3 Chenango County Indoor Track Teams Open Season With Strong Performances; Conant Breaks 55 Meter School Record
Published: December 7th, 2018
By: Meagan Schulz

illa Valley and Oxford programs Saturday. The Blackhawks of Oxford are in their first year as an indoor program and saw an outstanding first meet from their squad. No member of the team finished outside of the top seven in any of the events they competed in. Their day was highlighted by Milla Gonzalez’ second place finish in the 55 meter dash. Out of 25 participants in the event, the Blackhawks’ freshman crossed the finish line in 8.13 seconds. Her time was just two-tenths of a second behind first place winner Jecholiah Stephenson of Vestal. Also placing in the top 20 for the event was her teammate Emma Barbosa, coming in fifh place with a time of 8.24 second. Norwich’s Riley Marsh was sixth, running a 8.30 second 55 meter dash while teammate Shaylee Horton finished 10th. Unadilla Valley’s Jessica Smtih placed just ahead of Horton in ninth. In the boys 55 meter event, Purple Tornado speedster Eric Conant delivered once again. Finishing at the top, Conant’s 6.62 second time broke his own school record set from a year ago. David Berger of Norwich also claimed a top five finish, coming in fourth as he crossed the finish line at 7.13 seconds. The two joined with Nik Barber and Gabe Gawronski to come home at the 4x200 meter relay winners of the invitational. The Purple Tornado foursome sprinted passed all other teams to win the event with a time of 1:38.09, a time better than other group competing by six seconds. Prior to the relay race, Conant won his second individual event of the day in the 300 meter dash. He crossed the finished line nearly a second a head of the second place runner, Ben Avolio of Unadilla Valley. Avolio raced to a time of 39.19 seconds and was almost two seconds ahead of the rest of the event field. Barber tied another school record set in the recent years in the high jump field event. His final height of 5 feet-10 inches was the best of the day by four inches. Giving Norwich a 1-2 finish in the event was his teammate Thomas Kempf, jumping over the bar at 5 feet-6 inches. Gawronski was another Purple Tornado individual event winner as he raced to a time of 1:25.41 in the 600 meter run. As he made it look effortlessly, his time was the best in the field by six seconds. Kid sister Katie Gawronski highlighted the Norwich girls team with a second place finish in the same event as her brother. Katie claimed second place as she crossed the line just four-tenths of a second behind the winner. The Tornado junior, who is also a talented hurdler, placed third in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 10.24. Unadilla Valley’s distance runners had a nice day on the track. Josh Nogart and Andy Grace came across the finish line back-to-back in the 1000 meter race. Nograt captured fifth place with a time of 3:07.50 while Grace was a step behind, finishing .3 seconds after. Rebecca Ruffino of the Lady Storm placed sixth on the girls side of the event, posting a time of 4:06.93. Her time better three other runners in the race. In her first track meet, Lucie Martin of Norwich place second in the long jump. He best attempt was recorded at 15 feet-2 inches. Zach Lowe took the field by more than six feet in the boys shot put at the meet, giving the Purple Tornado another top finisher for the day. His throw of 42 feet-4.25 inches dominated the event. UV’s Molly Avolio picked up where she left off a season ago, capturing the top spot in the girls shot put. Her best throw was recorded at 33 feet-7.75 inches and was nearly two feet better than second place. Norwich’s freshman girls thrower Shakria Alexander had a great first varsity meet in the same field event. Alexander earned a spot on the podium for third place with her throw of 30 feet-10.25 inches. Other notable finishes from the meet were Oxford’s Sammie Emerson placing seventh in the 600 meter run, Norwich’s Stephen Kman finishing sixth in the 3200 meter event, Noah Bufalini of the Tornado capturing a fourth place in the 600 meter run, teammate Ryan Sanford claiming fourth in the 55 meter hurdles, Jada Reynolds of the Purple winning fourth place in the 1500 meter run and Kirsten White jumping to an eighth place finish in the girls long jump...

3 Chenango County Indoor Track Teams Open Season With Strong Performances; Conant Breaks 55 Meter School Record
Published: December 7th, 2018
By: Meagan Schulz

Continue Reading This Story

Subscribe now at half price for a limited time!

Author: Meagan Schulz - More From This Author

Comments

NY Troopers investigate fatal head-on crash in Oxford

NPD officers King and Laughlin honored with Heroic Action Award

3 Chenango County Indoor Track Teams Open Season With Strong Performances; Conant Breaks 55 Meter School Record Published: December 7th, 2018 By: Meagan Schulz

Continue Reading This Story

Subscribe now at half price for a limited time!

Author: Meagan Schulz - More From This Author

Comments

NY Troopers investigate fatal head-on crash in Oxford

NPD officers King and Laughlin honored with Heroic Action Award

3 Chenango County Indoor Track Teams Open Season With Strong Performances; Conant Breaks 55 Meter School Record
Published: December 7th, 2018
By: Meagan Schulz