Record caps comeback: Meet the 2023-24 Girls Track Athlete the Year and Super Team

There were some top performances among SouthCoast female runners during the indoor track season at the various conference championships as well as the divisional meets and Meet of Champions .

Here's a look at The Standard-Times ' top girls track and field athletes from the 2023-24 season:

GIRLS INDOOR TRACK RUNNER OF THE YEAR

Morgan Hayward, Apponequet, Senior

Morgan Hayward was at her lowest point when she broke her collarbone during the indoor track season of her junior year and had to take seven weeks off to recover.

“I was devastated,” recalled the Apponequet senior.

She had already missed out on competing during her sophomore outdoor season because of a stress fracture and felt that her window was quickly closing.

“After I broke my collarbone in the winter season of my junior year, I knew I needed more years,” she said. “That’s when I decided I wanted to run in college.”

A determined and healthy Hayward enjoyed a breakout senior year, drawing plenty of interest from the next level. She committed to run at Div. 1 Northeastern University midway toward the end of the indoor season.

“I knew I had the potential so I just wanted to see how good I can be,” she said. “I don’t think I have hit my peak yet.”

That’s a scary thought for the competition.

WHY SHE WAS SELECTED

The South Coast Conference MVP was one of the top 600-meter runners in the state and qualified for New Englands in the event. She also was the first Apponequet girl to compete in the championship division of New Balance Nationals, clocking a 58.46 in the 400.

“It’s tough to explain how talented of a runner she is, but the one statistic that sticks out is 176 total points,” said Apponequet track coach Alex Walecka. “It’s five points per win in dual meets; and she’d often take first place. Between Invitational and dual meets, she had 176 points. The highest before was 80 points over the last 10 years.”

The versatile Hayward also qualified for divisionals in the 55 dash (7.48) in addition to competing in the shot put, high jump and as part of the 4x200 and 4x00 state-qualifying relay teams.

“Morgan is the ultimate competitor,” Walecka said. “She really cares about her teammates and her events. She wants to excel in whatever event we put her in.”

Hayward always envisioned herself running track in high school.

“My older sister (Madison) did track and my mom (Michelle Charette) did track so I thought I would do track, but I thought I’d be more of a distance runner,” said Hayward, who ran middle school cross country. “Once I started doing track my freshman year, track became my favorite sport.”

Hayward’s participation in track translated to success on the soccer field, where she was named the 2023 Standard-Times Player of the Year.

“I would sprint past everyone and score,” she said.

KEY STATS

At the South Coast Conference championship, Hayward won the 600, took second in the high jump and placed third in the 55 dash. She took second in the 600 and fourth in the 55 at the Div. 4 Championship. At the Meet of Champions, Hayward came in ninth place (1:37.94) and advanced to New Englands.  Hayward recorded a school-record 1:35.72 in the 600 meters at New Englands.

Record-setting season: Meet the 2023-24 Boys Track Athlete the Year and Super Team

MVP MOMENT

At New Englands, Hayward lowered her school record time in the 600 meters to come in third place and qualify for Nationals for the first time in her career.

“I had given up on my goal of making nationals,” she said. “Then I ran a 1:35 and I was super excited.

“I’ve had a rough past few seasons with injuries so it felt like I was making my comeback.”

WHAT’S NEXT

Next year Hayward plans to study nursing and run track at Northeastern University.

NOTES

Hayward has two sisters, Madison and Meredith. “My whole family has been super supportive,” said Hayward, who lives in Lakeville.

SUPER TEAM

Emily Abbott, Old Rochester, Senior

Abbott won the 1,000 meters at the South Coast Conference championship with a time of 3:18.49. She clocked a 3:09.67 in the 1,000 at the Div. 4 championship. Her season-best in the 600 was 1:45.31. “She was the leader of a strong pack of mid distance runners while pushing the pace at practices,” said Old Rochester coach Bill Tilden. Abbott was an SCC All-Star.

Sydney Almeida, Dartmouth, Sophomore

Almeida turned some heads this winter as a rising star in the sprints. The sophomore standout was named a Southeast Conference All-Star. Her season-bests were 7.6 in the 55 dash and 44.87 in the 300. She placed 21st in the 55 dash (7.67) at the Div. 3 championship.

