Andrews, Westfield, 10.08
55 meters – 1. Boudreau, Westfield, 7.17, 2. Boyd, Minnechaug, 7.74, 3. Woods, Longmeadow, 7.98
1 mile – 1. Lutz, Northampton, 5:39, 2. Morin, Westfield, 5:50, 3. Haryasz, Longmeadow, 5:52
600 – 1. Fisher, Longmeadow, 1:42.8, 2. Toffoli, Northampton, 1:43.3, 3. Grindle, Agawam, 1:58.5
300 – 1. Boyd, Minnechaug, 43.87, 2. Biggs, Amherst, 44.04, 3. Dibrindisi, Northampton, 44.31
1,000 – 1. C.Blackman, Longmeadow, 3:11, 2. Moriarty, Longmeadow, 3:23, 3. Sullivan, Northampton, 3:24
4x200 relay – 1. Northampton 1:54, 2. Longmeadow 1:57.2, 3. Westfield 1;57.7