By Hannah Fraser
Sports Reporter
On Saturday, June 4th, in Westfield, Massachusetts, the Newton South boys’ 4×100 relay took the All-State Champion title, breaking the meet record with a time of 42.13 seconds. The relay consisted of four talented and hardworking athletes: junior Dan Epstein and seniors Anthony Denito, Jake Epstein, and Jamyre Soberanis (in order of the relay legs).
Although the boys had been running consistently all season, winning state relays, the DCL championship, and the Division 1 championship, the outcome of the All-State relay had still been a pleasant surprise to the athletes themselves.
“We had a goal in mind, and of course our first goal was to win, and our second goal was to go for the [All-State] meet record, which was 42.2, almost half a second faster than what we ran the previous weekend. So we weren’t entirely sure we would hit it, but we were confident and we were hoping for it, and then when we saw the time on the board, with a 42.13 it was just surreal, it was incredible,” D. Epstein said.
Unlike the three other runners on the team, this was Dan Epstein’s first year having a substantial role in the 4×100 relay, a role that he had desired since joining the team.
“It was incredible,” D. Epstein said. “I cried a little bit, because since freshman year, when I first started doing track, I’ve had a mental checklist in my mind of things I’ve wanted to hit and goals I wanted to reach, and this season as a whole: it’s just been one box after another on the 4×100.”
Even though all four legs of the relay practiced daily with absolute dedication and determination, it was Soberanis’ outstanding performance as the anchor that had the largest impact on the team and their time.
“Personally, I was just happy we came out on top,” Soberanis said. “This was our goal from the first practice and to actually do it, it was an awesome feeling.”
“Jamyre Soberanis was incredible,” D. Epstein said. “He got the stick hand in hand on the back straight, neck to neck with the other teams, and he just took it home. Blasted through and won us the relay.”
Epstein also commented on the significant impact his older brother, Jake, had his experience on the relay. Winning an All-State title alone is special, but winning with a sibling is a rare feat.
“We have always been very competitive with each other, and it usually seems to be a fight for who has accomplished more, but being on the same relay team all year has brought us closer,” D. Epstein said. “We had taken the competitive fire and used it to push each other and to make each other better. We are both super excited that we were able to become All-State champs in the same race,” D. Epstein said.
Although the 4×100 has had an exceptionally great season, the athletes have no plan to run in the upcoming New England Regional meet. D. Epstein acknowledged the fatigue of the athletes due to a strenuous season of hard training.
“It’s difficult,” he said. “It’s been a long season and some of us are just pretty tired-it’s not so easy on our bodies to be going this hard for so long.”
“We wanted to end on a high note,” Soberanis said. “But, I think [going to New Englands] would have been a cool experience.”
As for next year, Denito, Soberanis, and J. Epstein are all graduating, leaving D. Epstein to be the only leg on the relay returning.
“I don’t think it will be the same, since the three of them are so fast and so impactful,” he said, “but I’m hoping that we’ll have some underclassmen step up, and everyone will get faster so we can fill the void. The three of them are off to big things next year and I’m looking to bounce back and have just as good of a season next year here.”
