Daily News Track Stars

Daily News of Newburyport

DEANNA LATHAM
Track Athlete of the Year
Triton

Dash

Only a freshman, the speedster was the buzz of not only the CAL, but also all of Class C.

"Obviously, we did not know much about her going into the season," said Triton coach Jim Hounman. "As the season went on, you could see that her times were some of the best in the league."

Latham certainly saved her best for last capturing in succession the CAL and Class C titles in the dash. Latham then went on to post a second place finish at the All-State meet and closed out the season by finishing sixth at the New England meet.

Although Latham believed that she could perform well in her initial winter season, she admits that she wasn't expecting to have a breakout season.

"I really thought that I could do well, but I didn't think I would get this far."

Improving on each meet, Latham is the Daily News Winter Track 2006-07 Athlete of the Year.

KAITLYN WALLACE
Newburyport Jr.

Shot Put

Picking up on a stellar sophomore season outdoors, the junior submitted an undefeated regular season in the shot, including a CAL championship performance. Placed at the Elite Coaches Invitational. Set an NHS school record with 35-3 throw. Placed in the Class D meet. Voted team MVP.

PAIGE SUTHERLAND
Pentucket Jr.

Mile

First in the Class C mile (5:11) and second at the CAL Meet. Followed those efforts up with a fourth place finish in the All-State meet. Set the school record with a 5:11.01 time in the mile. A part of three other school record teams, including the 4x400, 4x800, and the medley relay teams. Finished fourth at All-States in the mile, and sixth at the New England championships.

APRIL O'BRIEN
Pentucket So.

1000

A Daily News all star in the fall in cross country, the sophomore did not break stride indoors this winter. First in the CAL meet (3:09.3) in the 1000 where she broke her own school record and was fourth at the Class C meet. Fourth in the All-State meet as well. Part of the school-record 4x400 team, O'Brien will look to keep it going in spring track where she is also a returning all star.

ALANNA PORETTA
Pentucket Fr.

Mile and 600

The fleet-footed freshman followed up a terrific season in cross country with a strong winter campaign. Second at the CAL meet in the 600. Third at the Class C meet in the mile. A part of the 4x800 CAL meet all-star team that finished third. She set the school record for points scored in a season for a freshman.

RICHIE PACE
Newburyport Jr.

Shot Put

No one was more menacing with a steel projectile in his hand than this junior. Won the CAL meet where he helped lead the Clippers to their first CAL Meet title. Placed second in the Class D meet and was first Clipper to place in the All-State meet since 2000. Finished 10th at the New Englands. Established another new NHS indoor record with a throw of 53-3. Named co-captain for next year's squad.

KYLE LeBLANC
Newburyport Fr.

Dash

Don't blink or you might miss this freshman. Bested a top notch field of underclassmen from across the state to win the dash in the Freshman-Sophomore meet in Boston. Placed in the Coaches' Invitational meet (6.75). Placed second in the Class D meet. Helped lead NHS to new school records in 4x200 and 4x400.

GARRETT HARMS
Newburyport Sr.

High Hurdles

This senior was another vital cog in helping lead the Clippers' to a school best 8-1 mark. Grabbed All-CAL status after winning the CAL meet in the hurdles (8.15) where he broke his own school mark. Undefeated in the regular season in the hurdles. Member of NHS school record setting 4x200 team. Captain of both the indoor and spring track teams.

RYAN JOHNSTON
Amesbury Sr.

Dash

Once again, no one was faster over 55 meters in the Cape Ann League than this fleet-footed senior who is making his second appearance as a Daily News winter track all star. Johnston repeated as champion at the CAL meet (6.56). Finished third at the Class C meet. Finished 13th at the All-States. Qualified for the states in the 4x200 relay as well where he ran with his younger brother, Kevin.

