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Jim Munn led his Gloucester boys track team to Newell Stadium for a routine middle of the season practice.

Although the practice may have seemed normal, there was actually nothing routine about it as the team could not practice on its own track. The pothole laced track that circles around the Newell Stadium football field has been condemned and cannot be used for either practices or meets for the boys and girls track squads.

The 27th annual Rotary Club NEC Freshman/Sophomore track meet was held on Saturday at Beverly High School. The meet involved over 200 student-athletes in ninth and 10th grade from Northeastern Conference high schools.

Unlike his friend, Drew Pickul will be able to compete again.

"I'm not quite sure how I'm going to deal with it," he said. "I have to figure it out when it comes."

Dan Castro stopped 12 shots and made the Generals' 6-1 halftime lead stand up with stellar play in the second half as the Generals topped Hanover 12-7. Hamilton-Wenham (6-3) won its fifth straight thanks to three goals apiece from Casey Colyer and Jay Allsopp. Chipping in a pair of goals were Ryan Gendreau and Jake Cotter as H-W was able to quell a late Hanover rally.

On an exceptionally beautiful day along the marsh at Triton High School, the track teams of Amesbury, Newburyport, Ipswich, Pentucket, and Triton gathered for the annual Triton Triple Classic for a special occasion to honor the man who first started the event back in the early 1970s.

Ben Dibble recorded wins in the low (45.0) and high (17.0) hurdles to lead the undefeated Witches (3-0) over Gloucester 72-64. Zach Gilbert won the shot put (42-11) and the discus (119) to round out the double winners while Matt Johnson won the triple (38-11) and Tyler Daniles took the javelin (139-2). Nick Sinclair (200, 23.9) and Melikke Van Alstyne (100, 11.0) won sprints and teamed with Eugene De La Cruz and Mike Nagrambe to take the 4x100 relay.

If you take a look at the high school track career of Liam Anastasia-Murphy, it's easy to see why he is a Division 1 college prospect.

For starters, Gloucester's senior captain is the school's record holder in the 1,000-meter run with a time of 2:30.25. He also boasts the honor of Northeastern Conference Most Valuable Player in both cross country and indoor track this year. If that were not enough, he was the Class B state champion in both cross country and the 1,000-meter run this year, and was also a part of the All-State champion 4x800 relay team this winter with Austin Souza, Alex Trotsky and Andrew Ryan.

Last Year's Record: 9-0 (won Northeastern Conference)

Coach: Jim Munn (16th year)

Performers to Watch: Liam Anastasia-Murphy, Sr.;Austin Souza, Sr.; Mario Peritore, Sr.; Dan Aloisio, Sr.; John Ryan, Sr.; Luis Hernandez, Jr.; Christian Hernandez, So.; Gus Margiotta, So.; Anthony LaRocca, So.

What are your personal goals for the upcoming track and field season?

Are you aiming to beat your best time in the 100 meter dash? Are you trying to beat the state record throwing the shot put? Are you trying to make it through a hurdle run without knocking any over?

Schedules are now available for the majority of high school baseball, softball, lacrosse and track teams for the 2008 spring season. Over the next couple of weeks, stories previewing what the spring holds for each team, rosters, and team and individual player photographs will begin to appear on RallyNorth. If your team has a schedule or roster that we do not have yet, please e-mail it to rallynorth @eagletribune.com.