Track

Tri-Valley boys and girls repeat as Class C champions; Eldred girls capture first Class D crown since 2002

By RICHARD A. ROSS

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY — Smiles and tears of joy adorned the faces of the Section Nine champions whose long journey of grueling work, exhaustion, aches and adversity ended in exultation as they gathered on the infield to pose for the photos that would bear witness to their triumphs.

In the glorious waning sunlight of a spectacular May 29, Tri-Valley’s track and field athletes, who hadn’t already left the seemingly endless day of competition, proudly displayed their Section Nine championship plaques. It was a repeat of last year’s Section Nine title wins by both boys and girls, this time in an even more commanding fashion.

The Bears earned redemption after division losses to Sullivan West’s girls and boys and later to Liberty’s boys. Following the photo, the teams took off on a victory lap around the track.

Next came the Eldred girls, a story unto themselves. When the final Class D results were announced, an uproarious cheer up went as the ladies in green rushed to hug each other and coaches Frank Schorling and Bill Kroohs. It had been six years since the Eldred girls last won a Class D title. For long time warriors like 3000-meter champion senior Grace Babula, who was in sixth grade back then, and others who had worn themselves thin with tireless efforts, this sectional win erased seasons of John A. Coleman Catholic trumping Eldred’s best efforts.

While Eldred’s boys had enjoyed a three-year run of titles from 2004-2006, Eldred girls got to celebrate only some individual standout efforts during those leaner years. Now, like Tri-Valley, they have ascended to the mountaintop and their faces shows how much that meant.

The Class C/D Sectional is a marathon day of events that offers up tales of individual races, personal bests, final and admirable efforts by seniors and, of course, its litany of winners.

Tri-Valley boys best Millbrook; Grey, Leon, Khan and Fiedler are winners; Sullivan West’s Seidl is doubly victorious

A year ago, Tri-Valley narrowly defeated Sullivan West by three points by dint of the day’s ending pentathlon. With the graduation of throwing superstar Ryan Loughney and other standouts like Max Fiedler and Michael Kaplan, one had to wonder if the Bears had enough left this year to repeat. But those doubts were put resoundingly to rest with Tri-Valley’s overwhelming sectional victory.

Piling up 136 points to second-place Millbrook’s 112, Tri-Valley drew on its full complement of athletes. Riding its strongest suit, namely its throwers, the Bears amassed a sweep in the shot put with Tanzeel Khan (50-3), Garrett Grey (50-2.75) and Bob Fielder (42-10.75). Grey won the discus (148-4), beating out Sullivan West’s Eric Delaurencio. Fielder took third.

Fiedler, an imposing junior who has worked relentlessly to keep up with seniors Grey and Khan, had his moment of glory later in the day as he won the non-scoring hammer throw with a national-qualifying 175 feet. Fiedler will join Grey and Courtney Roosa, who are already bound for Greensboro, NC later this month.

It will be a return trip for Roosa, who finished 18th in the steeplechase a year ago. This is Grey’s first trip to the outdoor nationals. Grey added points to his resume with a second-place finish in the long jump (18-8.25) and even ran a leg in the Bears’ fifth-place finish in the 400 relay. Grey recently signed a letter of intent to compete at Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania this fall. (See separate article, “Finish line,” on page 25.

Khan, who threw 171 in the hammer, still has a chance to make it to nationals if he can muster four more feet at the Eastern States meet at Iona Prep. Khan won the non-scoring javelin for his second gold medal of the day. His sister Tehnyat earned two of her own. (See girls story below for details of Tehnyat’s triumphs).

Pole vaulter Will Leon gave the Bears another gold medal as he leaped a personal best, 11-6.

Sullivan West’s Colin Seidl returned to the spotlight after a disappointing performance in the OCIAA championships. Seidl, another Sullivan County national qualifier, won the 3000 steeplechase in 10:48.82. At Cornwall earlier this spring, he turned in a stunning 9:42, which will propel him to nationals. Tri-Valley’s Jeremy Kinney turned in a noble effort in the steeplechase to give the Bears eight points.

Seidl also won the 3200 (10:24.15) and took second in the mile behind Millbrook’s Paul Lagno. He capped off his stellar day in the Dawgs’ second-place finish in the 3200 relay, which was won by Rhinebeck.

Fallsburg’s Dyhu Anthony won the 400 (53.88) and took third in the long jump with a mark of 18-8.

Roosa leads Bears to another title in her final meet on beloved track

In her younger track and field life, Tri-Valley’s Courtney Roosa got to run with national standout Heather Iatauro. Such mentorship and Roosa’s unimaginably fine work ethic soon produced one of the region’s finest runners.

