Track and field

Eldred boys finish undefeated in league

By RICHARD A. ROSS

ELDRED, NY — You could see it coming during indoor season. Frank Schorling’s team was bonding together and making major progress. Though some track athletes were busy wrestling, like shot-putter and discus-thrower Tim Hallock, they were still getting themselves in peak condition for the grueling, compact outdoor competition.

Once the spring season began, the team showed itself to be confident and hardworking. They felt all along that they could beat all of their league rivals and knock off some big fish as well.

They were right. With a 107-19 thrashing of Chapel Field on May 5, Eldred completed the first phase of their stated mission: a Division V title and the posting of times and distances worthy of note in larger circles.

This week Hallock and fellow throwers Nic Olcott, Dave Albanese, Katie Hanson, Jamie Schombs, Krystal Medina and Kristie Meehan headed to the throwers’ pentathlon in Monroe-Woodbury on May 10. On May 12 Eldred will face the rest of the schools in Sullivan County at an individually scored meet at Sullivan West. Schorling is curious to see how standout long and triple jumper Kyle Anthony fares against county competition. He may run the 800 as well, a race he narrowly lost to Sullivan West’s Mike VanWagenen at a dual meet against the Bulldogs. On May 14 and 15, Eldred will mix it up with all of the schools in the OCIAA at Warwick High School.

“This year we’re going to see how many points we can score,” said Schorling. “The kids want to beat some big schools,” he added.

On May 19, the Yellowjackets will go for a Class D sectional title as they battle the other D schools in Section Nine. Times and distances to date indicate Eldred’s good chance at capturing the title. The X factor is John A. Coleman Catholic from the Mid Hudson Athletic League (MHAL). Always a great contender, the school has not gone head-to-head with many of the teams Eldred has faced.

State Qualifiers will follow sectionals, and at this point, Eldred’s Anthony has the best chance to go to states.

Sullivan West girls win Monticello games; Ward is named top female track athlete

MONTICELLO, NY – It’s been a whirlwind of a season with up to three meets per week. Recently, the Bulldogs endured a freezing, rainy afternoon for a non-league meet at Monticello against the Panthers and Class B rival Cornwall. With a slick track, stiffening muscles and a lack of dry clothing, the Bulldogs were just anxious to get home. The next day the weather shortened a home meet against Liberty that resulted in a win for the Bulldog boys and girls.

On May 8, a short-handed Sullivan West team participated in the Monticello Games. Scheduled on the same day as Sullivan West’s prom, the team was missing a number of key runners, which prevented Coach Shakelton from fielding his prized 4x800 relay squad.

The girls who came worked hard, especially Amanda Ward, who won the 1500 with a personal best time of 5:22. She also took first in the two-mile and posted a 3:57 in the 2000-meter steeplechase, besting her last year’s time of 4:40. Her winning time in the 3000 was 11:36. Ward capped off her day with a 400-meter leg in the winning sprint-medley relay and was named the girls MVP for track. Though the Bulldogs ended up in a tie with New Paltz at 108 points, they won on the tiebreaker, resulting from the most first place finishes. Ward had more than the whole New Paltz team combined.

Mike VanWagenen took the 3200 at the Monticello games with a personal best 10:13.3. Dave Abrams came in first in the pole vault with a leap of 10-6. With convincing wins over Chester and Livingston Manor in non-league meets this past week, the Bears continued their tune up for the bigger challenges that yet remain. With hurdler Adam Wilson not competing, Tri-Valley’s Max Fiedler took the opportunity to win the 110 and 400-meter hurdles.

At the upcoming county meet on May 12, Shakelton plans on not overtaxing his distance runners since no team-scoring will be done. “We want to focus on the 4x800 and see if we can get their time down,” he noted.

At the OCIAA meet on May 14 and 15, the emphasis again will be on times. Running against Cornwall and Warwick, the Bulldogs hope to come in third. Rival Cornwall stands in the way of a Class B title at the Sectional Meet, but since Sullivan West has fewer than 600 students, it is classified as Division II for purpose of the State Qualifier whereas Cornwall with more than 600 students is classified as Division I. Shakelton hopes that his best athletes can prevail and move on to the states.

Liberty’s MVP field athlete Kavleski dominates the competition

MONTICELLO, NY — Liberty High School senior Andrea Kavleski continued her dominance in the hammer with a throw of 130-6. She is currently ranked number one in the nation with a prior throw of 156-7. She came in second in the javelin to Erica Kalber of Monticello with a throw of 77-9. Kalber heaved the javelin 83-4. Kalber and Kavleski also finished one-two in the shot put with Kalber throwing 33 8¼ to Kavleski’s 32 2½. Kavleski is tuning up for the bigger meets.

Undefeated Tri-Valley locks up Division IV boys and girls titles

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY – Showing great depth across the board in track and field events, both the boys and girls teams of Tri-Valley proved their dominance over division rivals. Neither the boys nor girls have lost a league meet this season. This past week, the Bears mauled Chester and Livingston Manor in non-league wins. As the larger meets approach, Tri-Valley hopes to see the return to action of reigning steeplechase national champion Heather Iatauro. Barring any unforeseen relapse from a nagging case of tendonitis, Iatauro is likely to run the steeplechase at the OCIAA meet this coming weekend as well as the 3000.

Hurdler Adam Wilson also hopes to be a factor in the OCIAA, Class C/D and state qualifier. With a time of 55.7 in the 400-meter hurdles, Wilson is the current Section Nine leader in the event.