Welcome to the Watertown High School Girls and Boys Track Team Website.

Update: January 14, 2010:

Watertown High School girls track: Watertown 49, Wakefield 37

By Staff reports

Daily News Tribune

Posted Jan 14, 2010 @ 07:17 AM

WOBURN —

Talia Flores and Calista Diehl both won an individual event and a relay as the Watertown High girls track team pulled out a 49-37 victory over Wakefield at Woburn High Wednesday night.
 

It was the second victory in four contested meets for the Raiders this season.
 

``These kids persevered tonight,'' said Watertown coach David Mastro. ``They put the pressure on themselves to hit the goals that I set for them and they did.''
 

Alves won the 2-mile in 13 minutes, 30 seconds, Jessica Doggett won the 1,000 meters in 3:38 and Kelsey Prendergast won the 600 in 2:03. Rachel Thomas won the dash in 7.5 seconds, Diehl won the mile in 6:35 and Watertown closed the meet with a win in the 4x400 relay as the team of Flores, Emily Dinjian, Gabby Grosvenor and Diehl won in 4:52.
 

Parisa Zarringham had a second in the 2-mile, Talia Flores was second in the 300, Brianna Natale was second in the 55-meter hurdles and Thomas was second in the high jump. Emily Brackett was third in the 1,000, Anna Litvinenko was third in the 600, Grosvenor was third in the 300, Angela Harrington was third in the hurdles, Christelle Madou was third in the dash, Celia Harvey-MacGregor was third in the shot put and Flores was third in the high jump.
 

Watertown next runs in the State Relays on Jan. 23.

Update: January 14, 2010:

Watertown High School's Rachel Thomas soars at track and in the classroom with hard work and talent

By Frank Santarpio, Sports Correspondent

Wicked Local Watertown

Posted Jan 14, 2010 @ 08:37 AM

WATERTOWN —

Long after Rachel Thomas graduates, it is doubtful Watertown High girls head track coach Dave Mastro will ever forget her.

For three years, the 17-year old junior has done everything and more of what a coach asks.

“As long as I've known her, she has always given everything she has,” Mastro said. “She always works extremely hard, and because of that has become a very talented athlete. She will also do anything you ask of her and will always put the team ahead of herself.

“Besides all of that, she is simply a great kid; one of the nicest kids you'll ever meet. I wish I had 20 Rachel Thomases on the team. We would be state champions if we did. I just love having her around,” he added.

When Thomas first joined the track team as a freshman, Mastro remembers her as a shy girl who lacked confidence. Today, though, that has all changed. She is the team's most consistent scorer. She excels in the dash, the 300 meters, and especially the high jump.

“She just fell in love with that event,” Mastro said. “As time went on, she just found her groove.”

Last year, Thomas not only went to All-States in the high jump, but she also broke the all-time girls school record with a leap of 5 feet 1 inch. This year, she has already qualified for states and is hoping for a return visit to the All-State meet. She has also never failed to place in the high jump in any meet this season.

“I remember my freshman year, I was barely jumping 4-3,” said Thomas. “But coach Mastro really helped me get better. He's a great coach because he’’’’s so encouraging and you can ask him anything. He will also stay late just to help you get better.”

Thomas, who was born in Barbados and moved to Watertown when she was in the fifth grade, first became interested in track as a young girl and has always enjoyed running. She ran track in middle school, but she has gotten a lot faster in high school. This season, she has also qualified for states in the dash, and has always been an extremely valuable member of the relay teams.

“I never thought I could be as fast as I am,” Thomas said. “But like I said, coach Mastro and coach Jacoppo [assistant coach John Jacoppo] have really taught me well.”

Besides her talent, Mastro is also a big admirer of Thomas’’’’ leadership qualities. The head coach noted that she has developed a true winning spirit and that she hates to lose. Mastro also said he loves the way Thomas motivates the other kids on the team and brings out the best in all of them.

“I feel like you should always be encouraging,” said Thomas, who is also an excellent student and would someday like to be a pediatrician or a teacher. “Sometimes I feel the other girls don't realize how good they are.”

This year's girls track team is very young, but has looked impressive in some of its head-to-head dual meets. They recently gave Woburn a scare despite some injuries and were finally able to beat Belmont for the first time since the 2001-2002 season. The victory over their rivals was one of Thomas’’’’ favorite memories because the team was so happy with the win.

“The girls on my team sometimes don't see their own potential,” Thomas said. “That's why I love encouraging them. I'd love to see us all improve.”

Thomas really enjoys her track teammates, and although she is a consistent member of the winter and spring squads, it is a tough decision for her in the fall whether to join the cross country team because she also has a strong interest in soccer. She played soccer for the Raiders her freshman and sophomore seasons before running cross country this past fall.

“I really love soccer, too,” she said. “I haven't decided yet what to do next fall.”

Lately, though, whatever sport she plays in Thomas has been doing so in some pain. She has developed some bad knees, and it has gotten to the point where she has started physical therapy. Yet, remarkably she still somehow continues to score points in every meet while refusing to take time off.

“I'm so thankful for the support I have gotten since I joined this team that I don’’’’t want to let my teammates down,” she said.

Her teammates and coaches know, however, that is something she is incapable of doing.

“She has already meant so much to the program,” Mastro said.

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