~ RHS Sports Roundup ~

Malden edges Revere in swimming

Malden defeated Revere in a close meet, 88-79. Malden was able to take an early lead, getting first and second place in the 200-medley relay to start the meet. Revere came back strong – winning the next two events. Senior Juan Cano won the 200 free, and senior Alem Cesic won the 200 IM.

In the 50 free, Revere freshman Wilson Feng took second, and senior Harrison Rua fourth in a race where the top four spots were separated by less than a second. In the 100 fly, senior Matt Terrell took second, and in the 100 free, seniors Nate Hill and Vilson Lipa took second and third. In the 500 free, Cesic earned another first place, and senior Jannet Sehli took third. The Patriots’ 200 free relay team of Terrell, Feng, Rua and Hill finished second.

At that point, Malden had a 26-point lead, but Revere finished strong. Cano and Lipa went first and third in the 100 back; Rua and Hill also took first and third in the 100 breast stroke. The 400 free relay team of Terrell, Cesic, Lipa and Cano claimed first in the night’s final event.

The next meet is the Greater Boston League championship on Thursday, Jan. 25, at Medford at 4 p.m.

Revere girls track team sets records

The Revere girls track team had two school records set and broken over the weekend at the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association D1 State Relays at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston. The shotput trio of Ashley Chandler, Francoise Kodjo and Caleigh Joyce set a school record in the shot-put relay, a previously uncontested event for the school. Kodjo led the team with her best throw being 25-10.75. Chandler was close behind with a throw of 23. Freshman Joyce’s best throw was 20-10.5. In total, the school record they set was 21.26.

“In a shotput relay all team participants must hit at least 20 feet on their first throw so it was definitely nerve-wracking for the girls, but they all hit over 20 and were able to set this record,” Revere coach Racquel MacDonald-Ciambelli said. “Our throwers continue to improve each week, and I am really looking forward to seeing how they finish out the season.”

The other school record broken this weekend was the distance medley relay (1,200, 400, 800, 1-mile). The quartet of Hiba El Bzyouy (1,200), Rania Hamdani (400), Gemma Stamatopoulos (800) and Olivia Rupp (mile) ran a time of 15:07.23, beating the old school record set nine years ago by almost 20 seconds.

“This was after half of the team had already run other relays earlier in the meet,” MacDonald-Ciambelli said. “I’m confident this group could continue to break this record come outdoor season on fresh legs. This is the third school record broken this season for our girls, and it is so exciting watching them put their mark in RHS history. It is so well deserved.”