Another Strong Showing – Saugus Sachems Track Camp finishes third among 15 teams competing in Rhode Island track meet

By Mark E. Vogler

 

When the members of the Saugus Sachems Track Camp assembled at William L. MacNeil Memorial Track and Field last week for a team photo, six-year-old Janaya Hooks got to hold the green trophy the team brought home from Cranston, R.I. She won the honor for being the youngest member of the team that finished third among the 15 teams competing in the Fifth Annual CLCF Summer Showdown on July 19. Janaya did well in her age group, notching two third-place awards and a sixth-place finish in her events.

“It was an awesome weekend,” Coach Chris Tarantino said of the strong showing put on by the 55 young athletes from ages six to 15 who competed against teams from four New England states.

Last week’s get-together closed the chapter on the 20th year that Tarantino, known affectionately as “Coach T.,” has run the summer track camp. “We had 55 campers this year, and 45 of them got down to Cranston,” Tarantino said.

His 13-year-old daughter, Naomi, was one of several track camp participants who brought home multiple medals. She won first in the javelin and the triple jump, while finishing fourth in the hammer throw and fifth in the shot put.

The kids have fun winning medals and developing leadership and athletic skills. The parents seem to enjoy the program just as much as their children.

“I love seeing them improve each year and become more confident as they grow into team leaders and become the veteran kids,” said Andrea Bell, the mother of two boys who have been competing for several years.

Matthew Bell, 13, has participated in track camp since finishing kindergarten and will be going into the eighth grade at Saugus Middle-High School in the fall. “It’s cool,” said Matthew.

“It gives me something to do and helps me run better,” he said.

His 10-year-old brother, Jonathan, said, “It’s fun and gives me a chance to make some friends.”

Christine Benoit accompanied her four boys to the track last week: Matty, 11; JJ, 8; Mark, 7; and Johnny, 12. “I think the track camp is great for all of the kids, to work on their own individual skills with running and field events,” Christine said.

“Coach T. and all of the other coaches are so good at working with the kids. All of the kids get to know each other and cheer each other on. They build confidence and enjoy the competition and being part of a big community,” she said. All four of her sons got to win multiple medals in the events that they competed in.

Madeline Hobbs and her husband David had three sons participating in the track camp this summer: Leo, 8; Tye, 5; and Eli, 11. And they hope to see their 18-month-old baby, Mak, competing, too, in a few years. “I see a lot of growth in the kids. And it’s great to see how they build on friendships over the summer,” Madeline said.

“I’ve seen the confidence in them grow. They’re not competing against each other. They’re competing with themselves to get better. And that’s really nice to see,” she said.

Telma Sena, mom of Luiz Sena, said she is proud of her 11-year-old son, who’s headed for the sixth grade. “The camp makes him a good athlete,” Telma said.

“But it also makes him a good boy. It helps him to develop and grow in all areas and makes him a good human being,” she said.

Luiz, 11, has participated in summer track camp for five years. He finished second in the 1,500 meter and the hammer throw. He also finished fourth in the high jump, which he considers his favorite event.

“It helps you make new friends and it gives you new opportunities,” Luiz said of his track camp experience.

“It helps you understand what it means to be part of a growing community [his team],” he said.

 

Summer Track Camp Roster 2025

  Alanah Sullivan: 12; Hurdles (2nd), Long Jump, 200m, 400m.

Alena Bruzzese: 14; 100m, Shot Put (2nd), Hammer (2nd), Discus (2nd).

AJ Diciero: 9 (10); 800m, Javelin, Hurdles (4th), Standing Triple Jump (5th).

Amelia Clark: 11; Shot Put, Standing Triple Jump (6th), High Jump, Hammer (3rd).

Annalisa Ferrara: 11; Hurdles (1st), 100m (5th), 200m, Long Jump.

Aubrey Viciere: 13; 100m, High Jump (3rd), Hammer (3rd), Shot Put (3rd).

Brandon Szloch: 9; Hurdles (5th), 100m, 200m, Javelin (1st).

Brayden Giacobbe: 10 (11); 100m, Long Jump, Javelin, Hammer (5th).

Brianna Churchill: 6 (7).

Brody Melon: 8.

Carlo Bonito: 7 (8).

Charlie Winter: 8; Long Jump (3rd), Shot Put (2nd), Hurdles (1st), 100m.

Christian Bonito: 4 (5).

