Thayer Academy’s varsity track & field teams hosted the ISL Championships this past weekend and came away with some serious hardware — both on the team side and as individuals — to show for it.
The girls team captured the ISL crown for the 21st consecutive year. And, while the late Red Auerbach would say that the best championship is the next one, the program’s consistent dominance over two decades is a credit to the student-athletes past and present and their head coach, Jeff Browne P ‘04, ‘05. And Saturday, May 14, was no exception to that rule.
“It was so great to be back in a team championship meet,” said Browne, who pointed out that, due to the pandemic, the last such meet was held in 2019. The longtime coach also noted that, as a result of the hiatus, 21 of the 24 girls competing Saturday had never been in a championship before.
“We train to peak at these big meets, and 17 had personal bests,” said Browne. “Nine finished higher than they were seeded.”
Throughout the day, Browne added, the team was motivated and supportive of one another.
“I’m so proud of them all,” he said.
For the girls, Aoibhe Gormley ‘23 became an ISL champion in both the 200-meter and 400-meter dashes with times of 25.94 and 56.73 seconds, respectively. With a time of 2 minutes, 21.61 seconds, Chloe Clifford ‘22 earned an ISL championship in the 800-meter run.
Thayer also took first place in both the 4x100-meter relay and the 4x400-meter relay. Eliza Farley ‘23, Taylor Forger ‘25, Elle Grant ‘25, and Shea O’Neill ran the 4x100 in a time of 48.85 seconds. Clifford, Clare LaMattina ‘24, Taryn Madsen ‘24, and Gormley ran the 4x400 in a time of 4 minutes, 09.32 seconds.
The field events also saw Thayer girls earn ISL championships. Grant took first in the high jump with a mark of 5 feet, 2 inches, and Bella Milano ‘22 took first in the pole vault with a vault of 10 feet, 6 inches.
The boys team, led by head coach Mike Jones ‘03, also represented the Academy quite well on its Richard V. Sawyer track, finishing in sixth place overall.
Ryan Chiari ‘22 is this year’s ISL champion in the pole vault with a vault of 12 feet, 6 inches. Also scoring points for the boys team in a number of events were Seneca Wallace ‘24, Jack Shepherd ‘24, Jaaden Simpkins ‘23, and Ross Tejeda ‘22.
For a complete list of both Thayer boys and girls earning points at the May 14 meets, please click here.
The girls team will take its 19-0 record to St. Paul’s School this Saturday for the NEPSTA Division 1 Championships. This is the squad’s first year in Division 1.
With a record of 15-5, the boys team will travel that same day to Governor’s Academy for the NEPSTA Division 2 Championships.
Photo Credit: Chris Bernstein
Seneca Wallace '24 jumps hurdles on his way to a 2nd place finish.
Bella Milano '22 pole vaults to 10' 6'' and wins the event.
Elle Grant '25 wins the high jump event, jumping to 5' 2''.
Ross Tejeda '22 runs the 3000 meter event and finishes 5th overall.
