Junior Nile McManus Leads Five State Champions at MIAA Unified Track & Field Championships
McManus wins long jump, 100 meter dash; Diaz, Laskowski, Shehaj also capture state titles
NATICK (June 1, 2025) – Junior Nile McManus won the Division 1 Tier 7 long jump and the Division 1-10 100 meter dash and led four Salem High School athletes to individual state titles at the MIAA Unified Track and Field Championships Wednesday, May 27, at Natick High School.
Mr. McManus won the long jump with a distance of 14 feet, 4.5 inches and also captured the 100 meter dash in 13.25 seconds. He led three teammates who also brought home state titles, marking the fifth straight year SHS has crowned a state champion.
Freshman Marisabel Diaz won the Mixed Division I shot put with a distance of 15 feet while Mara Laskowski captured the Division 1-1 Mixed Javelin with a distance of 15’ 8.0’’, and took ninth in the Division 1-5 100 meter dash in 24.72 seconds.
Senior Erik Shehaj won the Division I-6 Javelin with a distance of 53’ 2.0’’.
SHS has crowned eight state champions since entering the MIAA Unified Track and Field Championships in 2022.
“We had an amazing day,” said Head Coach Angie Giancola. “This marks the end of our fifth season of Unified Sports, and it’s pretty incredible to think back on the last five years. Our program has grown year after year in the number of athletes, engagement in activities, and improvement in skill, so much so that we had nine students qualify for states for the first time this Spring. We also set several PRs (personal records) during sectionals and state Competition as well.”
Mr. McManus and Mr. Shehaj were also part of the 4X100 meter relay team which finished runner-up in 54.50 – a school record – just behind Riverview Unified (53.21). Joining them were senior Jayden Lopez and junior Henry Beauparlant.
Mr. Lopez also placed sixth in the Division 1-6 Mixed Javelin with a throw of 48’ 6.0’’ while Mr. Beauparlant also placed eighth in the Division 1-8 Mixed Long Jump (13’ 10.0’’) and ninth in the Division 1-11 Mixed 100 meter dash (13.30).
Three Witches took home third-place results on the day: freshman Charlotte Leyendecker placed third in the exhibition 100 meter dash while senior Polly Babineau took third in both the Division 1-4 Mixed Javelin (30’ 0.0’’) and the Division 1-5 100 meter dash (20.70 seconds); and junior Sophia Vargas in the Division 1-3 100 meter dash in 25.15.
Senior Jonathan Cote was right behind Ms. Vargas in the 100 meter dash in fourth place (27.90) while sophomore Michael Kennedy placed fourth in the Division 1-2 javelin with a throw of 15’ 5.0’’. Freshman Alany Ortiz placed fourth in the Division 1-7 Mixed 100 meter dash in 17.82.
“Since our launch in 2022, we have had 158 unique students involved across our three sports, Unified Basketball, Unified Strength and Conditioning, and Unified Track,” said Ms. Giancola. “And over the last five track seasons, we are proud to have crowned 29 unique sectional champions and eight unique state champions, including our first-ever two-time state title winner this year.
“This is what happens when we choose to include,” she added. “When humans with and without disabilities partner together towards a more inclusive Salem.”
Other notable results included:
- Junior Harley Ferrara-Brown: fifth place in the Division 1-7 100 meter dash; sixth place in the Division 1-6 long jump
- Senior Gianmarcos Jimenez: fifth place in the Division 1-5 shot put
- Junior Alex Done: fifth place in the Division 1-3 100 meter dash
- Senior Ryan Burnett: sixth place in the Division 1-9 100 meter dash
- Senior Anson Froeschl: eighth place in the Division 1-7 javelin
- Junior Elijah Sneed: ninth place in the Division 1-5 javelin
- Sophomore Yaviel Gonzalez: ninth place in the Division 1-8 100 meter dash
- Senior Denisse Manon Fortunato: 10th place in the Division 1-2 Shot Put
- Senior Phil Wright: 11th place in the Division 1-8 100 meter dash
- Junior Ivan Santiago: 12th place in the D1-4 shot put
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.