Connor Waters: 13; Discus (2nd), Javelin (4th), Hammer (2nd), 200m (6th).

Destiny Okoye: 15 (16).

Domenic Bruzzese: 9 (10); Standing Triple Jump (1st), 200m, Hurdles, Shot Put (2nd).

Eli Hobbs: 11 (12); Hurdles (5th), 100m, Long Jump, Standing Triple Jump.

Elizabeth Silipigni: 11 (12); Standing Triple Jump (5th), Shot Put (5th), Hammer (2nd), Long Jump.

Ella Sullivan: 8 (9); Long Jump, Hurdles, 100m, Javelin (3rd).

Enzo Liebl: 8 (9); Shot Put (4th), High Jump, Hurdles, Long Jump.

Gracie Niles: 12; 200m, 400m, Standing Triple Jump (3rd), Javelin (2nd).

Janaya Hooks: 6; 100m (3rd), 200m, Hurdles (3rd), Long Jump (6th).

JJ Benoit: 8 (9); Javelin (2nd), Shot Put (3rd), Long Jump, Hammer (1st).

John Benoit: 11 (12); 200m (4th), Hurdles (1st), Shot Put (1st), Standing Triple Jump (1st).

Jonathan Bell: 10 (11); 200m, 400m, High Jump (6th), Javelin (4th).

Justin Bremberg: 17.

Kason Imbrogna: 16 (17).

Kaylee Lacava: 12 (13).

Leo Hobbs: 8; 200m, Hurdles (1st), Long Jump (2nd), Javelin.

Liam Marcu: 10 (11); 200m, Long Jump, Standing Triple Jump (6th), Shot Put.

Lily Waters: 11 (12); Shot Put (2nd), Javelin (4th), Hurdles (5th), Long Jump.

Luke Porrazzo: 10; 800m (1st), 1500m (1st), Standing Triple Jump (3rd), Javelin (4th).

Luiz Sena: 11 (12); 800m (6th), 1500m (2nd), High Jump (4th), Hammer (2nd).

Maggie Winter: 11; 100m, Long Jump, Shot Put (3rd), Javelin (3rd).

Mark Benoit: 7; 200m (6th), Hurdles (2nd), Shot Put (2nd), Long Jump (3rd).

Mark Haley: 7; 100m, Hurdles (3rd), Long Jump, Javelin.

Mary Zona: 12 (13); 100m, Shot Put (4th), High Jump (3rd), Triple Jump (2nd).

Matthew Bell: 13 (14); 400m (5th), 800m (4th), High Jump (4th), Discus.

Matthew Benoit: 10 (11); Javelin (2nd), Shot Put (4th), Hammer (4th), Standing Triple Jump (3rd).

Matthew Silipigni: 11 (12); 800m, Shot Put (6th), Hammer, Standing Triple Jump (5th).

Naomi Tarantino: 13; Shot Put (5th), Hammer (4th), Javelin (1st), Triple Jump (1st).

Nick Gomes: 11 (12); Shot Put (3rd), Hammer (3rd), Discus (3rd), Standing Triple Jump (4th).

Oscar Al Hade: 9; Hurdles, High Jump, Long Jump, Javelin.

Rafael Santos: 15 (16).

Robbie Churchill: 9.

Ryan Haynes: 11 (12); 400m (6th), Hurdles (3rd), High Jump (5th), Standing Triple Jump (2nd).

Sam Gomes: 10; 400m, Hurdles (6th), Long Jump (1st), Standing Triple Jump (2nd).

Samantha Donovan: 12; 100m, 200m, 400m, Standing Triple Jump (2nd).

Santino Diciero: 7; 100m, Hurdles (5th), Shot Put (1st), Long Jump.

Sophie Sene: 11 (12); 100m, Shot Put (4th), Hammer (1st), Standing Triple Jump (4th).

Thomas LeBlanc: 11 (12); 200m, Javelin (3rd), High Jump (3rd), Long Jump (3rd).

Tye Hobbs: 5 (6); 100m, 200m, Hurdles (3rd), Long Jump (3rd).

Xavier Mazariegos-Darnell: 9; 100m, Hurdles, Javelin, Standing Triple Jump (4th).

Yunauris Rodriguez: 14 (15); 200m (5th), 400m (3rd), Javelin (3rd), Triple Jump (4th).

Zane Al Hade: 10 (11); 100m, Javelin (5th), Shot Put, Long Jump.