Grabbing gold: The 16 high school boys indoor track & field All-Star team for 2023-24
After combing over statistics and results, and with the guidance of local athletic directors and coaches, we at the Daily News selected All-Stars for boys and girls basketball, boys and girls hockey, boys and girls swimming, boys and girls track and field, gymnastics, skiing and wrestling.
Although the sports and skill sets may vary, there’s no denying that this group put up otherworldly numbers this winter while helping their respective teams find success – whether that be on the court, field, ice, mat or track, or in the gym or pool.
The Daily News presents its 2023-24 All-Stars for boys indoor track & field:
Zachary Barton, AMSA
The junior motored to second in the 55-meter hurdles at the Division 5 championship meet in 8.14 seconds to qualify for the Meet of Champions. Barton also took second at the District E Division 2 meet (8.41).
.@AMSA_Athletics Zach Barton takes second in the boys 55-meter hurdles in 8.13 seconds pic.twitter.com/OLo3pk75Uy
— Kyle Grabowski (@kylegrbwsk) February 14, 2024
Nico Begic, Lincoln-Sudbury
He’s way ahead of the curve. Begic took second in the 300-meter dash at both the Meet of Champions (34.84) and Division 1 meet (34.690. Begic captured the DCL title in the 300 and set the MSTCA Freshman/Sophomore record in the event. “In big meets, he delivered. End of story,” L-S coach Mel Gonsalves said. “He is one of the best 10th graders at this point in the nation.”
Boys 300
2. Nico begic, @Warriors978 🥈 34.84
4. Christopher brooks, @wellesleysports 34.99 pic.twitter.com/fD855ddJ5u— Kyle Grabowski (@kylegrbwsk) February 24, 2024
John Bianchi, Natick
The sophomore was eighth in the mile at the Meet of Champions (4:25.77). He also also ran on Redhawks’ 14th-place 4x8 relay. He took sixth in the Division 1 championships mile and second at the Bay State Conference championships (4:24.62).
Ryan Boretti, Lincoln-Sudbury
He won the Dual County League championship in the high jump at 6-feet even. His long jump best for the season was 20-4.25. Boretti competed at the Division 1 meet in three events. The junior also ran the first leg of L-S’ New Balance Nationals sprint medley relay. “Ryan is one of the most versatile athletes I have coached in quite some time,” L-S coach Melvin Gonsalves said. “He continues to improve on both vertical and horizontal jumps, which is not an easy task.”
Boys 55m
1. Christopher brooks, @wellesleysports 6.42 🥇 pic.twitter.com/dRDVUHnoAi— Kyle Grabowski (@kylegrbwsk) February 24, 2024
Christopher Brooks, Wellesley
The senior captured the all-state title at the Meet of Champions in the 55-meter dash. He also was third in the 300. The William & Mary commit also won a Division 2 championship in the 55 and competed at the New Balance Indoor Nationals.
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Quinten Hardt, Franklin
The senior led off the panthers 4x200 relay at the Meet of Champions, which finished second behind Xaverian (1:31.57). Hardt also ran individually at all-states in the 55 hurdles after finishing third in the event at the Division 1 championships (7.68).
Maxwell Hoffman, Wellesley: The senior earned a silver medal in the mile (4:26.74) at the Division 2 state championships and bronze in the two-mile (9:46.56) and helped the Raiders 4x800-meter relay finish third (8:20.14). The Bates commit took sixth in the mile at the Meet of Champions.
Jackson Hunt, Sr., Hopedale:
The senior won both mile and 2 mile at the Dual Valley Conference championships and was named DVC runner of the year after going undefeated in 1000, mile and two-mile. Hunt placed fourth at Division 5 championships in the two-mile (9:59.07) and was the District E Division 2 champion in the mile (4:39.29). "We are truly going to miss him next year and cannot wait to see his running career continue at the next level," Hopedale coach Kathryn O'Sullivan said.
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Ari Levine, Hopedale
Just a sophomore, he went undefeated in Dual Valley Conference league meets in shot put. The DVC All-Star won shot put at conference championship meet and holds school record at 54-3.75, the No. 4 throw in Massachusetts this year. He placed fourth at the Meet of Champions and then was ninth at the New England Championships and New Balance Nationals. “As a sophomore Ari is already one of the best throwers in New England. He is truly one of the most hard-working athletes I’ve ever known and his dedication is very obviously paying off,” Hopedale coach Kathryn O’Sullivan said. “We know that if he continues on the path he is on, he has the ability to become one of the best throwers to ever come from Massachusetts, and we are excited to see that happen.”
Miles Lipka, Algonquin
The junior cleared 6-foot-4 to tie for third in the high jump at the Meet of Champions. Lipka was the District E Division 1 champion in the 55 hurdles (7.99) and long jump (21-4.75).
Aidan Lucier, Jr., Nipmuc
The Dual Valley Conference all-star won the DVC championship in both the 55-meter dash (5.97)and 300 (39.85). The junior was undefeated in both in the DVC. He finished ninth at the MSTCA speed classic and 12th in the Division 5 championship in the 55, setting school record at 6.82. Lucier qualified for the Division 5 championships in both the 55 and 300.
Matt Rooney, Dover-Sherborn
The senior took second in the 1,000 at the Division 4 meet (2:35.41) and competed at the meet of champions in the same event (2:45.21). Rooney won the TVL Showcase 1,000 (2:35.14).
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Parker Rogers, Marlborough
The senior launched the shot put 48 feet, 8.5 inches to take third at the Division 4 meet. Rogers was also eight in the event at the Meet of Champions (50-05).
Russell Perryman, Sr., Hopkinton
He took third in the Meet of Champions weight throw at 52 feet, 10.5 inches. The senior was also seventh at the TVL Showcase in the shot put (39-6.5).
Dylan Weddle, Natick
He set the Redhawks long jump school record with a 22-foot, 7-inch leap, which ranked third in the state. That won the senior a Bay State Conference title. Weddle also anchored Natick’s seventh-place 4x4 at the Division 1 state meet.
Stephen White, Algonquin
He surged to second in the Meet of Champions mile in 4:19.54. That followed titles in both the mile (4:24.63) and two-mile (9:43.82) at the Division 2 championships. He also set the school record in the mile (4:18.17) at the New Balance Indoor Nationals. White also won the District E Division 1 championship in the two-mile (9:37.4).
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Here are the 2024 Daily News Boys Indoor Track & Field All-Stars