Track

Relays redux

Bears win Tri-Valley Relays Division II; other locals impress with fine performances

By RICHARD A. ROSS

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY — An overcast day could not dim the efforts of Tri-Valley’s boys and girls, who triumphed over other Division II competitors at the annual Tri-Valley Relays, held on May 3. Unlike other track meets, relay meets are scored heavily on the combined efforts of teammates in events. While typical track meets feature 400, 1600 and 3200 relay races, meets like the Tri-Valley Relays also have tandem scoring in field events, where the combined throwing distances or pole vaulting heights of two competitors are added together for a team score.

Riding the awesome ability of its throwers, Tri-Valley was able to parlay 77 points to easily beat out second-place Sullivan West, which scored 36. This was a turnaround from the schools’ Division IV fray that put the Westies on top by the score of 76-65 just a couple of weeks back.

Bears Garrett Grey and Bob Fiedler won the hammer relay (344.2). Grey teamed up with Tanzeel Khan to master the shot put relay (94-73¼) and the discus relay (290-11). Will Leon and Greg Knox paired up to win the pole vault relay with combined jumps of 18-6.

Other schools relegated to Division II for this meet included Pine Plains, Eldred and John A. Coleman Catholic. Monticello and Liberty competed in Division I against the likes of Ellenville, Onteora, Rondout Valley, Saugerties, Marlboro, Red Hook, Goshen, Spackenkill and New Paltz. Ellenville was the winner in the larger division.

While team honors went to the Bears, a number of county individuals earned gold. Monticello’s Brendan Devine helped pace the Panthers’ 6400 relay team to victory as he teamed up with Dave Wilbur, Thomas Gonzales and Robert Venditti for a speedy 19:32.9. John Bowens replaced Venditti in the foursome in the distance medley relay for another Panther win, this one in 11:02.5.

While the meet was heavily loaded with relay events, there were some outstanding individual races as well. Liberty’s Malcolm Strother continued his recent upsurge with a win in the 100 (11.6), as did Sullivan West’s Colin Seidl in the 2000 steeplechase (6:37.7).

Liberty and Tri-Valley will go head-to-head in a meet at Ellenville on May 8. A Liberty win would hand them the Division IV title. If Tri-Valley wins, Liberty, Sullivan West and Tri-Valley will share the honors.

Boys results

Division II team results: 1. Tri-Valley (TV) 77; 2. Sullivan West (SW) 36; 3. Pine Plains (PP) 20; 4. Eldred (Eld) 5; 5. John A. Coleman (JAC) 1.

Division I team results: 1. Ellenville (Ell) 162; 2. Onteora (O) 89; 3. Rondout Valley (RV) 89; 4. Saugerties (Sa) 88; 5. Liberty (L) 70; 6. Monticello (Mo) 60; 7. Marlboro (Ma) 59; 8. Red Hook (RH) 49; 9. Goshen (G) 21; 10. Spackenkill (Sp) 6; 11. New Paltz (NP) 0.

Lady Bears prevail over Sullivan West and rest of Division II

While the bitter taste of its Division IV loss to Sullivan West remains an unpleasant memory, Tri-Valley continued its drive toward redemption as it looks forward to the Class C Sectionals. In the interim, the Lady Bears outpaced Sullivan West 116-71 at this past weekend’s relay meet.

Beginning with a win in the 6400 relay (23:33.7), something Sullivan West has long treasured as its own domain, Tri-Valley’s Courtney Roosa, Rachel Sanborn, Shannon Hornbeck and Naomi Weise sped to victory. More Bear points came from the pole vault relay won by Heather Knox and Emma Tingley (14-0). Eldred’s Grace Babula won the 1500 in 5:10, the same winning time she posted in a dual meet against Sullivan West and Livingston Manor on April 30. Liberty speedster Jessica Dunnigan (13.0) garnered the win in the 100. Monticello’s Pollyanna Palhano won the pentathlon by piling up 2,025 points.

Keeping up with their winning ways, Monticello’s 3200 relay (9:55.6) featured Jessica Fingers, Rebecca Concors, Marisela Acevedo and Ty’nessa Washington, used in place of Emma Cohen, who was busy winning the 2000 steeplechase (8:20.8). The same foursome came back to win the distance medley relay (12:43.6). Sullivan West’s 1600 relay team of Kasi Pilny, Katie Manzi, Elizabeth Peters and Kendra Barker logged a first-place time of 4:21.3. Eldred’s sprint medley relay team of Christina Watts, Erika Vorstadt, Grace Babula and Oquanna King took the event with a time of 4:40.9. Babula just signed a letter of intent to attend Division III Williams College in Massachusetts. She will run cross-country and track there.

Earlier in the week, Sullivan West’s girls improved their record to 6-0 with a dual meet victory over Eldred and Livingston Manor.

Girls results

Division II team results: 1. Tri-Valley (TV) 116; 2. Sullivan West (SW) 71; 3. John A. Coleman (JAC) 55; 4. Pine Plains (PP) 51; 5. Eldred (Eld) 43.

Division I team results: 1. Onteora (O) 114; 2. Ellenville (Ell) 80; 3. Rondout Valley (RV) 61; 4. Monticello (Mo) 48; 5. Tie – New Paltz (NP), Red Hook (RH) 45; 7. Tie – Liberty (L), Saugerties (Sa) 38; 9. Goshen (G) 20; 10. Spackenkill (Sp) 3; 11. Marlboro (Ma) 0.