Focusing her energy on a single event, Canastota girls track and field star Allison Lasnicki earned a spot in this weekend’s state championship meet.
Lasnicki will be competing in the 3,000-meter run at University of Buffalo Stadium after easily winning the Division II (small school) portion of that event at last Thursday’s state qualifier at Cicero-North Syracuse’s Bragman Stadium.
In the 3,000, everyone runs together, so Lasnicki took third overall, her time of 10 minutes, 15.74 seconds beaten only by Fayetteville-Manlius teammates Courtney Chapman (10:00.73) and Kathryn Buchan (10:12.68).
Among Division II runners the gap was large, as Lasnicki finished more than a minute ahead of Westhill’s Crystal Whiteside, who was second in 11:19.79.
As this was going on, Lasnicki’s teammate, Gina Micaroni, was making a strong run in the 2,000-meter steeplechase. Micaroni finished second, in 7:22.80, her time only beaten by Skaneateles’ Rachel Hosie (7:13.23). Canastota was 10th among Division II teams in the 4×800 relay in 10:16.51.
The boys state qualifier took place 24 hours later, also at CNS, and Aaron Walker would find his own success by winning the Division II mile.
Walker ran a steady, strong race and kept himself ahead of Tully’s Chris Burke throughout the 1,600 meters. At the line, Walker finished in 4:30.06, a solid 4.33 seconds ahead of Burke. Robbie Argentine earned third place in the Division II 3,200-meter run in 9:53.86.
In the 4×100 relay, Anthony Tomarchio, Josh Lavoie, Ray Smith and Dan Sandford won their heat in 45.64 seconds — but finished second overall because Richfield Springs, in the earlier slow heat, posted 45.35 seconds. Jeff Willis tied for seventh in the pole vault, clearing 11 feet.
