Abington quartet sets boys’ 4x400-meter relay state record — twice in a week

Abington's quartet of (from left) Lucas de Oliveira, Aiden Calcano Da Silva, Nathan Calcano Da Silva, and Nazir Paulding bettered their own record in the 4x400 Saturday, clocking in at 3:15.01.ABINGTON ATHLETICS

Prior to last week, juniors Aiden Calcano Da Silva, Nathan Calcano Da Silva, Lucas de Oliveira, and Nazir Paulding had not run a 4x400-meter relay together all season.

Though the quartet was often split up during the regular season to maximize team points, Abington coach Mike Caseley “knew it could be exciting” when they finally joined forces.

The results exceeded even Caseley’s lofty expectations.

At the MIAA Meet of Champions on June 6, de Oliveira built a sizable lead on the opening leg and his teammates did the rest, securing a winning time of 3 minutes, 16.03 seconds to handily surpass Brookline (3:18.83).

The mark shattered the state record of 3:18.04, set by Northampton in 2017.

Then, competing at Saturday’s New England Championships in North Berwick, Maine, Aiden Calcano Da Silva’s dominant third leg propelled the Green Wave to a four-second victory in 3:15.01 — the fastest time ever run at the meet, taking another full second off the state record.

“To see it unfold in front of us was just awesome,” said Caseley. “We had goal times to try and hit sub-3:18 at the Meet of Champions, which they did, and then we wanted to go 3:15 at New Englands, and they almost went 3:14 ... it was impressive to watch.”

Each of the juniors were instrumental in the Green Wave’s historic season, which was capped with the program’s first South Shore League championship and first Division 6 state title.

The Calcano Da Silva twins also collected impressive individual accolades at the Meet of Champions: Aiden won the 400 hurdles (52.61) and was second in the 110 hurdles (14.43) and Nathan placed third in the 400 (48.07).

The twins’ biggest contribution, in Caseley’s view, has been how their commitment and discipline have raised the level of the Abington program.

“Their work ethic is just absolutely contagious,” said Caseley. “These guys have just reset the expectation with their track and field performances, and having Lucas and Naz be their classmates and also be successful right along with them has been awesome.”