Track and field

Tri-Valley takes first in Disney Classic 4x1600 relay

By RICHARD A. ROSS

ORLANDO, FL — The gun is about to go off on this spring’s track and field season and the report is going to be deafening. Sullivan West, which was dropped to Class C by virtue of losing three, count ’em, three students, is now more than a division contender for Tri-Valley. They are the biggest competition for the Sectional title as well.

The two schools will hook up on April 5 for a dual meet that will likely decide the division title.

In preparation for that storied meet, Tri-Valley headed down to Orlando on March 23 through 25 to participate in the Disney Classic. Running against some serious competition, the foursome of Courtney Roosa, Rachel Sanborn, Meghan Drown and Shannon Hornbeck garnered a first place in the 4x1600 relay with a time of 23:15.6.

Roosa (5:27.7) led the pack with the fastest time. Sanborn (5:45.8) ran the second leg, followed by Drown (5:42.8) and Hornbeck (6:19.5).

The boys’ 4x800 team, comprised of Jonathan Huppke, Max Fiedler, Sean Messenger and Mike Kaplan, took third place with a combined time of 8:24.37.

Some of the other Bears’ times and distances were as follows:

Girls long jump—Brandy Carroll 13-2, Kanacia James 13-1;

Boys high hurdles—Sean Messenger, 16.9;

Girls discus—Kanacia James, 74-4;

Boys discus—Casey Grey 90-2; and

Boys shot put—Grey 35-9.

This coming weekend, Tri-Valley will head to the Northern Virginia Invitational held at Oakton High School. Scott Raskew, who was the coach of Alan Webb, the national high school record holder for both the indoor and outdoor mile, organizes the meet. Tri-Valley coach Joe Iatauro describes the Northern Invitational as “a hotly contested meet.”

No doubt, Iatauro and his pack of running and leaping Bears are looking forward to the Sullivan West meet, which is apt to be sizzling with excitement.

Stay tuned.