Talented sprinters lead way for Scarlet Hawks

By Chris Villani

Shawn Pierce, Taylor Feliciano, Aloiye Okhipo, Jarrett Brown, and John Arruda have been a formidable sprint team this winter. Courtesy photo

The Milford High winter track team is heading toward the home stretch of the season with several athletes having already qualified for the state tournament, and a few more right on the cusp.

Head Coach Don Bishop had high praise for the sprinting crew on the boys’ roster. Five athletes have collaborated on the four-member 4x200 relay team. That team, and all five individuals, have earned spots in the state meet.

Shawn Pierce has one of the top times in multiple events and has earned state slots in the 55, 300, and 4x200. Bishop said Pierce has a shot to qualify for the regional meet.

“He is a multipart athlete and he is very competitive,” Bishop said. “He wants to improve all the time, so I am very happy with his work ethic.”

John Arruda is another member of the 4x200 team and also a state qualifier in the 55 and 300. Taylor Feliciano has earned spots in both the relay and the 300 and entered the Hockomock League meet vying for a spot in the 55 as well.

“He is kind of a hidden missile,” Bishop said. “He is fantastically dedicated to speed. He is quiet and just does his workouts.”

The other two members who rotate into the 4x200 lineup are Aloiye Okhipo, who is also the team’s fastest hurdler and a potential regional qualifier, and Jarrett Brown, who is near state qualifying times. 

In addition to the sprinters, Folahanmi Ojolayo is a stellar jumper in both the high jump and long jump.

“All the other coaches want to compete against him,” Bishop said. “He just keeps getting better. He is a good kid and a hard worker, he just loves jumping.”

The girls’ roster also has several standout performers. Freshman Iyanna Correa has run the dash and the 300 and quickly moved to within inches of a state-qualifying mark in the high jump. Madison Ateawung is close to state-qualifying times and is a top performer in the 55, 300, and the 4x200. Julianys Rentas is another top sprinter, and Keira Murphy, another freshman, is continuously setting personal bests and entered February just two seconds away from a qualifying time in the 600. 

“Our girls have been pretty consistent,” Bishop said. “We had four personal records against Taunton in the first meet, and now we are doing around 10 per week, so they are constantly getting better.”

Bishop is particularly happy that so many of his top athletes are freshmen and sophomores.

“If we can keep these girls healthy and with the program,” he said, “they will be great examples going forward.”