Andrew Mah Wins 2nd Straight New England 3,200

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

DURHAM, N.H. -- Battling high winds and some early summer heat, Saturday’s New England Track and Field Championships provided a good tune up for many athletes for next weekend’s finale to season.

“It’s a fun meet. It’s a good race to get ready for nationals,” Andrew Mah of Newton North MA said after he won the 3,200 meters.

At the University of New Hampshire in Durham, NH, Mah repeated as New England boys 3,200 champion, as he won in 9 minutes and 16.97 seconds.

“I was just trying to win,” Mah said. “It was pretty windy, I didn’t want to go straight to the front but right around 1,200 (meters) to go, it started slowing up a lot, and I felt like I had to go at that point, and no one really came with me.”

Next weekend, Mah, a senior, will compete in North Carolina at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals in the 5,000 and 2-mile.

“I’m just going to go and race and do as well as I can,” he said. “Getting All-American in the 5K would be pretty cool.”

For junior Nikki Merrill of Portsmouth RI, Saturday’s 800 victory (2:11.52) was a step in the right direction heading into nationals.

“I saw improvement from my state championship, about two seconds faster,” Merrill said. “Overall it was a very competitive race, I’m proud of how I raced, making it home first felt good because it was a fast race at the end.”

Merrill will run in the girls mile on Friday and 800 meters on Sunday at NBNO.

Nyagoa Bayak, a junior from Westbrook, ME, claimed the high jump title in 5-11. Bayak said the goal was get over six feet, a mental barrier she’s hoping she can conquer come next week at nationals.

“I usually perform well with competition,” Bayak said.

While many athletes will still have one more race left, for some this was the final race of the season. Staples CT senior Will Landowne claimed the 1,600 crown in 4:14.58, using a great final kick down the homestretch to pass Alex Korczynski of Windham CT (4:14.70).

“This senior year has been phenomenal, indoor and outdoor combined,” Landowne said. “I was really happy with today. This senior year has proven to me to never give up and keep pushing.”

Other highlights included:

Cayden-Spencer-Thompson of Mattanawcook ME won the boys long jump in 24-1.75 and triple jump (48-3.75). He broke his own all-time Maine record in the triple jump.

Winnacunnet NH senior Billy Powers swept the 110 hurdles (14.25) and 300 hurdles (38.67).

Terry Miller of Buckeley swept the girls 100 (11.97) and 200 (24.43).