April Padilla Hrones (839) has a go at the high jump.
Nearly 500 young track and field athletes from all over the Northeastern USA met over the weekend of July 20-21 to compete in the 29th annual Needham Youth Classic. Sponsored by the Needham Youth Track Club, this meet is the largest open youth track meet on the east coast and featured 12 running and 8 field events for children ages 2-14. As part of a meet tradition, all children walked away with an award – ribbon, medal, or trophy. Top finishers shared in the 200 trophies, and 1100 medals that were distributed.
Rhode Island’s CLCF Panthers won the team competition, with Needham Youth Track Club in second and Saugus Sachems third.
Nine-year-old Chase Sullivan led the way with eight event wins. Cainan Weereshinghe, Addison Bligen, and Destiny Okoye had six wins apiece.
Needham Youth Track Club’s Benjamin Kwan (302) on the run.
Superior performances which set meet records included a softball throw of 120’0” by Peyton Dibasi, breaking a 25-year-old record; Chase Ledbury’s 5:21.08 800-meter-racewalk, which broke his record from last year by 29 seconds; and a 5’10” high jump by Jeremy Teighan, which tied a 24-year-old record.
Eva Geddes of Needham Youth Track Club scored four wins and Taya Miller of the club won three times.
Needham Youth Track Club winners included:
Amni Shetty (17) attempts the long jump.
• (Age 5-6) Nathan Spier: 400 Meter, 1:38.47 – Madeleine Forness: 4x100 Relay, 1:28.64; Standing LJ, 4’8”
• (age 7-8) Luke LaMacchiz: 1500 Meter, 6:06.38; 3000 Meter, 13:45.77 – Miles Wigfall: Turbo Jav, 45’5” – Eva Geddes: 400 Meter, 1:21.88; 800 Meter, 3:22.91, Heptathlon – Samantha Horvat: High Jump, 3’1” – April Padilla Hrones: Standing Triple Jump, 15’1.5” – Eve Umland, Eva Geddees, April Padilla Hrones” 4x100 Relay, 1:18.43
• (age 9-10) Taya Miller: 50 Meter, 7.89; Long Jump, 12’3.5”; High Jump (meet record), 4’4” – Alessandra Keeley – 3000 Meter, 12:44.86 – Solan Varela: 80 Meter Hurdles, 15.96
• (age 11-12) Lucas Wong: 80 Meter Hurdles, 17.42 – Joss Richman – 800 Meter Race Walk, 5:20.02 – Francesca Keeley: 3000 Meter, 12:53.70
