Record Breaking Season for Nipmuc Girls Track
Pictured here are the Nipmuc Girls Track relay teams that qualified for the meet of champions. Courtesy photo
By Chris Villani
Sports Writer
The Nipmuc girls’ winter track and field program started to see glimpses of how good it could be last season when the Warriors placed just outside the top-10 in the state. This year, with some experienced veterans and perhaps the most talented group of young runners in the state, the team broke half a dozen records, won a third straight Dual Valley Conference title, and finished as one of the top five teams in its division statewide.
“I don’t know the full history of Nipmuc track and field, but I would say this is one of the best seasons we have ever had,” said head coach Justin Townsend. “The future looked bright last year and, this year, it was fulfilled.”
The season came to a close with Nipmuc sending three relay teams to the meet of champions. The 4x400 quartet of Kyah Montano, Anya Montano, Jessica Casey, and Emma Watts broke the school record by three seconds. The best news for Nipmuc, Kyah Montano is the oldest member of the team and she’s just a sophomore.
That relay team put Nipmuc over the top in the DVC title meet, when a win in the 4x400 was the difference in outlasting Whitinsville Christian.
“The girls are as good as you can get,” Townsend said. “They are deep in the sprints. Our cross country team has filtered into our track program now, and we have a pretty deep distance team. And our throws are coming along as well.”
Gianna Yordonopoulos finished up a five-year career with Nipmuc this winter, setting a school record in the state meet and placing in the event. Emma Nadolski, another veteran, bounced back from an injury to anchor the state-qualifying 4x800 team, qualify for states in the mile and capture a district title in that event.
Freshman Riley Restic emerged as a top hurdler, finishing sixth in the state meet and leading a strong hurdling crew coached by newcomer assistant Jose Dos Santos. Amelia Squires qualified for states in the shot put and is approaching a school record.
The Warriors finished as the runner up in the relay meet and also placed second in the District E Division I state meet, falling just short against a much larger school in Wachusett.
While Nipmuc will be graduating some strong seniors, Townsend said the program has done well in recent years to replace the talent lost with younger athletes.
“We have worked hard to develop the climate and culture by having athletes with a passion for the sport, who enjoy coming to practice every day, and that’s produced results,” Townsend said. “It can only get better from here.”