For the second year in a row, the Norwood boys track team finished 0-5 on the season, but although Coach Jeff Loja is not keen on not winning, he is optimistic about this squad and what they’ve been able to accomplish this year.

“This season has been much better in terms of competitiveness” the Mustang Coach said. “We’ve had good performances from our top runners and as an overall team have shown a steady improvement. Our record is no way indicative of what we’ve done this year.”

Leading the way on the track was junior Kerlleson Oliveria who captured the Tri Valley League Championship in the 55-meter dash. He also placed sixth in the 300, was the team’s leading scorer all season long, and was the anchor in the 4x2 relay team. In addition to Oliveria, Mikel Dujour, Dan Hoxha, and Dorian Rojas-Maldonado made up the rest of the relay team that is currently on the cusp of advancing into the Division Tournament. 

DuJour, who primarily runs the 300 for Norwood, has been able to provide the team with numerous points on the season and made a good tandem with Oliveria. Being the team’s only senior, Dujour is also the team captain, and as a four-year runner, he has been named a TVL All-Star the last three years. Loja says he is the hardest worker he has ever seen and hopes he can capture his fourth All-Star recognition. Dujour is committed to run track next year on the collegiate level at LaSalle University in Newton, Mass.

Another force has been shot-put thrower Benny Powell. As a freshman, Powell was able to toss the shot-put 20 feet, this year he was able to hurl the rock double his first year’s best -40 feet at his most recent meet. Having trained in the off-season to get better, Loja was impressed with his throwing this year.

“Forty feet is a big throw for a shot-putter and a major accomplishment,” Loja said. “Benny’s in the top ten in the league but I’m not sure if he is good enough to get into the Divisionals.”

Freshman Tomas Romero has really impressed the coach with his running ability in the mile and two-mile where he finished sixth in the TVL Meet. According to the coach, the first-year runner has scored in every single one of the team’s meets.

“Much like Benny, his sixth-place finish is strong for a freshman, but his time will probably not be good enough to get him into the Divisional Meet,” the Mustang Coach said. “He is our first bona fide 2-miler who can score; hopefully, he will stick with it. He plays soccer in the fall and not sure if he’ll be coming out for track in the spring.”

Having a team with such low numbers makes it extremely difficult to capture wins, but Loja likes the way that his team was more competitive this winter. After getting totally destroyed by Westwood last year, the Mustangs were able to take this year ‘ record down to the last event of the day before they lost. Against Dedham there were a few meets that could have gone either way and could have changed the outcome of the meet.

“We’ve had a good season from the perspective of being competitive; it is good for the kids to be involved in those types of meets,” the Norwood Coach said. “If all the athletes come back, we will be much improved. Benny and Kerlleson will be seniors next year and will have a good core below them coming back. Looking to get the word out there and hopefully attract some more athletes to come out for the team.”

Norwood may not find themselves atop the TVL, but if Loja can continue to get his team prepared to give the opposition fight then that’s a win for the Mustangs.