Tri-Valley Invitational

Tri-Valley stages Invitational despite downpour

Bears top remaining Division II schools after others leave; Monticello girls second in Division I

By RICHARD A. ROSS

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY — Dropping temperature, sheets of rain and gusts of wind turned what should have been a highlight of spring track into a muddy miasma. Conditions at the 14th Annual Tri-Valley Invitational track meet on Saturday, April 22 were bad enough to cause officials to cancel many events, including the hammer throw, javelin, pole vault, high jump, triple jump and hurdles. Motivated by concerns about the unsafe conditions and the effect of the adverse weather on their athletes, more than half of the 35 participating schools, including Sullivan West, Liberty and Eldred opted out. Others including host Tri-Valley, Fallsburg and Monticello stuck it out and each of the three schools posted admirable results despite the adversity.

Tri-Valley track coach and athletic director Joe Iatauro began organizing this year’s event in January by placing the meet details and registration information online.

Tri-Valley’s 3200 relay team of Jonathan Huppke, Max Fiedler, Michael Kaplan and Nick Denman took first (9.03.8). Huppke took third in the varsity 800 (2:10.8), while teammates Derek Smith (2:13.4) and Kaplan (2:14.3) came in fourth and fifth respectively.

Fallsburg’s Chris Gates (12.1) took second place in the 100 and Monticello’s Brendan Devine captured first place in the 1600 with a time of 4:42.9. Tri-Valley’s Sean Messenger (55.5) came in fourth in the 400, and Garrett Gray (37-6) took first in the freshman/sophomore shot put. Gray also garnered a sixth place in the discus with a heave of 106-5. Ryan Loughney took fifth in the event with a throw of 107-2. Officials had the throwers alter their technique because of concerns about slipping. Loughney was disappointed that the hammer throw was cancelled. On April 17, he broke a school record with a toss of 188-7 feet.

Fallsburg’s Matt Moore (41-11) took first in the shot put.

Tri-Valley freshman Mike Towt took sixth in the freshman 800 with a time of 2:28.8.

In the girls meet, Pine Bush took first place among the larger schools with 132 points. Monticello placed second with 72 points.

In the smaller schools, Tri-Valley beat out Rhinebeck, the only other smaller school that remained. Tri-Valley’s Rachel Sanborn (11:46) took second in the 3000 behind Natalie Busby (10:36.2) of New Paltz.

Monticello’s Emma Cohen (2:44.4) took first place in the freshman 800 and second in the freshman/sophomore 1500 (5:43.1). Tri-Valley’s Kathryn Schneyer (2:50) took third in the freshman 800. In the sophomore 800, Tri-Valley’s Meghan Drown (2:38) earned a second place medal. She finished behind Emily Moore of Pine Bush (2:26.1). Tri-Valley’s Courtney Roosa (2:50.3) took fifth place.

Drown also took fourth in the freshman sophomore 400 (65.6), while Monticello’s Te’nesha Washington (65.2) took fourth. Washington nabbed a fourth place in the varsity long jump (10-8 3/4), finishing right behind teammate Iris Robinson (11-5 1/2). Washington nailed down more points for the Panthers with a third place finish in the 200 (28.7) and a fourth place in the 100 (14.0).

In the freshman/sophomore long jump, Tri-Valley’s Skylar Musa (10-1) took fourth place. Tri-Valley’s 3200 relay team finished in fourth place with a time of 12:08.6.

In the varsity shot put, Tri-Valley’s Kanacia James (26-6) took fourth place. James won the varsity discus with a throw of 74-11. Monticello’s Eryn Robinson (66-4) tied for second place in the event. Tri-Valley’s Kate Briggs (64) took fourth and Monticello’s Brittany Beckman (63.3) took fifth.

Tri-Valley will host the Tri-Valley relays on May 6. Hopefully, the weather will be more conducive to competition.