For a Belmont boys’ track team that had not won a meet in two years, the outlook was grim heading into its second meet. The team lost in its opener to a perennially strong Lexington, 70-30. With six days to rest, Belmont was scheduled for another meet against the Winchester Red and Black on Dec. 22. Despite the early setbacks, the challenges facing the Marauders went beyond the scoreboard and into the roster itself.
Belmont withstood considerable losses this winter, especially in its distance units. The team graduated key seniors, including captain Eli Meretta, but also lost sophomore Noah Geiger to a club program, the Emerging Elites.
Still, returning leadership and emerging talent suggested Belmont could make something of the season. Ishaan Kanagaraj and Will Olmsted help cover for Geiger. Captain Gregory Zugman serves as the anchor for sprints, while Iggy Mattoras is hot on his heels. Belmont’s mid-distance group is led by sophomore Tomas Wolff and classmate Frido Meichsner. They have also retained high jumpers Adrian Geon and Esmael Peavey, and the best triple jumper in school history, Malcolm Were.
That blend of skill was tested against Winchester. The team met the challenge, eking out a 53-47 victory over the rival Red Raiders. One week later, the team defeated Arlington 51-49 in a meet decided by the final race, in which Zugman, Mattoras, Peavey, and Lincoln Correia won their relay. Assistant coach Brenton Lussier said the victories have “brought a renewed sense of excitement and momentum to the team” and that he is “optimistic about what lies ahead for Belmont track.”
The girls’ team has not had the same hot start, but has been solid despite an 0-3 record. The team was hit hard by the losses of graduating seniors, including champion runner Dana Lehr and long jumper Lucy Hamer. Even so, a strong group of returning athletes has kept the Marauders competitive. Senior Nathallya DeAmaral carries the 55-meter load, while junior Claire Ferreira and senior Joana Wolff serve as 300-meter anchors. Senior Kira Van Kelsted is the fastest miler in the Middlesex League, with a personal best of 5:31. The mid-distance group remains the strongest on the team, featuring Vera Harell and freshman Elsa Dubois. Siri Iagnemma adds depth, and the ranks will be bolstered when Katherine Saltus returns from injury.
Head coach Mark Olowinski said he is pleased with the performance of the upperclassmen like DeAmaral and Van Kelsted, while younger runners, like Dubois and Roisin Reavey, a hurdler, have been showing promise. He added that while the team is winless, energy remains high.
For both programs, the early season has offered a clear picture of where Belmont track stands. The boys have paired belief with results, while the girls continue to build through transition. With young athletes stepping into larger roles and veteran leaders setting the standard, the Marauders have laid a foundation that suggests this winter may be defined less by past records and more by progress still to come.
