Runners Put on Good Showing in the Big Apple

Winning has been no big hurdle for Camilla Worsfold, Tess Obenschain, Natalie White and Tyler Parady.

The runners have captured the Div. 4 state championship in the shuttle hurdles for the past three seasons.

This is the second year in a row the girls have qualified for the Nationals.

After finishing up this season at 9-1-1 in the Cape Ann League Small, the girls took their act on the road, heading to the New Balance Armory in New York City on March 12 to compete in the National Championships.

Tyler Parady and Natalie White helped captain this year’s indoor track team, and they couldn’t have asked provided better leadership, according to track coach Steve Sawyer.

“The girls were great, they put in the effort, they mentored young runners on the team,” Sawyer said. “They made things easy for me, they were a couple of extra coaches actually, and did everything that was asked of them.”

Sawyer has been at the helm of Hamilton-Wenham track since 1969, and has seen a lot of runners over the years.

“It’s been a great ride for me, I’ve had brothers and sisters run for me, multiple family members, now I’m getting the children of kids I used to coach coming out to run track.”

Worsfold, Obenschain, White and Parady made up one of the 36 teams competing in New York City at the Nationals. The girls ran a 35.80 in the 55-meter shuttle hurdles, good for 20th place at the event.

The time of 35.80 was a personal best for the team, and Sawyer said the girls were really excited about competing at nationals and how they performed in the race.

“They enjoyed the experience in New York, and they were pleased about how they finished,” Sawyer said.

The girls weren’t the only runners from Hamilton-Wenham making a strong showing at the Nationals.

Distance runner Connor Lyons, the CAL champion in the 1,000 meters, also ran for the Generals in New York.

There was no 1,000-meter race at Nationals, so Lyons ran the 800 and finished in 1:56.51, coming in at number 26 in the race. Lyons competed against over 50 runners from 48 other schools, and the 1:56.51 in the 800 was also a personal best for him.

Lyons also took the state championship in the 1,000 meters in Div. 4.

“The boys team had kind of a down year this season, (finishing 3-7 in the CAL Small), but I’m confident we’ll build the team back up,” Sawyer said.

“Track isn’t like baseball and basketball, you can teach these kids, but they really have to have the dedication to train and improve on their own, and all these kids have the talent and dedication you need to be successful,” Sawyer said.