Track

Twenty something!

20th Monticello Games sparkle; Fingers and Devine named outstanding track athletes; Grey hailed as outstanding field athlete

By RICHARD A. ROSS

MONTICELLO, NY — Like fine wine, the Monticello Games improve with age. This year’s rendition on April 26, which marked the meet’s 20th birthday, was a celebration of athleticism and sportsmanship.

Featuring five Sullivan County schools, including host Monticello, Eldred, Liberty, Sullivan West and Tri-Valley, the field was enhanced by top-notch athletes from Sydney, Port Jervis, Arlington, Bainbridge Guilford Academy, Spring Valley, Ellenville, Middletown, Red Hook and Chester. Staged in perfect weather, just cool enough to keep runners, jumpers and throwers in fine form, the games unveiled many stellar performances.

By day’s end, Monticello’s Brendan Devine and Jessica Fingers, the school’s premiere runners, had been named Outstanding Track Athletes. Tri-Valley’s Garrett Grey was named boys Outstanding Field Athlete and Sydney’s Ashley Mohlmeister was named the girls Outstanding Field Athlete.

Devine sailed to easy wins in the 3200 (9:42.9) and the 1600 (4:35.3). Fingers seemed rife with energy as she cruised to wins in the 3000 (10:10.9), the 1500 (4:55.7) and put Monticello’s 3200 relay team far out in front as she teamed up with Marisela Acevedo, Rebecca Concors and Emma Cohen to post a time of 10:26.7, far short of the team’s outdoor personal record (PR) of 10:05. This past winter during indoor track, the foursome ran a zippy 9:57.

At last weekend’s Tri-Valley Invitational, Fingers and Grey were honored as top track and field performers respectively. This week’s awards gave the two headliners back-to-back top honors. Grey continued his senior year farewell tour with wins in the discus (148.0) and the javelin (158-4). He took second in the shot put (46-9) behind teammate Tanzeel Khan (47-6). Khan got second in the javelin (154-5).

Middletown was the top boys team. Tri-Valley finished fourth, Monticello took sixth, Liberty was seventh and Sullivan West finished ninth.

Coming off its impressive win this past week over Sullivan West, the Liberty boys garnered more gold, as Gregory Castro won the pole vault (11-0) and Malcolm Strother won the 100 (11.3). He took second in the high jump. Monticello’s Dior Jackson got third in the event. Liberty’s Tim Burgio took third in the triple jump.

Sullivan West’s Colin Seidl defended his Monticello 3000 steeplechase crown. Seidl posted a time of 10:33.9. He finished second to Devine in the 3000. Teammate Eric DeLaurencio captured second in the discus.

In the coaches and alumni 800-meter run, 2003 Monticello graduate Katy Schlictman, a former NYSPHSAA and Federation champion in the 400 hurdles, prevailed over classmate Tim Billias. After graduating from Monticello, Schlictman went on to run for Columbia University, where she set her PR of 60.7 in the event. This field of competition was not nearly as challenging. Monticello got second and third in the 800 with Thomas Gonzalez and Devan Mathis.

A list of Sullivan County’s top boy finishers is as follows, with the place in parenthesis.

3200-meter run: (1) Brendan Devine (Mont), 9:42.9; (2) Colin Seidl (SW), 10:05. 800 relay: (3) Liberty 4:04.5; 3200 relay: (2) Monticello, 8:40.1; 100: (1) Malcolm Strother (Lib), 11.3; 1600: (1) Devine (Mont), 4:35.3; 800: (2) Thomas Gonzalez (Mont) 2:08.2; (3) Devan Mathis (Mont), 2:10.1; 3000 steeplechase: (1) Seidl (SW), 10:33.9; Shot put: (1) Tanzeel Kahn (TV), 47-6; (2) Garrett Grey (TV), 46-9; Triple jump: (3) Tim Burgio (Lib), 38-2; Discus: (1) Grey (TV), 148-0; (3) Eric DeLaurencio (SW), 135-9; 3; Pole vault: (1) Greg Castro (Lib), 11-0; High jump: (2) Strother (Lib), 5-9; (3) Dior Jackson (Mont), 5-9; Javelin: (1) Grey (TV), 158-4; (2) Tanzeel Khan (TV), 154-5.

Team results: (1) Middletown, 166.5; (2) Arlington, 106; (3) Ellenville, 83; (4) Tri-Valley, 81; (5) Red Hook, 74; (6) Monticello, 67; (7) Liberty, 53; (8) Bainbridge, 31.5; (9) Sullivan West, 28; (10) Spring Valley, 9; (11) Sidney, 7.

Monticello girls finish third overall

Monticello finished third among 14 teams. Tri-Valley garnered sixth. Sullivan West, Liberty and Eldred finished 11 through 13 respectively.

Tri-Valley’s Courtney Roosa retained her 1000-steeplechase crown with a time of 3:38.6. Monticello’s Emma Cohen and Liberty’s Kim McKay took second and third in the event for a Sullivan County sweep. Monticello’s 1600 relay team comprised of Cohen, Anastasia Bowen, Ty’nessa Washington and Nyoki Tate (4:21.6) was tops on the day. Sullivan West’s Morgan Hawkins (9-0) reached her personal best in the pole vault. She took second behind Port Jervis’ Sydnie Leroy (11-0).

Other Sullivan County top finishers included:

3000-meter run: (1). Jessica Fingers (Mont), 10:10.9; 400: (2). Tynessa Washington (Mont), 62.4; 1500: (1) Fingers, 4:55.7; 3200 relay: (1) Monticello (Fingers, Emma Cohen, Mariska Acevedo), 10:26.7; 1000 steeplechase: (1) Courtney Roosa (TV), 3:38.6;( 2) Cohen (Mont), 3:41.2; (3) Kim McKay (Lib), 3:44; Pole vault: (2) Morgan Hawkins (SW), 9-0; 400: (3) Christina Watts (E), 64.4; High jump: (3) Kendra Barker (SW), 4-9; Triple jump: (3) Pollyana Polhano (Mont), 32-2; 1,600 relay: (1) Monticello (Cohen, Anastasia Bowen, Ty’nessa Washington, Nyoki Tate), 4:21.6.

Team results: (1) Arlington, 150; (2) Sidney, 95; (3) Monticello, 84; (4) Ellenville, 65; (5) Spring Valley, 64; (6) Tri-Valley, 53; (7) Bainbridge, 52; (8) Middletown, 38; (9) Port Jervis, 28; (10) Red Hook, 27; (11) Sullivan West, 22; (12) Liberty, 19; (13) Eldred, 13; (14) Chester, 8.

Visitriverreportersports.com for an extensive album of meet pictures.