2009 Girls Outdoor Track All-Stars

NameSchoolYearEvent

Samantha StabileHaverhillSr.100

Melissa KnappAndoverSr.200

Melissa HigginsSalemSoph.400

Colleen ShannonAndoverSr.800

Alanna PorettaPentucketJr.Mile

*Kirsten KasperNorth AndoverSr.2-Mile/distance

Katie LafranceCentral CatholicJr.100 HH

Brittany GorskiCentral CatholicSr.400 LH

Lauren BergCentral CatholicSr.Jav.

Karina LopezLawrenceSr.Discus

Robyn CirielloSalemSr.SP

Lindsey PattersonTimberlaneSr.PV

Moira CroninAndoverSoph.HJ

Katherine GrzejkaTimberlaneSr.LJ

Emily BellucheAndoverSoph.TJ

Becca ParascandolaLondonderryJr.Heptathlon

Kayla BaldwinAndoverJr.4x100

Melissa KnappAndoverSr.4x100

Vanessa SingletonAndoverJr.4x100

Eve BishopAndoverAndoverSoph.4x100

Shannon O'ConnorNorth AndoverSoph.4x400

Alison PronovostNorth AndoverJr.4x400

Nikki KaralisNorth AndoverJr.4x400

Kirsten KasperNorth AndoverSr.4x400

*Eagle-Tribune MVP

Honorable Mention

Andover — Jess Salley, Soph., high jump; Maggie Mullens, Frosh., mile

Central Catholic — Mackenzie Arndt, Soph., pole vault; Lourdes Pena, Sr., shot put; Katie Helms, Sr., javelin

Greater Lawrence — Cindy McCarthy, Frosh., 2-mile

Haverhill — Christine McNaughton, Jr., mile; Elyssa Penney, Jr., 800

Lawrence — Kim Pham, Jr., pole vault

Londonderry — Megan Schwarz, Soph., long jump; Rachel Moburg, Jr., 800

Methuen — Annie Bajor, Sr., mile; Lindsay Pare, Sr., 200

North Andover — Karissa Mako, Sr., 2-mile; Lynsay Wray, Sr., mile; Lauren Small, Sr., high jump

North Reading — Kristy Conway, Soph., pole vault; Brittany Angiolillo, Soph., long jump

Pelham — Kelsi Lynde, Soph., 100 hurdles; Emily Long, Soph., 400; Shannon Oriole, Soph., 400

Pentucket — April O'Brien, Sr., 800; Ellen Broz, Sr., pole vault; Andi Attenasio, Sr., 400

Pinkerton — Sammy Graziani, Jr., pole vault; Katie Ebner, Soph., shot put

Salem — Amy Desrosiers, Soph., discus; Erica Begin, Jr., javelin; Victoria Rozumek, Frosh., high jump

Sanborn — Tamra Comerford, Sr., 100; Ginny Lavalle, Soph., 300 hurdles

Timberlane — Sierra Obi, Frosh., shot put; Kristen Swanson, Soph., 400

Whittier — Lisa Leak, Sr., discus

SAMANTHA STABILE, Haverhill, Sr., 100

Six-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star finished fifth at All-States in 12.59, which is eighth on our all-time rankings. Placed second at EMass. Division 1 meet (12.60). Won the MVC title in the 200 (25.61). Had the best 100 and 200 times in the area this spring and ran blazing times (12.34, 25.28) last year. Took third in the high jump at MVCs (5-0) and EMass. Division 1 (5-5). Will run at Northeastern.

MELISSA KNAPP, Andover, Sr., 200

Placed fourth at All-States (25.65), sixth best in our all-time rankings. Took second at EMass. Division 1 meet (25.83) and third at MVCs (26.27). Won Andover Boosters title (26.26). Also named meet MVP. "I couldn't be more proud of her," coach Peter Comeau said. Graduates as the school record holder (25.61, 5th all-time in area). Ran on record-setting 4x100 team. Will run at Lehigh.

MELISSA HIGGINS, Salem, Soph., 400

On the verge of big things. Finished third at Meet of Champions (58.07) and second at Class Ls (58.29). Had fastest time in region (57.83), which is seventh in our all-time rankings. Also stood out in the 200. Took fifth at Meet of Champions (26.68) and fourth at Class Ls (26.15). Notched best long jump (17-4) in the area. Class secretary. Performs in local theater.

