Record-breaking Patriots Girls Track Team: 11 All-Stars, GBL’s top athlete and coach

By Dom Nicastro

What a season. How else can you describe the accomplishments of the Revere High School girls track team?

The Patriots concluded their indoor season with notable accomplishments, including a series of records and titles. Junior Liv Yuong was recognized as the Greater Boston League (GBL) Track Athlete of the Year, a testament to her consistent performance across multiple events. Yuong was the GBL champion in high jump, long jump and the 55-meter hurdles, setting personal bests and a school record in the long jump. Her efforts in the pentathlon also brought her within striking distance of the school record.

The Patriots boasted 11 All-Stars this year, with individual athletes achieving new school records and contributing to team victories in various relay events. Their season included an undefeated 7-0 record and a GBL Championship meet win, alongside setting five school records.

While highlighting the team’s collective success, Revere’s coach, Racquel MacDonald-Ciambelli, credited their achievement to the athletes’ hard work and dedication, particularly in the face of a season without an assistant coach, relying heavily on the leadership of team captains.

The coach herself was named GBL Coach of the Year, an honor she attributes to the team’s strong performance. The Patriots are now looking forward to continuing their momentum into the outdoor season.

“Not only did we have 11 All-Stars this year, but Liv was also named GBL Track Athlete of the Year, an honor she has truly deserved for multiple years now,” MacDonald-Ciambelli said.

Yuong’s season PRs include 9.57 in the 55-meter hurdles (lifetime PR), 5-0 in the high jump and 15-10 in the long lump (school record). She also competed in two pentathlons this year and is only 200 points away from the school record in this event. She improved by almost 50 points in the event score from December to February.

“Liv is one of the most coachable athletes I’ve had the pleasure of coaching in my last seven years,” MacDonald-Ciambelli said. “She takes direction extremely well and uses it to supplement her natural talent. She has put in the work since her freshman year and has been a standout in this league since 2021. We’re so glad to see her getting the recognition she deserves.”

Revere’s GBL All-Stars and some highlights from their season include:

• Ashley Chandler: Weight Throw school record holder. Member of the school record-setting shotput relay team.
• Ashley Cabrera Rodriguez: Member of the school record-setting 4×200-meter relay team and GBL 4×200-meter champion team.
• Danni Hope Randall: Member of the school record-setting 4×200-meter relay team and GBL 4×200-meter champion team.
• Francoise Kodjo: Member of the school record-setting shotput relay team. Consistent scorer in the shotput in dual meets.
• Gemma Stamatopoulos: GBL champ in the 600-meter and 2-mile events and second place in the high jump member of the school record distance medley relay team. Undefeated in the 600-meter at GBL dual meets. State qualifier in the 600-meter.
• Giselle Salvador: Team captain and member of the school record-setting 4×200-meter relay team and GBL 4×200-meter champion team.
• Hiba El Bzyouy: Consistent scorer in the 1,000-meter race throughout the GBL dual meet season. Member of the school record distance medley relay team.
• Jaliyah Manigo: Member of the school record-setting 4×200-meter relay team and GBL 4×200-meter champion team.
• Liv Yuong: GBL champ in high jump, long jump, 55-meter hurdles. School record holder in indoor long jump and high jump. Pentathlete. State qualifier in all three events.
• Olivia Rupp: GBL champ in the mile and member of the school record distance medley relay team. State qualifier in the mile.
• Rania Hamdani: Member of the school-record distance medley relay team.

“Overall, I really can’t say enough about the team this season,” MacDonald-Ciambelli said. “The 7-0 undefeated record, the GBL Championship meet win, the five school records set. Truly incredible. On top of all their successes, the team really came together this year with a goal and consistently worked for not only team wins, but to better one another. They also were able to pass on their love and excitement for the sport by hosting a youth track clinic over their February break.”

No success just came easily to the Patriots, according to the coach. Her student-athletes worked hard in practices since December, and the coach is confident they will continue this pattern of success into the outdoor season.

“I have to give a huge shout-out to my captains too — Yara Belguendouz, Camila Esteves, Angelina Montoya, Yasmin Riazi and Giselle Salavador,” MacDonald-Ciambelli said. “Since I don’t have an assistant coach, I rely on my captains for support with coaching and keeping the girls motivated. Each one of them excelled in this role and the whole team looked up to them.”

MacDonald-Ciambelli was named GBL Coach of the Year, “but truly it is all thanks to the incredible team I had this year so they deserve all the credit. A team this strong and dedicated makes my job easy.”

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