Natalia Phillip plans to put a lot of work in between now and next weekend's Div. 4 championships where she'll be looking to defend her shot put title. Judging by her performance the two-day Boston City League Track Championships, the New Mission senior doesn't have a whole lot to improve on.
The Bryn Mawr College-bound Phillip put forth a herculean effort in her specialty with a sterling heave of 40 feet, 10 inches to easily defend her title and went on to capture both the discus (94-4) and javelin (100-4) to collect her second and third gold medals.
Phillip has no intention of changing up the routine that she has followed since the indoor season. "I did my normal routine and it felt good," she said. "My technique felt pretty good. When it's warm, I've found that I don't throw very well. It was a little chilly yesterday (Monday) and I did well."
Defending New England 400-meter champion Ashley Lewis of Boston Latin Academy suffered a rare defeat as Jahphiah Gilliard of West Roxbury edged out the George Mason-bound starlet down the final straightaway with a scalding 55.80. Lewis was a second back in 56.80. Gilliard had a stellar two days on the White Stadium track as she also struck gold in the 100 in 12.20.
Lewis shrugged her second-place finish shortly after. "This race wasn't what I expected," she said. "I didn't run the way I was supposed to and got thrown off. I'm still confident about my ability and I'm looking to that (Div. 4) to redeem myself. I definitely want to PR and run 54. I know I can do it."
Boston Latin Academy ran away with the team title, finishing with a gaudy 101 points to easily defeat O'Bryant (76 points) and New Mission (65 points). Nisa Holley of O'Bryant was a double winner, taking both the 100 hurdles (18.30) and 400 hurdles (1:16.40). Teammate Juleen Lewis leaped to a 16-8-1/2 win in the long jump.
In the boys' competition it was O'Bryant that put up the big points (103) to edge out East Boston (99 points) and Boston Latin Academy (58 points).
Zi Liu of O'Bryant stretched out a 40-2 win in the triple jump and teammate Ricky Preston captured the 400 hurdles with a 62.20 finish. J'Saun Bastien of Brighton had one of the meet's best performances as he captured the 100 in a blazing 10.70. Burke's Kerston Griffith had a strong stretch run to break the tape first in the 200 in 22.40, just ahead of Boston Latin Academy's Donte Weekes (22.70). Lamont Haynes of Tech Boston captured the 400 in 51.20, a second in front of O'Bryant's Oussama Amri (52.20).