COLLEEN SHANNON, Andover, Sr., 800

Placed fifth (2:15.96) at EMass. Division 1 meet, second at MVCs (2:15.19), ninth in Emerging Elite division (2:17.43) at Nike Outdoor Nationals and second (2:18.75) at Andover Boosters. Ran lead leg of second-place 4x400 team at EMass. Division 1. Also long jumped. Ranked second all-time in region with 2:13.79 as a sophomore. Will run track at Penn State.

ALANNA PORETTA, Pentucket, Jr., Mile

Area's second best distance runner behind superstar Kirsten Kasper. Finished fifth at All-States in 4:57.83, the fifth best in our all-time rankings and a school record. Took fourth at New Englands (4:59.18, 1,600 meters). Cruised to victory at EMass. Division 3 meet (5:02.43). CAL champ (5:12). Placed fourth at State Coaches Invitational (5:10.09). Five-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star.

KATIE LAFRANCE, Central Catholic, Jr., 100 high hurdles

Placed third at EMass. Division 2 meet (15.92) and second at MVCs (15.71) and Andover Boosters (school-record 15.68, tied 10th all-time in region). At Nashua North Invitational, finished third in both hurdles (15.85, 49.61) Helped lead Raiders to MVC meet title and sixth straight league title. Took third at MVC indoor meet in 55 hurdles (9.06). Accomplished ballet dancer. Atkinson resident.¬ 

BRITTANY GORSKI, Central Catholic, Sr., 400 low hurdles

Placed fourth at EMass. Division 2 meet (1:06.15), third at MVCs (1:06.60) and third at Andover Boosters (1:06.93). Came in fourth in 300 hurdles at Nashua North Invitational (49.88). Versatile contributor. Ran the 600 in the winter (1:41.65). Also proficient in the long jump. Will run track at Holy Cross. Tewksbury resident.

LAUREN BERG, Central Catholic, Sr., Javelin

Topped our leaderboard in both the javelin (130-7) and shot put (39-3). Finished fourth at All-States (125-8) in the javelin. Won the EMass. Division 2 meet (120-4). MVC champ in the javelin (125-0) and the shot (37-9 1/2). Finished seventh in the javelin at New Englands (128-9). Has thrown 40-1 1/2 in the shot (7th all-time in area). Will compete at BU. MVC All-Star in volleyball.

KARINA LOPEZ, Lawrence, Sr., Discus

Finished career strong, winning with a throw of 115-10 at EMass. Division 1 meet. In a dual meet against Billerica, notched the best throw of the season (124-8), moving her to eighth in our all-time rankings. MVC meet (117-5) and Andover Boosters (116-0) champ. Placed fourth in shot put at EMass. Division 1 meet (34-11). Had a best of 35-5 3/4 this spring. Three-sport captain (volleyball, basketball).

ROBYN CIRIELLO, Salem, Sr., Shot put

Class L champ (38-1 1/2). Finished second at Meet of Champions (36-8). Won Merrimack Invitational (35-3 1/2). Also strong in the discus. Finished fourth at Meet of Champions (112-2) and second at Class Ls (105-7). Missed most of her prom to compete at Class L. Overcame bad back injury from volleyball season. Graduated in top 15 percent of her class. Windham resident will throw at UMass Lowell.

LINDSEY PATTERSON, Timberlane, Sr., Pole vault

Three-time spring All-Star. Graduates as the region's best ever pole vaulter (12-5, 17 inches higher than No. 2). Defended her titles at Class Ls (11-9) and Meet of Champions (11-6); the former is a New Hampshire record. Placed second at New Englands (11-9). Finished eighth at Class Ls in the 300 hurdles (49.62). Cross country co-captain. Graduated 13th in class of 378. Will vault at Cornell.

MOIRA CRONIN, Andover, Soph., High jump

The 5-foot-11 skywalker set the school and area record, clearing 5-9 to win at New Englands. Swept all major meets, emerging victorious at Andover Boosters (5-6), MVCs (5-6), EMass. Division 1 (5-7) and All-States (5-6). Says she can touch a basketball rim (10-feet!) Placed fifth in 100 hurdles (16.44) at Andover Boosters. All-Scholastic. Also plays volleyball. Wears hearing aids to help with hearing impairment.

KATHERINE GRZEJKA, Timberlane, Sr., Long jump

Finished seventh at Class Ls in long jump (16-0 1/2) and fifth in triple jump (35-8 1/2). Took eighth in long jump (16-3 1/2), ninth in triple jump (34-4) and sixth in 4x100 team at Meet of Champions. Finished second in long jump (17-0) and third (34-8 3/4) in triple jump at Seacoast Championships. Long jumped 17-1 at Loucks Games. Placed 11th in N.H. Heptathlon. Triple jumped 35-11 as a junior.

