MassLive released this year’s Western Massachusetts girls indoor track & field Super 7 list on Thursday. Six different schools were represented on this year’s project, as Minnechaug leads the charge with two members. Check out the complete list below:
Ololara Baptiste, Amherst
Amherst’s star in Baptiste got All-Western Mass. First Team in the prior girls’ indoor track & field season. And this year should be more of the same.
The versatile runner came in first in the opening PVIAC Meet’s 600-meter dash with a time of 1:43.30, which was her first time running that event in high school. Baptiste was a key part in Amherst’s first-place finish in the 4×200 relay at the MIAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championship, and she also led it to a first-place finish in the 4×400 as well.
It will be exciting to see how Baptiste performs in the sprint events, as she ran an impressive 7.44 55-meter dash early on in the season last year, and Baptiste still has almost two full years of high school track remaining.
Kathleen Barry, Hampshire
As just a sophomore last year, Barry showed flashes of what’s to come for the rest of her career with the Red Raiders.
The mid-distance runner came in sixth at the MIAA Division V Indoor Track and Field Championship in the two-mile last winter and is primed to build off that performance this season.
The junior finished second at the PVIAC meet in the two-mile this past weekend with a time of 12:03.76, which is her personal best indoors.
Natalia Clarke, Minnechaug
Clarke was at the forefront of one of the best Western Mass. track and field programs last year. And now, as a senior, Clarke looks to keep on improving with her team. Last year, Clarke was an automatic first place in certain events for the Falcons’ dual meets in outdoor track.
And in indoor track, she had superb finishes in the 55 and 300-meter dashes, most notably a sixth-place finish in the MIAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championship. She ran a 7.43 in that event, which is her personal best. The sprinter placed first in her opening 55-meter dash and has another shot at a first-place finish at the MSTCA Boston Holiday Challenge on Dec. 27.
Maggie Joyce, Minnechaug
This profound list wouldn’t be the same without Joyce.
And for sound reasoning, because Joyce is a vocal senior who is committed to helping the Falcons become a better team each time they step on the turf. Joyce has also let her running do her talking, as the senior has thrived in the 5000-meter run, 1-mile run, and 2-mile run during her high-school career.
Joyce also started the season in style, as she narrowly outlasted Barry to claim the first 2-mile run of the season with a time of 12:02.41 compared to Barry’s time of 12:03.74 in the PVIAC Early Meet One last weekend.
To make matters sweeter, though, Joyce also signed her letter of intent earlier this month to continue her running career after graduation at Seton Hall University.
Stellina Moore, Mahar
Moore has some of the best hops in Western Massachusetts. As a sophomore last season, Moore saw success all-around and got First Team All Western Mass. for indoor track & field.
She came in sixth in the high jump at the Division V Championship with a height of 5-foot-0, and placed fairly high in a majority of her long-jump appearances. Moore also qualified for states in the 55-meter hurdles last season, and her personal best in high jump came in her first meet last year at 5-foot-2.
Yasani Thompson, Holyoke
While Thompson competes in a multitude of track events, the 55 and 300-meter events are her specialties.
When Thompson was a sophomore two years ago, it was her first time competing in indoor track events, and she did nothing but exceed expectations. She broke the school record in the 55-meter dash at the PVIAC Championships with a time of 7.33, and then beat that time when she ran a 7.30 at the MIAA Indoor Track & Field Meet of Champions this past winter.
In the 300-meter last year, Thompson came in first on multiple occasions and ended her season placing fourth in the MIAA Indoor Track & Field Meet of Champions, running a time of 40.53. Thompson also has strong performances in the 55-meter hurdles and 600-meter run.
Nahla Williams, West Springfield
Williams had a season to remember for the Terriers last winter and is looking to do the same in her final year at West Springfield.
In the 2024-2025 indoor track & field season, Williams’ dominating shot put performances placed her first in eight different meets, including her personal best distance of 40-feet-2 inches to win the event at the MIAA Division III Indoor Track & Field Championship.
Williams even qualified for the New Balance Indoor Nationals, where she placed 38th. The Cornell University commit already started strong this season, throwing for 37-feet-3.5 inches and placing first in the opening PVIAC Meet on Dec. 14.
Williams earned All-Western Mass. First Team last indoor track & field season, and is on pace for a repeat honor.
