Track

Champions all

County’s best go head to head for individual honors

By RICHARD A. ROSS

JEFFERSONVILLE, NY — You know you’re a champion when you’ve given your best effort, worked relentlessly and made personal milestones you once imagined were unattainable.

Numerous track and field athletes, who deserve the honor of being regarded as champions regardless of their relative place in their events, gathered at Sullivan West for the annual Meet of Champions on May 14.

While some of these runners, jumpers and throwers will go on to the league meet in Warwick on May 23 and 24 and the sectionals that follow on May 28 and 29, for others, this was the last hurrah of the short and intense season that bore witness to remarkable strides and milestones, many of which have gone unreported.

The meet, which is scored on an individual basis, allows athletes from Sullivan West, Monticello, Liberty, Eldred, Fallsburg, Livingston Manor and Tri-Valley to experience how they stack up against the best in the county in their events, without the concerns of accruing points for their teams.

While only one athlete in each event was given a medal for finishing first, in this writer’s estimation, many more true champions were present and accounted for. Kudos to these legions of heroes and heroines for their inspiring efforts and commendable strides.

That said, competition is about the hierarchy of places at the finish, and this year’s meet produced some exceptional contests and a host of laudable winners. Starting with the boys, only because ‘b’ comes before ‘g,’ there were wins by favorites, as well as barnstorming finishes by others who flew into this meet under the radar.

In the category of the first order, Monticello senior Brendan Devine, now ranked third in the state at 3200 meters with a time of 9:16.26, easily won the Meet of Champions race in 10:05.1. Devine also took the 1600 in 4:35.4 and ran a leg in the Panthers’ winning 3200 relay along with Thomas Gonzalez, Dave Wilbur and John Bowens in a zippy 8:39.7.

Other winners who have made a habit of residing at the top of their events include Tri-Valley’s Garrrett Grey, who earlier in the week set a personal best by finishing second in the hammer throw with a heave of 170-10— at the OCIAA throwers pentathlon on May 12.

Grey set a meet record at the throwers pentathlon with a total of 3,914 points.

In this meet, he breezed to a win with a discus throw of 153-5. He also won the javelin throw with a mark of 157. Liberty speedster Saeed Robinson continued his winning ways by taking the 400 (55.5). Tim Burgio won the long jump (18-5), while teammate Malcolm Strother took the 100 (11.4) and helped the Indians to a win in the 400 relay. Another Indian, Greg Castro, continued to excel in the pole vault with a leap of 12-0. It was just such efforts that led Liberty to its first-ever OCIAA Division title this spring.

Tri-Valley’s Tanzeel Khan won the shot put again, with a throw of 48 feet.

Some eye-opening performances from names not normally associated with winning in certain events included Tri-Vally’s Nate Coelho, who blew by everyone in the 110 hurdles in 15.0. Monticello’s Dior Jackson broke through in the high jump with a leap of 5-10.

In the girls meet, Monticello’s Jessica Fingers maintained her dominance with a win in the 1500 (4:47.9). Fingers also ran in the Lady Panthers winning 3200 relay with Rebecca Concors, Anna Loor and Marisela Acevedo. The Monticello quartet turned in a time of 10:23. Fingers completed her three-win day with a victory in the 800 (2:18). Tri-Valley’s Tehnyat Khan won the shot put (33-1) and the discus ( 98-6) as she continued her remarkable spring exploits.

Liberty freshman Jessica Dunnigan edged out reigning champion Christina Watts of Eldred in the 100 in 13 flat. Monticello’s Ty’nessa Washington bested Dunnigan in the 200 with a time of 26.3. Dunnigan continued to draw admiration and respect as she won the triple jump (32-2).

Only four girls ran in the 2000 steeplechase as Monticello’s Emma Cohen prevailed with a time of 8:07. Sullivan West’s speedy 400 relay of Katie Manzi, Morgan Hawkins, Lindsey Murphy and Kendra Barker ran a quick 54.7 for the gold medal. Murphy bested Monticello’s Pollyanna Palhano to win the 100 hurdles in 17.7. Liberty’s Kim McKay equaled her personal best pole vault of nine feet. Sullivan West’s Morgan Hawkins ran a stunning 64.9 to win the 400 hurdles.

Boys winners

3,200: Brendon Devine (M), 10:51; 110 hurdles: Nate Coelho (TV), 16.0; 100: Malcolm Strother (L), 11.4; 800: Thomas Gonzales (M), 2:06.9; 3,000 steeplechase: Colin Seidl (SW), 10:39.7; 400 hurdles: John Bowens (M), 60; 400: Saeed Robinson (L), 55.5; 1,600: Brendon Devine (M), 4:35.4; 200: Malcolm Strother (L) 23.4; 4x800 relay: Monticello (Devine, Bowens, Gonzales, Dave Wilbur), 8:39.7; 4x100 relay: Liberty (Strother, Robinson, Bobby Davidson, Burgio), 46.3; long jump: Tim Burgio (L), 18-5; triple jump: Jordan Wilson (M), 40½; pole vault: Greg Castro (L), 12; high jump: Dior Jackson (M), 5-10; discus: Garrett Grey (TV), 153-5; javelin: Garrett Grey (TV), 157.

Girls winners

3,000: Rianne Erlwin (SW), 11:31.9; 100 hurdles: Lindsey Murphy (SW), 17.7; 100: Jessica Dunnigan (L), 13; 800: Jessica Fingers (M), 2:18; 2,000 steeplechase: Emma Cohen (M), 8:04.7; 400 hurdles: Morgan Hawkins (SW), 67.9; 400: Ty’neesa Washington (M), 60.9; 1,500: Jessica Fingers (M), 4:47.9; 200: Ty’neesa Washington (M), 26.8; 3200 relay: Monticello (Rebecca Concors, Ana Loor, Marisela Acevedo, Cohen), 10:23. 400 relay: Sullivan West (Katie Manzi, Morgan Hawkins, Lindsey Murphy, Kendra Barker), 54.7; 1,600 relay: (M), 4:20.5; long jump: Maureen Dimilia (TV), 15-1; triple jump: Jessica Dunnigan (L), 32-2; pole vault: Kim McKay (L), 9; high jump: Agnes Pompeii (TV), 4-8; discus: Tehnyat Kahn (TV), 98-6; shot put: Kahn (TV) 33-1.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of Meet of Champions photos.