Leah Butter, Bishop Stang, Senior

Butter was named the team’s MVP after an outstanding year running distance events. The two-year captain was second in the Catholic Central League in the mile (5:55) and qualified for the Div. 4 meet in that event, but was unable to compete because of illness. Her season-bests were 5:55 in the mile, 14:04 in the 2-mile and 5:41.58 in the 1,500. She also was a part of the 4x400 relay team. “Her love of sports and her love of running,” said Bishop Stang coach Steve McGonigle of what made Butter stand out. The three-sport athlete was a CCL All-Star and graduated fourth in her class in the spring.

Madalyn Duarte, GNB Voc-Tech, Sophomore

Duarte was once again a force on the SouthCoast as a distance runner. The sophomore sensation went undefeated in the mile during the dual meet season and won the South Coast Conference championship. Her season-best was a 5:17. She placed fourth (5:17.28) at the Div. 3 championship. “She’s a big time competitor,” said GNB Voc-Tech Mark Thornhill. “She goes and strides to make herself better with every race she runs.” Duarte also ran on Voc-Tech’s 4x400 relay team.

Sophia Fleurent, Fairhaven, Senior

Fleurent was the leading scorer among both the boys and girls at Fairhaven High in the winter and she recorded a first place in every meet. She took third in the high jump at the South Coast Conference championship. Her season-bests were 7.55 in the 55 meters and 4-6 in the high jump. “She would never ever take no for an answer to hold her back,” said Fairhaven coach Paul Mello. “She was a fierce competitor.”

Reagan Flynn, Apponequet, Senior

Flynn qualified for Div. 4 states in a pair of events — the 55 dash and 300 meters. Her best times in the two events were 7.80 in the 55 and 45.05 in the 300. At the South Coast Conference championship, Flynn took fourth in the 300 and fifth in the 55 dash. She also competed on the 4x200 and 4x400 relay teams throughout the seasons. “She truly defines what it means to be a student athlete,” said Apponequet coach Alex Walecka. “She was willing to do whatever the coach wanted and always strives to get better.”

Amaya Pastor Norales, New Bedford, Freshman

In her second year of running on the team, Pastor Norales made a name for herself as a sprinter. Her season-best of 7.86 in the 55 dash was good enough for eighth in New Bedford High history since 2000. She also anchored the 4x200 relay team that competes at the Adidas National championship. “She had a really good winter for us,” said New Bedford coach Paul Jasinski. “There is something really special there; she’s got just a natural body type. Her stride is pure and natural. She never misses practice. She never complains. She wants to be the best and it really shows.” Pastor Norales was a Southeast Conference All-Star.

Nialonis Smith, New Bedford, Sophomore

Smith, a Southeast Conference All-Star, shined in both the shot put and the weight throw. At the Div. 1 championship, she placed 14th in the shot put (32-02). She went on to take fourth place in the weight throw (41-07.50) at the Meet of Champion. “Nia is powerful,” said New Bedford coach Paul Jaskinski. “She’s just got a lot of raw strength and ability. It was more about being able to harness that by doing weight specific drills and routines.” Smith also competed in the weight throw at Nationals.

Audrey Thomas, Old Rochester, Junior

Thomas had an impressive performance at the South Coast Conference championship, winning the 300 meters (44.49) and placing third in the 55 meters (7.77). The following week, she broke the school record in the 300 with 42.83 at the Div. 4 championship. “She makes speed look effortless,” said Old Rochester coach Bill Tilden. Thomas was an SCC All-Star.

Haley Zexter, Dartmouth, Junior

Zexter enjoyed a strong year running the 55-meter hurdles. The Southeast Conference All-Star clocked a season-best time of 9.44. She also competed in the 55 hurdles at the Div. 3 championship, placing 24th with a time of 9.58.

