Multi-sport staple Reese Meister helps lead Madison to Ranger Invitational girls team crown
Apr. 19—Whether it's digging her cleats into a pitch or her spikes into a track, Reese Meister understands the assignment as far as making her mark from season to season.
April 19 during the Ranger Invitational at North, the Madison junior multi-sport staple plied her spring trade with the trademark pace she displays in her fall trade.
Meister won 400 with a breakout performance, was second in 200 and turned in a solid leg on the runner-up 4×400 as the Blue Streaks took home top girls team honors with 149 points, well ahead of Brush (112.5).
Madison also got a distance double from Katie Kovacs (800 and 1,600) and firsts from Brooke Rockwood (3,200) and Claire Wakim (high jump) in a well-rounded performance to reign in convincing fashion.
"Everyone just did good all around," Meister said.
That open 4 from Meister provided encouragement as the calendar inches closer to May.
?? Here are my usual NH area video meet highlights, this time from the Ranger Invitational
My field-event timing stunk today, & sunset wasn't kind
But improving — I'll be in peak form by May in that regard at this rate lol pic.twitter.com/v4gNNwiQdc
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) April 20, 2024
The junior crossed the line with a 61.26, which is the second-fastest time in The News-Herald coverage area to date this season.
"Oh it's great, knowing that last year, I didn't run the 4 as much," Meister said. "I was only in the 4×4 toward the end of the season. And now, getting into opens this year and seeing the growth and difference between times dropping, it feels really great.
"I think just improving my pace. Starting off strong. Getting a good, long stride. And then finishing with everything I can."
In addition to her refinement in open 4, Meister believes some of the workrate and stride elements necessary to turn in a full 80 on the pitch during soccer season can translate into her spring craft.
She is one of the premier strikers locally in soccer with her pace, width and clinical finishing, coming off a 23-goal, 11-assist campaign in 2023.
"Soccer is really stop and go most of the time," Meister said. "But in soccer, I think I use that stride a lot. So putting it into my track events and running, I think it helps a lot."
Due to a harsh west-to-east wind throughout, peak performances were a challenge to accumulate. But there were some on which to build.
University captured the boys team crown with 143.5 points in a runaway. Andrew Merritt led the charge with an individual triple, taking long jump, 100 and 200.
The senior took one attempt in long jump, in which he is The News-Herald coverage area's top performer to date in a deep season for the local ranks. Merritt hit for a jump of 19 feet, 9 inches, a minor miracle after wet weather leading into the meet made the sand in this particular pit harder than usual.
"When I hit the board, it felt like I slipped, especially when I hit the sand," Merritt explained. "I skidded out of the pit kind of. I just really don't like this pit — I don't perform here well historically.
"But it's OK, though. I still got points for our team so we could win the meet."
Merritt, who took 100 in 11.63 and 200 in 23.51, will be further profiled next week after hitting for a 22-0 1/4 long jump earlier this spring.
Elsewhere across the facility, Perry's Brayden Richards swept hurdles with a 15.52 in 110s and a 40.76 in 3s, two solid efforts given the aforementioned wind.
Madison's Adam Gibbons captured pole vault with a best effort of 13 feet, 3 inches. A year ago, the senior's regular-season PR was 11-6.
?? Madison's Adam Gibbons discusses his PV title during the Ranger Invitational at North
Regular-season PR last year was 11-6, went 13-3 here & is top 4 NH area in PV
Always enjoy seeing that kind of notable year-over-year improvement, so young man earned himself an interview ?? pic.twitter.com/fJjFVkdw3r
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) April 20, 2024
Brush's Antonio Heath took shot put with a 52-5 1/2, not far off his coverage area-best 52-6.
In a strong discus field, Madison's Bryce Brock continued his promising start to his sophomore campaign with a 157-3.
Over in boys high jump, US' Justin Belcher and Perry's Armani Chiappone each cleared 6-2, a News-Herald coverage area-best in a season for high jump that has been plagued thus far by poor weather that has led to a slow start in general.
?? Justin Belcher & Armani Chiappone both got 6-2 in HJ
I'll take that — generally with weather, we've had a bit of a slow start locally in boys HJ, so good to see 6-2s pic.twitter.com/OuwvSqcnNS
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) April 19, 2024
Brush's Kaye Frazier nailed down a 51.17 in 300 hurdles and ran a leg on the Arcs' victorious 4×4 (4:16.34).
??Here are NH area top 3s from North & Berkshire tonight
I'll add this into NH area leaders shortly pic.twitter.com/BbQcCgtAqU
— Chris Lillstrung (@CLillstrungNH) April 20, 2024
