Track

Quick first step

Monticello track opens its season with boys and girls league wins over Burke

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MONTICELLO, NY — When it comes to the fierce competition in Section Nine track and field, it’s a jungle out there. News travels fast in that dense place populated by swift runners, jumpers who soar through the air and throwers who heave objects with might and grace. This spring, teams will quickly learn to be wary of the wily Monticello Panthers, who can pounce on their prey and quickly subdue them.

When it comes to Panthers, males and females are equally dangerous.

To prevail in the predatory world of track and field, you need a quick first step, fast reflexes, stamina and will. Monticello showed it possesses such attributes as it hosted Burke for its season and league opener on April 3.

Monticello’s boys and girls teams easily dispatched John S. Burke Catholic on a very chilly afternoon that felt more like late winter than early spring. Encountering strong gusts of wind that made the brisk temperatures feel even lower, runners, jumpers and throwers tried to keep warm as they prepared for their events.

In the boys meet, Burke’s C.J. Douglas turned out to be the Eagles’ biggest point-getter as he won the 400 (56.4), the long jump (18-3—) and the triple jump (37-10½).

Monticello countered with wins by Brendan Devine in the 800 (2:12.9, the 1600 (4:55.8) and 3200 (11:30). Monticello thrower Jason Osrow swept the discus (94-4) and the shot put (39-5) to help the Panthers (1-0, 1-0 OCIAA) sweep the 400, 1600 and 3200 relays to best Burke (0-1, 0-1 OCIAA) by the score of 86-53.

Boys results

100-meter dash: Sean Cooper (B), 11.3; 200: Dave Echevarria (B), 25.0; 400: C.J. Douglas (B), 56.4; 800: Brendan Devine (M), 2:12.9; 1600: Devine (M), 4:55.8; 3200: Devine (M), 11:30; 110 hurdles: Cooper (B), 16.7; 400 hurdles: John Bowens (M), 65.7; 400 relay: Monticello (Darren Fraser, Kevin O’Rourke, Rachain Wilson, Jay Cumming), 54.7; 1600 relay: Monticello (Robert Venditti, Bowens, Fraser, Dave Wilbur), 4:09; 3200 relay: Monticello (Venditti, Bowens, Jacob Rubin, Thomas Gonzales); High jump: Cooper (B), 5-7; Long jump: Douglas (B), 18-3—; Triple jump: Douglas (B), 37-10½; Discus: Jason Osrow (M), 94-4; Shot put: Osrow (M), 39-5; Pole vault: O’Rourke (M), 9-0.

Team records: Monticello 1-0 (1-0 OCIAA); Burke Catholic 0-1 (0-1 OCIAA).

Lady Panthers too quick for Lady Eagles in season opener

In the girls meet, the Lady Panthers profited from a fine team effort and several outstanding multi-event wins by some of the team’s standouts. Pollyanna Palhano helped the cause with wins in the 100 hurdles (18.1), the triple jump (20-3¼) and the shot put with a heave of 20-3¼. Emma Cohen won the long jump (13-9—), the 400 hurdles (1:16) and ran a leg in the winning 3200 relay with Lianna Hollander, Ana Loor and Emily Martin. Jessica Fingers won the 800 (2:31.4) and the 1500 (4:57.4) as Monticello (1-0, 1-0 OCIAA) bested Burke (0-1, 0-1 OCIAA) by the score of 92-40.

Girls results

100-meter dash: Danielle Weimer (B), 13.3; 200: Ty’nessa Washington (M), 27.9; 400: Nyoki Tate (M), 68.9; 800: Jessica Fingers (M), 2:31.4; 1500: Fingers (M), 4:57.4; 3000: Ana Loor (M), 12:15.7; 100 hurdles: Pollyanna Palhano (M), 18.1; 400 hurdles: Emma Cohen (M), 1:16.0; 400 relay: Burke Catholic (Marissa Klejbuck, Jessica Mateszyewski, Brianna Valentine, Danielle Weimer), 59.5; 1600 relay: Monticello (Colleen Thomas, Rebecca Concors, Anastasia Bowden, Emily Martin), 5:02.4; 3200 relay: Monticello (Cohen, Lianna Hollander, Loor, Emily Martin); High jump: Weimer (B), 4-2; Long jump: Cohen (M), 13-9—; Triple jump: Palhano (M), 29-1; Discus: Mariah Klejbuck (M), 64-9; Shot put: Palhano (M), 20-3¼; Pole vault: Not contested.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of pictures from the track meet.