KP Track Sending Two Athletes To All States

The King Philip track team had more female athletes than males participate in the Division 2 MIAA Indoor Track and Field Championships at the Reggie Lewis Center this past weekend, but it will be the males that represent the school next week at the All States.

Coach Juli Nievergelt had nine different females take part in eight different events in West Roxbury, while only five male athletes made the trip. 

Juniors Charles Ruffin, who won the 300-meter dash with a time of 35.21, and Chris Allen, who came in fifth in the mile with a time of 4:25.04, were KP’s only track stars to move on to Saturday’s All State Meet. The meet will also be held at the Reggie Lewis Center.

According to the coach, both runners will have a shot at their respective events. Going into next weekends races, Allen is seeded 12th in the mile, while Ruffin is the favorite.

“Chris has the potential to run a 4:20 mile, but it’s been tough as he’s been sick a lot this year. And then, with 6 feet of snow, it doesn’t make it easy to run during the week,” Nievergelt said. “Charles will probably win his race. He’s a full half second faster than anyone else in the race, and this is only his first year running track.”

Although Ruffin and Allen will be representing King Philip, Nievergelt is thrilled at the future of freshman Nick Roberts. Although Roberts finished 22nd in the 600 with a time of 1:28.09 in his first Division 2 competition, the coach is very optimistic what he can accomplish over the next three years.

“I’m almost positive that Nick had the fastest time in the state as a freshman and was the only freshman to place in the top six at the Hockomock League Championships,” the coach said. “He is an excellent runner, now I’m trying to figure out how to talk him out of playing lacrosse this spring and [into] running track instead. He doesn’t realize his potential on the track.”

Juniors Cam Claffey (34th in the 600 with a time of 1:30.89) and Matt Bowers (13th with a long jump of 19 feet, 7.75 inches) also competed for the boy’s squad. With Ruffin and Allen’s top six finishes, the male Warriors were able to grab a ninth-place team finish.

“I was absolutely thrilled with the team’s overall results,” the coach said.

The Warriors top female finishers were sophomore Ashley Avery (16th in the 300 meter dash with a time of 44.23) and senior Hannah Beaulieu (16th with a time of 12:31.54 in the 2-mile).

Other females taking part were Hailey Mullen (600 meter with a time of 1:48.52), Sophia Raia (1000 meter run 3:22.48), Kim Hilfrank (mile 5:48.64), Andrea Olsen (shot put 28 feet 10.25 inches); Tori Mosolgo and Caitlyn Croke in the high jump.

 The quartette of Avery, Shauna Coppola, Croke and Mullen finished 17th in the 4 x 200 relay with a time of 1:53.35.