Honorable Mention

Athlete	School
Billy Tindle, Peter Rock, John Wetenkamp	Triton Boys
Jen Fuller	Amesbury Girls
Alex Curry	Newburyport Girls
Thayer Adsit, Tom Svirsky, Taylor Roberts, Garret Boyd	Newburyport Boys

Track All-Stars

Name	School	Year	Event
Deanna Latham	Triton	Fr.	55
Ryan Johnston	Amesbury	Sr.	55
Kaitlyn Wallace	Newburyport	Jr.	Shot Put
Garrett Harms	Newburyport	Sr.	High Hurdles
Kyle LeBlanc	Newburyport	Fr.	55
Richie Pace	Newburyport	Sr.	Shot Put
Paige Sutherland	Pentucket	Jr.	Mile
Alanna Poretta	Pentucket	Fr.	Mile
April O'Brien	Pentucket	So.	1000

Choosing Our All-Star Squads

The Daily News All-Star teams were selected by the sports staff after consultation with area coaches for the particular sports. Statistics, awards, consistency, postseason performances and team success are the key factors in choosing each sport's squad.

At the Bay State Games, Poretta set a meet age-group record with a 2:24.43, breaking a record held by Bromfield great Ari Lambie, who won eight state titles in high school and is now four-time All-American at Stanford.

"I don't like to compare, but we've had a lot of good girls and she's as good as anyone we've had," said Grant. "She has good endurance for her age, she has good pacing and she's really fast. She has a bright future."

Just as important, perhaps, Poretta loves running. She began running on a limited basis with her parents, Anthony and Elaine, and gradually picked up the volume.

"I just like running a lot," said the 14-year-old from Groveland. "I feel good when I'm running and I like how it's stress relieving."

Poretta doesn't run much anymore with her parents, who are originally from Salem, Mass. Instead, she runs several times a week with the Lynx Elite, running alongside accomplished runners like Maguire, Governor Dummer star Keara Thomas of Haverhill and Phillips Exeter standout Ashley Farnsworth.

"Keara is really nice to me and helps me a lot and I run with Ashley," said Poretta. "We don't do a lot of fast workouts, but I know it helps me running with such great runners.

"And I like my coach (Grant). He teaches me how to get faster and stronger and also how not to get hurt."

Formerly a soccer player, Poretta is ready to dedicate herself to running. Thus far, she prefers the 800 just slightly over the mile, but Grant believes her best event may be the mile, and that's something she has her sights on.

"I'm really looking forward to high school running," said Poretta. "I want to break the school record in the mile. I think cross country is going to be fun."

Poretta has already accomplished her summer goal of breaking 2:25 for the 800 and she may take another second off when she competes, along with Thomas, at the Hershey (Pa.) nationals Aug. 5. After that, it will be time to prepare for cross country, which should provide even more drama in the suddenly running-rich CAL.

The Poretta file

Name: Alanna Poretta

Age: 14

Parents: Anthony and Elaine Poretta

Hometown: Groveland

School: Pentucket

Running Club: Lynx Elite of Haverhill

Running highlights: Placed first this summer in Bay State Games (with meet age-group record of 2:24.43 in 800), Hershey state meet and New England Junior Olympics. Ran a 5:35 mile last year.

Lynx Elite Greats

Over the past 12 years, the last five directing Lynx Elite Athletics, of Haverhill, Mick Grant has produced some outstanding runners.

Runner	Hometown	Highlights
Russell Brown	Hanover, N.H.	All-American for Stanford, ran 3:59.65 in mile this year
Chantelle Dron	Candia, N.H.	2 time Indoor national mile champ in high school, 2 time Foot Locker cross country finalist; runs at Colorado State
Melissa Donais	Bradford	Northeast Regional Foot Locker champ; ran for Yale
Mia Swenson	Hamilton	Former All-Scholastic, distance star at Princeton
Harry Norton	North Reading	A star at Phillips Exeter, he's nearing 4-minute mile at Dartmouth
Ashley Moulton	Haverhill	Standout sprinter, Division 2 All-American at UMass Lowell
Keara Thomas	Haverhill	Undefeated in cross country, three-time New England Prep champion at Governor Dummer
Keely Maguire	Georgetown	Captured Division 2 All-State cross country title as Triton sophomore