The Bromfield varsity girls track team placed second at the MIAA State Championships Saturday, June 2, at Fitchburg State University. The team finished with 34 points, behind Wellesley with 35.
Six team members participated in the all-state meet. Senior Chloe Alfieri placed first in the 100-meter and the 200-meter with times of 12.09 seconds and 24.47 seconds, respectively. These times are the team records for the meet. In the 4×400-meter relay, the team—Alfieri, sophomore Tessa McClain, sophomore Samantha Schoenberg, and freshman Claire Stoddard—placed second. Schoenberg placed third in the high jump with a height of 5 feet 6 inches. Senior Anya Bégué placed 20th in the 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.38 seconds. In the 400-meter hurdles, freshman Claire Stoddard placed 20th with a time of 1:08.38 minutes.
From left: Coach Greg Bourque, Sam Schoenberg, Chloe Alfieri, Anya Bégué, Coach Jonathan Route, Claire Stoddard, and Tessa McClain. (Courtesy photo)
Schoenberg described her own, as well as the team’s, reaction to their win: “It surprised everyone. We were all expecting to do well in our own events, but we didn’t think of how we were going to do as a team.” She also explained how the team came to achieve its second-place finish: “We always work hard. We do well [at larger meets] because the points are worth more.” At each meet individuals earn points for their teams based on their places in events. When the meets have higher stakes because a greater number of teams participate, the points that are earned have higher value. This is how with only five team members participating, Bromfield came in second. Schoenberg emphasized how “we just have to trust ourselves,” referring to the team’s ability to perform well at large meets.
Stoddard also expressed amazement at Bromfield’s performance at the all-state meet: “No one was expecting it. It was crazy. … it was really heartwarming to see we could do it with five people there.” She praised her teammates for their hard work and described how much she enjoyed participating in the meet. “It was a really nice atmosphere that I personally have never experienced before,” she said.
Alfieri, Schoenberg, McClain, and Stoddard will compete in the New England Outdoor Championship Saturday, June 9, in Durham, New Hampshire.
Placement statistics
100-meter―1, Chloe Alfieri, 12.09 seconds
200-meter―1, Alfieri, 24.47 seconds
400-meter―No places scored
800-meter―No places scored
1-mile―No places scored
2-mile―No places scored
100-meter hurdles―20, Anya Bégué, 16.38 seconds
400-meter hurdles―20, Claire Stoddard, 1:08.38 minutes
4×100-meter relay―No places scored
4×400-meter relay―2, Alfieri, Tessa McClain, Sam Schoenberg, Stoddard, 3:59.41 minutes
4×800-meter relay―No places scored
High jump―3, Schoenberg, 5 feet 6 inches
Long jump―No places scored
Triple jump―No places scored
Pole vault―No places scored
Shot put―No places scored
Discus―No places scored
Javelin―No places scored
Outdoor pentathlon―No places scored
100-meter hurdles outdoor pentathlon―No places scored
High jump outdoor pentathlon―No places scored
Long jump outdoor pentathlon―No places scored
Shot put outdoor pentathlon―No places scored
800-meter run outdoor pentathlon―No places scored
Fiona Morrison is a Bromfield sophomore.
