Track and Field

BINGHAMTON – Greene senior Chad Noelle had little trouble defending his Section IV titles at the state qualifier, and returning state champion, Katie Woodford of Oxford, is on course for a three-peat after Thursday night’s meet at Binghamton Alumni Stadium.

Noelle was nowhere near his best times in the 1,600- and 3,200-meter races, and he wasn’t in record-breaking mode either, said Greene coach, Tim Paske. “The goal today was to just win the races and qualify for the state meet,” Paske said. “He’s in training shape right now – the best shape I’ve ever seen him in. He’ll be the number one seed at states next week, and that’s when he’ll be peaking.”

Katie Woodford won Division II titles in the 100- and 400-meter races. In the former, she set a personal-best 12.02 seconds to win the overall sectional championship, while in the latter event, she fought off a hip injury to win the Division II crown.

Woodford, her sister Emily, and first-year track and field upstart, Haley Witchella, all earned bids to the state tournament Emily Woodford claimed the Division II crown in the 200 meters (25.41), and Witchella was the Section IV champion in the shot put winning with a personal best 36-feet, 7-inches. The two Woodfords and Witchella teamed with Jessica Russo for a Division II title in the 400-meter relay (50.02). “We accomplished our goals today. Everyone we wanted to qualify at states made it,” said Oxford coach Irene DeJager.