EMILY BELLUCHE, Andover, Soph., Triple jump

MVC champ (34-11). Finished third at EMass. Division 1 meet (36-2 1/4, 14th all-time in the area). Andover Boosters meet champ (35-11). Finished 12th (34-9) at All-States. Former gymnast. Took fourth in 100 hurdles at MVCs (16.39) and Andover Boosters (16.11). Helped Golden Warriors place second at Division 1 meet. Midfielder on field hockey team.

BECCA PARASCANDOLA, Londonderry, Jr., Heptathlon

Set modern area record with 4,381 points to win N.H. Heptathlon then scored 4,476 points to win Junior Olympic Region 1 title. Set area record in 100 hurdles (14.62) with a second-place finish at New Englands. Starred at Meet of Champions, winning 100 hurdles (15.03) and high jump (5-4). At Class Ls, won 100 hurdles (14.74) and placed second in the high jump (5-2). Eagle-Tribune MVP indoors.

ANDOVER, 4x100

Kayla Baldwin, Melissa Knapp, Vanessa Singleton, Eve Bishop

MVC champs (51.38), placed third at EMass. Division 1 (49.97), sixth at All-States (49.79) and fourth at New Englands (49.52, fifth all-time in area rankings). Won Andover Boosters (50.01). Baldwin is the MVC 100 champ (12.87) and ran a 12.74 this season. Bishop finished fourth in the 100 at MVCs (13.23).¬ Singleton (six times) and Knapp (four times) are perennial Eagle-Tribune All-Stars.

NORTH ANDOVER, 4x400

Shannon O'Connor, Alison Pronovost, Nikki Karalis, Kirsten Kasper

School record holders placed second at EMass. Division 2 meet (4:05.33) and fifth at All-States (4:02.66, 11th all-time in region). CAL champs (4:09). Finished fourth (4:10.89) at Andover Boosters (freshman Julia Varoutsos ran the second leg at CALs and at the Boosters). O'Connor, the CAL 100 champ, took sixth at Division 2 meet (12.86).

Kasper has no equal

How dominant was North Andover's Kirsten Kasper? The Georgetown University-bound superstar graduates as a 10-time Eagle-Tribune All-Star in swimming, track and cross country.

She had a spectacular spring, even for her standards. Her crowning achievement occurred at the All-State meet, when she won the mile in 4:49.15, smashing the area record by 4.75 seconds. It was the 11th fastest time nationally this spring.

Kasper, the Cape Ann League 2-mile (11:17) and 800 (2:15) champ, also won the mile at the EMass. Division 2 meet (4:55.80).

She graduates as the area-record holder in the mile, the 800 (2:12.56 in 2007) and 2-mile (10:48.68 at this year's Andover Boosters). The two-mile mark obliterated the 27-year-old former area standard by nearly seven seconds.

For all her swimming and running accomplishments, she was named Eastern Mass. 2008-09 Public School Female Athlete of the Year.

It's scary to imagine her potential.

"She can develop more and more," Georgetown cross country coach Chris Miltenberg said of Kasper, one of five Mass. schoolgirls ever to capture three state cross country championships. "High school (runners) who don't overdevelop at a young age have a lot of room for growth."

If Kasper, who won the prestigious Moynihan Scholar-Athlete award, continues to improve, her career might not end after college. The Toronto area native hopes to run for Canada's national team one day. Coach Rick DelleChiaie thinks she could eventually become an Olympian.

Her graduation this spring was not something DelleChiaie was looking forward to.

"I've been dreading this for a while," he said.

Former Eagle-Tribune MVPs

2008 — Bree Robinson, Pinkerton; 2007 — Camille Quarles, Pinkerton; 2006 — Camille Quarles, Pinkerton; 2005 — Meghan Keefe, Andover; 2004 — Kiah Quarles, Pinkerton; 2003 — Jessica Cegarra, Timberlane; 2002 — Esia Johnson, Lawrence; 2001 — Courtney MacLaren, Londonderry; 2000 — Melissa Donais, Phillips (Bradford); 1999 — Amy Mannarini, Londonderry; 1998 — Courtney Walker, Pinkerton; 1997 — Krista Nelson, Londonderry; 1996 — Susan Ashlock, Andover; 1995 — Helena Kimball, Londonderry; 1994 — Helena Kimball, Londonderry; 1993 — Andi Robinson, Masconomet; 1992 — Kirsten Johnson, Masconomet; 1991 — Heather Weldon, Timberlane; 1990 — Jen Kotce, Pinkerton