As it stands right now, the Solvay boys track and field team is on a path toward a showdown with archrival Westhill May 14 with the OHSL Liberty division regular-season championship on the line.
The Bearcats took a major step toward that reality by roaring past Bishop Ludden 99-40 and Marcellus 84-57 in last Wednesday’s three-way meet on the Mustangs’ new home track. Both Solvay and Westhill sit at 4-0 in league competition. Ludden also lost to Marcellus, 89-50.
With lots of stars on hand, the Bearcats did not sit quietly. Mike Acchione engaged in a great 400-meter hurdles duel with Marcellus standout Matt Weeks, pulling it out in the end as Acchione finished with 58.3 seconds, just ahead of Weeks (58.4 seconds).
Also, Acchione won the triple jump, going 40 feet 2 3/4 inches, while Jason Conners threw the shot put 52 feet 11 1/2 inches.
Solvay took two of the three relays. Greg Manning, Paul DelPrato, Will Hnatko and Jeremy Parker worked together to win the 4×800 in 8:23.7, while Parker and DelPrato also helped Casey Pucello and Conor Halton prevail in the 4×400 in 3:49 flat.
Ludden had its share of good moments, too. Wendall Williams won the high jump, clearing 6 feet 2 inches, and was a close second (11.2 seconds) to Marcellus’ Mike Quercia (11.1 seconds) in the 100-meter dash. In the triple jump, Williams went 40 feet 1 1/2 inches, just behind Acchione.
Daquan Grobsmith earned first place in the long jump, going 21 feet 5 1/2 inches, as Steve Barrett threw the discus 123 feet 7 1/2 inches. Williams, Grobsmith and Omar Osbourne all helped Ludden’s 4×100 relay team win in 44.9 seconds.
In the girls meet at Marcellus, Solvay also pulled off a sweep, beating Marcellus 71-66 and rolling past Ludden 93-29.
Christine Armstrong was first in the 100-meter high hurdles (16.5 seconds) and also took the shot put with a toss of 31 feet 2 inches.
Rebecca Quick claimed titles in the 100-meter dash (13.2 seconds) and triple jump (29 feet 1 1/2 inches), while Maggie Klasen cleared 4 feet 6 inches in the high jump and ran the 400 hurdles in 1:17.7.
As for Rachel Peterson, she prevailed in the 400 (1:08.9) and helped Klasen, Sara Fonda and Gina Venuti take the 4×400 relay in 4:44.9. Rebecca Balduzzi won the 200 in 27.8 seconds, after teaming with Armstrong, Quick and Amy Finch to help Solvay win the 4×100 in 53.6 seconds.
