Balkus Shares Shot Put State Title, Leads SHS at MIAA Unified Track and Field Championship
4X100 meter relay team dashes to school record 57.09
Full Results
NATICK (June 3, 2025) – Freshman Sara Balkus shared the Division 1-3 shot put title and finished runner-up in the Division 1-2 Mixed 100 meter dash to lead the Salem High School Unified Track and Field teams at the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) Unified Track and Field Championship Wednesday, May 28, at Natick High School.
Ms. Balkus threw the shot put 17 feet, 4 inches and shared the podium with River Rodericks of Riverview H.S. She is SHS’s fourth state champion in as many years.
Ms. Balkus also ran the 100 meter dash in 28.65 seconds, placing second to Nathan Perley of Dracut H.S.
Postgraduate Jonathan Cote also impressed in the shot put, placing second in the Mixed Division 1-2 category with an effort of 14’ 1.0’’, just two inches behind Leon Yuon-Mines of Weymouth H.S.
“It’s hard to believe we’ve now wrapped up four years of Salem Unified Sports,” said Head Coach Angie Giancola. “Our program has grown tremendously over the last four years both in number and in engagement and skill – so much so that this Spring we had six students qualify for States for the first time. And we just crowned our fourth consecutive individual state champion. We love to see it.”
Ms Balkus and Mr. Cote led a host of stellar results from SHS, including the 4X100 meter relay team of senior Jayden Lopez and juniors Gianmarcos Jimenez, Anson Froeschl and Erik Shehaj, which placed third in the Division 1 group in a school record 57.09 seconds.
Mr. Shehaj also placed sixth in the Division 1-9 100 meter dash in 13.05 seconds, and Mr. Froeschl placed seventh in the Division 1-7 long jump with a distance of 11’ 3.0’’. Mr. Jimenez took 12th in the Division 1-6 Mixed javelin with a throw of 34’ 8.0’’.
Postgraduates Diego Matos and Adelis Rodriguez each took home fifth-place results: Mr. Matos in the Division 1-1 Mixed 100 meters (46.14) and Ms. Rodriguez in the Division 1-1 javelin (10’ 3.0’’).
Freshman Nate Duell placed seventh in the Division 1-5 Mixed 100 meter dash (19.64) while postgraduate Angie Iglesias placed seventh in the Division 1-3 Mixed 100 meter dash in 28.84.
Other notable results included:
- Philip Wright: Eighth in the Division 1-7 javelin (50’ 4.0’’)
- Ryan Burnett: Eighth in the Division 1-7 shot put (28’ 6.0’’)
- Yaviel Gonzalez: Ninth in the Division 1-7 100 meter dash (16.59)
- Damien Smith: Ninth in the Division 1-3 400 meters (1:34.13); 10th in the Division 1-5 shot put (21’ 6.5’’)
- Harley Ferrara-Brown: 11th in the Division 1-6 100 meter dash (18.25); 12th place in the Division 1-7 long jump (10’ 0.0’’)
About Salem Public Schools
Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district in Salem, Massachusetts. Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Our leaders and our teachers are all passionate about education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement with equity and social-emotional needs as the lens we view all of our work through. We respect and value the racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity of our students and their families, and have a strong commitment to the Salem community. Salem Public Schools staff serve all of our students, regardless of ability or language. Salem Public Schools enrolls approximately 4,000 students across its eleven schools.