ALL-STAR TEAM

Jolee Anderson, Wareham, Sophomore

In only her second year of doing the shot put, she had a breakout season. She won all but two meets and took first place at the MSTCA Freshman/Sophomore meet with a season-best throw of 34-1.50. She was second in the Mayflower championship and took sixth at the Div. 5 meet. “She was the most talented in the throwing group this year,” said Wareham coach Chris Gardner. “She took the reins of the throwing group.”

Sienna Cabe, Wareham, Sophomore

Cabe picked up two new events — the high jump and shot put — and qualified for the divisional meet in them as well as the long jump and 55 hurdles, but she missed the meet with an illness. She took sixth in the Mayflower championship in the 55 hurdles and her season-best time was a 9.80. “She has a lot of natural ability and a refuse to lose mentality,” said Wareham coach Chris Gardner of the team’s top point scorer.

Hailey Desmarais, Apponequet, Senior

Desmarais, the 2023 Standard-Times Girls Cross Country Runner of the Year, was a force in distance events in the winter. After going undefeated in the 2-mile during the dual meet season, she took first (12:49.83) in the event at the South Coast Conference championship. She qualified for Div. 4 states. Her season-bests were 12:01.64 in the 2-mile and 6:08.1 in the mile.

Keltey Fournier, Apponequet, Sophomore

Fournier made noise in distance events for Apponequet. She won the 2-mile three times during the dual meet season and finished third in the mile at the South Coast Conference championship. She qualified for the Div. 4 meet in the 2-mile. Her season-bests were 12:54.40 in the 2-mile and 5:57.91 in the mile.

Alexia Gonsalves, Old Rochester, Senior

Gonsalves capped off her final winter season with a strong showing at the Div. 4 championship in which she placed 12th in the 2-mile (13:03.95).

Audrey Kertscher, Dartmouth, Junior

Kertscher had a standout year throwing the shot put, earning Southeast Conference All-Star honors. Her season best was 33-06.25. She took 14th place (30-03) at the Div. 3 championship and went on to compete at Adidas Nationals.

Isabella Menard, Fairhaven, Sophomore

Menard only lost once all season long in the 1,000 meters during dual meet action. She finished fourth in the event at the South Coast Conference championship with a season-best 3:34.

Emerson Palumbo, Bishop Stang, Junior

Palumbo only lost once during the dual meet season in the 600. Her season-best time was 1:57.49. She was also part of the 4x400 relay team. “She was known as our most improved player this year,” said Bishop Stang coach Steve McGonigle.

Alexis Petterson, Wareham, Senior

Doing a combination of sprints and hurdles, Petterson was second on her team in points. She took fourth in the 55 hurdles at the Mayflower League championship. Season-bests for the senior captain were 9.61 in the 55 hurdles and 8.41 in the 55 dash. “She’s a big leader on our squad,” said Wareham coach Chris Gardner. “She leads by example.”

HONORABLE MENTION

Emily Bodwell, Apponequet, Senior; Madeline Polochick, Apponequet, Senior; Emerson Ricciardi, Apponequet, Senior; Peyton Savageau, Apponequet, Freshman; Lola Bergeron, Bishop Stang, Senior; Ellie Jones, Bishop Stang, Junior; Addison Moura, Bishop Stang, Junior; Ava Teixeira, Bishop Stang, Sophomore; Reyana Boyard, Dartmouth, Junior; Brooke Davis, Dartmouth, Senior; Amya Moura, Dartmouth, Junior; Makai Vincent, Dartmouth, Senior; Carly Bradshaw, Fairhaven, Junior; Neva Escobar, GNB Voc-Tech, Sophomore; Shelby Ruffley, GNB Voc-Tech, Sophomore; Lily Brine, New Bedford, Senior; Ollie Costa, New Bedford, Senior; Sophia Perry, New Bedford, Senior; Madison Conner, Old Rochester, Junior; Aubrey Heise, Old Rochester, Senior; Rayn Lauradin, Old Rochester, Freshman; Hanna Whalley, Old Rochester, Senior; Ava Brogioli, Wareham, Junior; Jayla Fernandes, Wareham, Junior; Lain Potter, Wareham, Junior.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Record caps comeback: Meet the 2023-24 Girls Track Athlete the Year and Super Team