Track

Bound for states

Bulldogs, Bears, one Panther and one Yellowjacket to be represented at state meet in Kingston

By RICHARD A. ROSS

WARWICK, NY — Resting up from the grueling toll taken by the sectionals proved to be worthwhile. A cadre of Sullivan West boy track and field athletes earned spots in the impending State Championship Meet, which will be held on June 8 at Dietz Stadium by virtue of their fine Division II (schools with fewer than 600 students) showing at the May 30 and 31 state qualifier.

Donald Cooper made it in both the 400 (50:75) and the high jump with a leap of 6-2, with first-place Division II finishes in both events. Teammate Colin Seidl will be heading to states with his Division II leading performance in the 3000 steeplechase (10:20.25).

Sullivan West’s 400 relay team of Cooper, Dan Figueroa, John Figueroa and Kienan Garn took first in Division II with a time of 44.12 and will seek to vie at states for a medal.

Alan Ackermann was first place overall of both Division I and II schools in the discus with a throw of 166-3 that far exceeded the state standard of 148. Ackermann will also compete in the shot put, after besting all comers in the state qualifier with a heave of 50-5, just shy of the state standard of 51-0.

Joining Sullivan West athletes at states will be Tri-Valley’s Sean Messenger, who won the Division II 110 hurdles (15:40) and Max Fiedler, who won the Division II 400 hurdles in 57.8. Garrett Grey won the non-scoring hammer with a throw of 163-0.

Monticello’s Brendan Devine made it to the states in the 3200 (9:40.6), finishing second to O’Neill’s Cory Reed and edging out Warwick’s Terence Prial, who also made it to the states as a wild card in the event. Tri-Valley’s Ryan Loughney previously qualified for states in the discus, as well as the non-scoring hammer throw.

A number of county athletes just missed getting to the state meet, including Liberty’s Jeff Simpson, whose 12-6 pole vault was outdone by Rob Quiller of James I. O’Neill (13-0), who qualified as the Division II top finisher.

Sullivan West’s John Figueroa nearly qualified in the 110 hurdles as well as in the 400 relay. He came up .5 of a second shy of Messenger’s time. Cooper just missed qualifying in the 200 with his time of 22.95. Tiere Spruill of Webutuck made it with a time of 22.80.

On the girls side of the ledger, Tri-Valley’s Courtney Roosa qualified for states and nationals with her time of 7:29.26 in the 2000 steeplechase. Eldred’s Christina Watts made it in the 200 with a time of 22.96. She just missed out in the 100 to Rachel Piarantozzi of Milbrook. Others who came close included Sullivan West’s Sara Alsdorf, who ran a lifetime best 16.97 but came in behind Pine Plains’ Avery Evans, who ran 15.53. Liberty’s Kim McKay also came in behind Evans in the 400 hurdles and missed the cut.