In a fitting coda to years of outstanding performances on her home track, Roosa won the 3000 (11:05.24) and the 2000 steeplechase (7:52.39). Her time of 7:18.6 turned in at Cornwall punched her ticket to Greensboro. Roosa will be running for Siena in the fall. She represents all that is fine and noble in Tri-Valley’s ongoing excellence in the sport. Roosa’s final run yielded a second-place finish in the 3200 relay with dear friends Caroline Bertholf, Rachel Sanborn and Naomi Weise. Bouncing back from its one-point division loss to Sullivan West, Tri-Valley won the sectional crown, beating second-place Pine Plains 171-132. The Lady Bombers were led by standout Avery Evans, who won the 400, both hurdle events and the high jump.

While Roosa was ending her Tri-Valley career, sophomore teammate Tehnyat Khan was continuing her meteoric rise to stardom. Seeking to emulate the throwing exploits of her brother, Tanzeel, Tehnyat won the discus (93-1) and the shot put (33-8). She recently won the discus at the league meet against larger school competition, putting herself on the regional radar. Teammate Kelly McNamara took third in the discus and shot put. Kaitlyn Torres got second in the shot put and fourth in the discus. Danielle Darby won the non-scoring javelin and Kate Exner walked off with the non-scoring hammer throw.

The group forms the nexus of Tri-Valley’s throwing threat for next year, so all comers beware!

Sullivan West’s Morgan Hawkins won the pole vault (9-0). Teammate Kendra Barker won the triple jump (31-7.5). Katrina Graby took second in the pentathlon (1615 points). Liz Peters had a fine day with second-place finishes in the 200, 400 and the 400 relay, which she ran with Barker, Kasi Pilny and Lindsey Murphy. The Bulldogs, which had only 13 girls left following a spate of injuries that reduced the division champs’ size but not their moxie, were hoping to best their fifth-place finish at sectionals a year ago.

Mission accomplished! Sullivan West took third this year and closed the point differential against Tri-Valley from a year ago. This was the last meet for senior Chelsie Schadt, who gritted out the pain of a late-season injury. The relentless warrior, who has modeled endurance over her long career, nobly competed in the 3000, the 1500 and the 3200 relay. She will run for Ursinus college in the fall.

Eldred girls have a green day emerging with Class D title

“To everything there is a season.” For Eldred’s girls, the season of triumph finally arrived with their 215-188 Class D victory over John A. Coleman Catholic. Prior to the meet, coach Frank Schorling figured that his girls could win but after years of watching Coleman trump those efforts, he was hesitant to predict any different result.

But this year’s team, led by outgoing Williams-bound Grace Babula and fortified with youthful additions sprinkled among seasoned veterans, believed it could emerge victorious.

Babula won the 3000 (11:21.31) and took second in the 1500. She punctuated her high school career with a stellar leg in the winning 3200 relay.

Christina Watts won the 100 (13.39) and the 200 (27.41) while taking third in the 400. She completed her glorious day by running a leg in the winning 400 relay with Oquanna King, Breanna Brucher and Erika Vorstadt. Christine Donnelly got second in the 800. Kaley Donnelly took second in the steeplechase. Longstanding warrior Lindsay Warden took fourth in her last track meet. She took third in the high jump. Diana Schombs got second in the high jump and won the pole vault (7-6). Brucher took second in the event. Lauren Alves took third in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump and so it went.

Shannon Hansen took second in the non-scoring javelin and won the hammer in 80-10.

Vorstadt took second in the 100 hurdles and third in the 400 hurdles. King got third in the 100 and 200. Meaghan Hazen took fourth in the 800. Eldred’s Regina Davies won the pentathlon (1,330 points).

Livingston Manor was shorthanded but strong of will. Sabrina Hinkley won the long jump (14-8.5) and the triple jump (31-4.25). Chantel Baker took fourth in the 200 and ran in the second-place finish in the 400 relay with Paige Severing, Molly Stahl, and Hinkley. Manor took second in the 1600 relay with Jen Green, Stahl, Hinkley and Baker. Diana Hartling took second in the shot put and the discus.

Lewis captures 1600 and 3000 as Livingston Manor’s boys take second in Class D

Long-distance standout Greg Lewis won the 3000 (10:28.79) and the 1600 (4:59.40), took third in the 800 and ran a leg in the winning 3200 relay with Ed Sanborn, Inderpret Khanagura and Chris Sanders in 9:51.32. The Wildcats finished second to Chapel Field in the Class D boys meet, outscored by the Lions to the tune of 222-143. Mike Diescher won the discus (118-7) and the hammer (107-6), Stephen Rodgers and Mark Hamilton gave Manor a sweep in the discus. Hamilton won the pole vault (8-0) and Rogers won the shot put (39-3.25). Diescher took second in the shot put. Sanborn got third in the 400 and second in the 400 hurdles.

Manor took second in the 400 and 1600 relays.

Eldred took third in the boys meet. Matt Campanella took third in the 1600 and the 3200. Joey Counts took second in the 110 hurdles and third in the 400 hurdles. Brian Corcoran took second in the steeplechase. Eldred got third in the 400 relay. Zachary Davies took second in the pole vault.

Visit riverreportersports.com for an album of meet pictures.