Eli Howe ’09 looks to finish off the season by bettering his 4:36 mile time at the U.S. Track and Field New England Championships next weekend. The Andover Boys Track team came into the week feeling well-prepared and motivated for their meet against rival Exeter. Unfortunately for Andover, the weather did not cooperate, as the meet was called off early on Wednesday. Although the postponement was disappointing for Andover, the team will use the week to prepare for next weekend’s championships at Harvard. One group of runners that hopes to fare well against the college competition is the long-distance squad. Led by Lowers Elias Howe ’09 and Dave Wilson ’09, the distance team has consistently put together solid performances throughout the season. Howe has developed as an elite mile runner, and continues to strive to better his 4:36 time. Last time Howe raced at Harvard, he put together an impressive race that almost earned him the Andover lower record. The combination of the quality Harvard track and top competition could lead to a record-breaking performance by Howe. Leading the way in the two-mile for Andover will be Wilson, who has taken first place in several meets this season. In the shot-put, Seniors Joseph O’Hern ’07 and Martin Serna ’07 look to close out their Andover Indoor Track careers with a victory. O’Hern, who recently returned after an illness, has been one of Andover’s most consistent competitors this season. Also hoping to finish off his season on a high note will be Jae-Yeop Kim ’07. Kim, who is one of the most versatile members of the team, has competed in the hurdles, dash, long jump and 300 this winter. Joining Kim at Harvard will be Andover’s fastest sprinter, Luinis Tejada ’08. In the past, Andover has had a difficult time matching up against the talented collegiate sprinters at the USTFNE championships. However, the fact that Kim and Tejada will be well-rested and healthy should give them a chance to contend in the sprints. Another runner with a great chance to excel in the championships is Senior Alexandre Hugon ’07. Hugon, the anchor of the Andover middle-distance team, comes in to the final meet with confidence, as he was victorious in the last meet. After several successful performances against local high schools, the Andover 4×400 relay will get a chance to see where they rank among New England’s best. The team of Captain Peter McCarthy ’07, Olamide Babatunde ’09, Howe and Alexander Clifford ’07 is excited to race on the fast, synthetic track at Harvard. Over the course of the season, the Andover team has had its share of tough meets and injuries. Wins were tougher to come by without the postgraduates of last year’s team, and the squad was unable to match up with the depth of Andover High and Tewksbury. However, the Andover team remained focused on personal and team improvement throughout ever week and kept a positive attitude. The mindset was constantly stressed by Captain Peter McCarthy, who led both vocally and by example. The team showcased a great balance of constantly improving young runners and standout seniors. One highlight on the season was the meet against Lawrence High School, which Andover won 59-36. From the hurdles to the relay, Andover put together a series of dominating performances and personal bests. The meet was not won by one runner’s individual accomplishments, but instead was won by a total team effort. The team hopes to achieve the same, all-around team success at next week’s New England championships.
