Track

On track

Preview of events and Sullivan County track and field icons for the upcoming season

By RICHARD A. ROSS

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY - For the sheer numbers of its participants and the incredible diversity of its events, spring track and field is one of the most colorful and entertaining high school sports to watch. Unlike its other seasonal counterparts?baseball, softball and golf?track meets often involve a number of schools and a panoply of events taking place simultaneously which makes it akin to a three-ring circus.

But while spectators marvel at the speed of sprinters, the stamina of distance runners, the grace of pole vaulters, high, long and triple jumpers, hurdlers and the sheer strength of shot putters, discus and weight throwers, athletes and their coaches take track meets very seriously. Individuals strive to beat personal bests with faster running times and greater distances in jumps and throws, while vying against the best athletes in their events from other area schools.

Winning a track meet is akin to being successful in a chess match. Coaches must strategize how they can garner the most points by using their athletes most advantageously. Ofttimes, meet outcomes can come down to the day’s last relay.

Sullivan County schools vary in size from Class A Monticello, which competes in the OCIAA Division III, to its smaller counterparts, including Class B Liberty and Class C Sullivan West, Tri-Valley and Fallsburg, which all vie for the Division IV title. Smaller Class D Livingston Manor and Eldred are in Division V.

Despite their size differences, which separate the teams by scoring in their divisions, county schools compete against each other at meets, including the Sullivan County Meet of Champions, which will be held in late May. They see each other at the Monticello Games, the Tri-Valley Relays and Tri-Valley Invitational and at the OCIAA League meets as well.

To better understand track meets, it is helpful to know what events will be taking place and what some of the winning times and distances were at last year’s county meet. Here is a breakdown of last year’s Meet of Champions events. Bear in mind that not all events were on display there. The hammer throw and pentathlon were not included but are part and parcel of other larger meets during the season.

Here is a breakdown of last year’s winners along with their schools, times and distances. It is important to note that Tri-Valley’s runners did not compete as they were engaged in a pre-sectional workout the day of the Meet of Champions. That preparation paid off as the Bears subsequently captured the boys and girls Class C Sectional titles. Eldred boys were Class D champions.

For more photos of this year's atheletes, see the Sports section of the print newspaper.

2007 Meet of Champions

Boys results

(Abbreviations for schools: Eldred (E), Fallsburg (F), Liberty (L), Livingston Manor (LM), Monticello (M), Sullivan West (SW) and Tri-Valley (TV)

110-meter hurdles: Brendan Ferrence (M), 16.9; 100: Dan Figueroa (SW), 11.5; 3,200: Brendan Devine (M), 10:35; 800: John Bowens (M), 2:09; 3,000 steeplechase: Colin Seidl (SW), 10:44; 200: Dan Figueroa (SW), 23.6; 400 hurdles: Kienan Garn (SW), 62.7; 1,600: Devine (M), 4:46; 3,200 relay: Monticello, 9:19; 400 relay: Sullivan West, 46.0; 1,600 relay: Monticello, 3:51; Shot put: Alan Ackerman (SW), 52-4; Discus: Alan Ackerman (SW), 159-6; High jump: Donald Cooper (SW), 5-10 (Cooper is now at Newburgh Free Academy); Long jump: Dan Figueroa (SW), 19-3; Triple jump: Will Schlott (SW), 37-1/4; Pole vault: Jeff Simpson (L), 12-0; 400: Cooper (SW), 54.1; Javelin: Garrett Grey (TV), 151-4.

Girls results

100-meter hurdles: Sara Alsdorf (SW) ,17.0; 100: Ty’nessa Washington (M), 13.0; 3,000: Marisela Acevedo (M), 11:59; 800: Jessica Fingers (M), 2:36; 2,000 steeplechase: Rianne Erlwein (SW), 8:34; 200: Ty’nessa Washington (M), 27.4; 400 hurdles: Lindsey Murphy (SW), 77.8; 1,500: Jessica Fingers (M), 5:09; 3,200 relay: Sullivan West, 11:02; 400 relay: Monticello, 55.2; 1,600 relay: Monticello, 4:24; Shot put: Theresa Allen (Fallsburg), 31¼; Discus: Theresa Allen (F), 109-6; High jump: Kendra Barker (SW) 4-3; Long jump: Te’nesha Washington (M) 14-8¼; Triple jump: Jasmine Walizadeh (L) 28-4½; Pole vault: Janelle Slutsky (M), 8-6; 400: Ty’nessa Washington (M), 64.4; Javelin: Caity Baker (L), 65-2.