This winter, the RMHS Boys Indoor Track Team shattered three school records in the 55 meter dash, 300 meter sprint, and the 4×800 meter relay, all while under new leadership.
As the boys wrapped up their indoor season, they were able to break all three school records in less than a month. Ryan Pulpi (‘26) broke the 55 meter dash record, which had stood since 2008, at the MIAA Division 2 Indoor Track & Field Championship. Just ten days earlier, he broke the 300 meter sprint record, which had been held since 2017, at the ML-12 Varsity Championship meet. The team also set a new record in the 4×800 meter relay, which was held since 1987, at the MSTCA Division 2 James Kalperis Relays meet.
Pulpi’s Records
Pulpi ran a time of 6.57 seconds in the 55 meter dash and 34.38 seconds in the 300 meter sprint. “I think all the work I put in during the season and during the off season definitely helped break the records,” said Pulpi. These records were not an easy thing to accomplish. He credits his records to his hard work in the weight room and in practice. For Pulpi’s final indoor track campaign he has big goals: “I think in my senior year I could definitely break both my records again.”
Despite battling a few setbacks, like a quad injury and shin splints early in the season, Pulpi remained focused on his training. Not only did he work hard, but he also credits his success to his teammates and coaches. His coaches helped with the little things like form and setting up the practice plans. Still having one year left, Pulpi is excited for the future. It is rare to see someone break two school records, especially as a junior. “I’m very happy I was able to do that. I’m very proud of what I’ve done and I put in a lot of work, so I think it paid off.”
A New Relay Standard
Pulpi wasn’t the only one on the team to break a school record. Captain Christopher Barbato (‘25), Clay Chase (‘25), Cameron Gigler (‘26), and Timothy Connolly (‘26) broke the 4×800 meter relay school record with a time of 8:05.36. Unlike Pulpi’s individual race, the 4×800 consists of four members that each run 800 meters, handing off a baton. “We knew what the four were going to be, even before going into the season. We knew that the record was definitely in reach and we knew that in order to get it, it had to be us four guys,” noted Barbato.
After missing the record by 0.4 seconds last winter, Coach Allardi had to find replacements for the two seniors who graduated last year. The previous record’s time was 8:09.10, from almost forty years ago. “Everybody really wanted to break this record. There’s a lot of drive and a lot of grit in this team, and so we were able to get it done.” stated Gigler. To Barbato, getting the record in a team relay means a lot. “Getting a record as an individual is definitely a huge accomplishment and something to be very proud of. But also, when it’s a team record, four different things have to go well, and I think it’s much more difficult to get the team record, so it made it a lot more exciting.”
Interim Coaches at the Helm
This was English teacher Ms. Allardi’s first year as a head coach, after Coach Price took a personal leave for the season. Additionally, this was assistant coach and math teacher Mr. Princic’s first time coaching at RMHS. He specialized with the distance squad after the previous distance coach left for a head coach opportunity at Lynnfield High School. According to Coach Allardi, their expectations were “to continue to be a winning team and for everyone to really just do everything they could to be their best selves.”
Coach Allardi was an interim coach, and she only found out she was going to be a coach a week before the season began. She believed this put a lot of stress on the two captains, Barbato and fellow senior Derek Silva. Coach Allardi attributes much of the team’s success to the athletes’ efforts. “They are just so committed to being the best they can be. They come every single day ready to work, they come ready to follow expectations and ready to just be the best versions of themselves.” Looking ahead, Coach Allardi is optimistic about the future of the program: “I think those records are dying to be broken. I think Ryan Pulpi had a massively explosive year. I think he is going to continue to get faster and faster. I think our mid distance and distance team is just so impressive. I cannot wait to see what they accomplish this spring.”
The RMHS Boys Indoor Track team is in the Middlesex Liberty Division and finished with a record of three wins and two losses. With one more season of track left in the year, these athletes will look to break even more records in the spring.
