Track

Combined energy

T-V Relays feature combined scores; Lady Bears tops among Division II; Liberty boys second to Ellenville

By RICHARD A. ROSS

GRAHAMSVILLE, NY — What’s better than a solo individual performance in track and field? Answer: a stellar combined effort from a team’s best athletes in a single event. That’s how many events, which are normally scored individually, are accounted for each year at the Tri-Valley relays.

On May 2, large and small schools traveled to the Sullivan County Mecca of Track and Field to vie against a field of major contenders in a dazzling array of relays, combined performances and a few individual races such as the 100 (boys and girls), the 1500 (girls), the 1600 (boys) and the 1600 meter race walk (girls).

On a day in which many students were challenged by taking the SATs, the meet, which began late to accommodate the test-takers, took place under bright skies and featured a bevy of milestones.

While the scoring was done on an overall basis, many of the teams present were Division I schools by virtue of having upward of 600 students from grades 9 to 11. Monticello is the only Sullivan County school in Division I. Other Section Nine Division I schools on hand included Rondout Valley, Wallkill, Goshen, New Paltz and Saugerties, as well as faraway participants such as Peru and Spring Valley.

Division II schools at the meet included Ellenville, Liberty, Tri-Valley, Eldred, Pine Plains, Red Hook, Spackenkill and John A. Coleman Catholic.

Places listed were by overall ranking, but it should be noted that Tri-Valley’s girls won the Division II meet, although they finished second to Rondout Valley overall. On the boys’ side of the ledger, Ellenville was tops overall (79 points) and Liberty was second (69). The rivals will clash in a non-league fray at Ellenville on May 11 and then on May 27 for all the marbles in the Class B/C Sectionals.

Boys meet highlights of

Sullivan County athletes

Tri-Valley’s Bob Fielder and Dillon Lavecchia combined for an impressive 306-1 feet in the hammer throw relay to garner first place. The Bears took second in the shot put relay (88-10.5) and the discus relay (241.5). Tri-Valley’s Jeremy Kinney was second in the steeplechase (7:11.6). Tri-Valley finished third in the shuttle medley relay (3:54.2).

Liberty’s Greg Castro and Ethan Meadow combined to win the pole vault relay (24-0). Malcolm Strother took second in the 100 (11.2). The Indians were second in the 1200 hurdle relays (3:13.1) and second in the 800 relay (1:36.0). They also took second in the 400 relay (46.6) and third in the javelin relay (225-5).

Fallsburg’s Dyhu Anthony and Rodrick Cash combined to take first in the long jump relay (36-9.5). Eldred’s Joey Counts and Chas Wolff combined to win the high jump relay (10-6). They tied Wallkill for the medal. Monticello took second in the 1600 relay (3:36).

Girls meet highlights of Sullivan County athletes

Tri-Valley’s girls finished with 122 points, second only to Division I Rondout Valley (138). Michelle McNutt won the 1600 race walk (9:17.2). Eldred’s Kaleigh Donnelly was second. The Lady Bears won the 6400 relay (23:33.4). They won the hammer throw relay (217.7), the 1200 relay (3:38.1), the shot put relay (63-3), the javelin relay (151-11), took second in the distance medley relay (14:09.2) and took third in 3200 relay (10:47.9) and the discus relay (168-6).

Monticello’s Jessica Fingers won the 1500 (4:50). The Lady Panthers took first in the distance medley relay (13:15.3), second in the 1600 relay (3:36.4) and third in the 800 relay (1:55.9). Emma Cohen took second in the steeplechase (8:06.3).

Liberty’s Jessica Dunnigan won the 100 (12.8). The Lady Indians took third in the hammer throw relay (114-9.5), third in the triple jump relay (61-3) as well as the pole vault relay (13-6).

All eyes will be fixed on Sullivan West on May 6 as Tri-Valley visits for a meet that will decide the Division IV champion. Sullivan West won the title last spring. This past winter, it won both the division and Section Nine crowns from its nemesis. The Lady Bears are the defending Section Nine spring track champions.

Visit riverreport ersports.com for complete results and an album of photos from both the T-V relays and the Sullivan West/Tri-Valley clash.