Girls track and field

Sullivan West’s 6400 relay best in show

By RICHARD A. ROSS

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY — Somebody ought to suggest to the powers that be in New York State track and field that a mile relay be instituted at the state championships. That would make Sullivan West’s April Ackermann, Jessica Wagner, Amanda Ward and Jamie Clifford smile.

The fearsome foursome took first in the 6400 relay with a time of 23:54.5 at the Tri-Valley Invitational Relays on May 1. By publication of this issue, they will have run another 6400 relay, this time against Cornwall and Monticello on May 3. Don’t be surprised to see their time improve.

Sullivan West came in eighth overall among the 14 competing Division I teams. Walkill took first with a score of 101. The Bulldogs had 52 points. Amanda Ward won the 2000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:22.7. Tri-Valley’s Heather Iatauro sat out the day, still nursing tendonitis in her toe.

With Cornwall, Middletown and Warwick missing for the day due to the S.A.T. exams, other kids had a chance to notch wins. Missing notables included Middletown’s Latoya Shippy, Cornwall’s Charity Briggs, Danielle Trimpop and Lynne Mundy, and Warwick’s Aislinn Ryan. Meaghan Darling of Marlboro took advantage of Shippy’s absence to win the open 100 in 12.5.

Absentees had no effect on Liberty’s throwing ace Andrea Kavleski, who teamed up with Kelly Baker to take the hammer throw relay (246-3). Tri-Valley finished first in the Division II schools with a total of 60 points ahead of John A. Coleman Catholic, which finished second with a distant 36.

The Bears’ distance medley relay of Courtney Roosa, Brandy Carroll, Rachel Sanborn and Melissa Fancher took first with a time of 14:22.4.

In earlier meets this past week, Tri-Valley beat Liberty 94-53.