The first goal for the Skaneateles girls track and field team was to be undefeated in the regular season. They did that. The second goal was to win the Onondaga High School League Liberty division meet. That came a week ago Wednesday.
As for the third goal, the coveted Section III Class B-1 title, that was attained Thursday in a decisive display of Laker depth, first place finishes, and new career best performances.
Claiming an astounding 10 first-place finishes, the Lakers racked up 166 points, enough to blow past second place South Jefferson by a remarkable 77 points and third place Jordan-Elbridge by 94 points.
Running, jumping and vaulting to 13 new personal best performances, the Lakers saw a new school record in the pole vault and swept two key relays to round out the scoring.
Beginning with the Wednesday night steeplechase vigil held at Canastota High School, Junior Rachel Hosie took first place in the 2,000-meter event in 7:29.5, the first of her three sectional wins.
Hosie led the squad of fellow juniors Alexis Mazzeo, who took fifth in a personal best of 8:05.1, and Taylor Wellington, who also clocked a new personal best of 8:20 for seventh. The Lakers’ steeplechase marks ensured the team a slight lead upon entering the continuation of the meet Thursday.
The 4×100 meter relay of sophomore Victoria Sakal, seniors Nina Davidson and Stephanie Wisniewski, and junior Carley Baulick, mastered the handoffs while clocking a seasonal best time of 52.4 seconds to take second behind South Jefferson (51.4 seconds).
Returning from the previous night’s steeplechase, Hosie showed no signs of fatigue as she comfortably won the 3,000 in 10:48.9, well ahead of the competition by close to 30 seconds. Wellington, also returning from the steeplechase, took fourth place in 11:39.0, while senior Corey Chapin took fifth in 11:55.7.
Junior Christie Barnett scored a sectional win and a new personal best time of 1:06.5 in the 400 meter hurdles, topping Jordan-Elbridge rival Lindsay Hollis (1:08.5) before returning as anchor of two relays.
In the 800 meter run, sophomore Grace van der Ven took third place in 2:26.5 while junior Beatrice Walton fell to seventh in 2:28.1 after a boxed start and faulting at the finish.
Sophomore Victoria Sakal edged ever closer to the school record in the 100 meter dash as she won the event in a new personal best of 12.6 seconds, a mere tenth off the record. Junior Carley Baulick also timed a new best of 13.6 seconds.
Adding to the Lakers’ collection of first place finishes, senior Julie Dmochowski won the 400 meter dash in 1:01.1. Sophomore Eileen Ford followed in second place in a new personal best of 1:02.1 and freshman Becky Flannigan took sixth in 1:05.9.
The 4×800 meter relay also took first in 9:58.6, well ahead of second place Cazenovia by roughly twelve seconds. Mazzeo led off in 2:27.8 and was followed by sophomore Carly Strods who reached a personal best of 2:31.5. Walton, still a bit off, clocked 2:32.3, while Barnett finished the race in 2:27.3
Sakal returned to grab another sectional win and personal record, this time in the 200 meter dash (26.8 seconds). Hosie, also in her third event, took another sectional win in the 1500 in 5:00.8, while senior Christina Homeyer reached a personal best of 5:05, good for third place.
In the 4×400 meter relay, Dmochowski (1:03.2), Ford (1:02.3), Mazzeo (1:05.9), and Barnett (1:00.9) combined to win in an excellent time of 4:11.9, just ahead of J-E (4:12.8).
Junior Madison Eckles broke the school record in the pole vault where she cleared 8 feet, 6 inches to take second place. Dmochowski (15 feet 6.75 inches) and van der Ven (15 feet 4.5 inches) took second and third places, respectively, in the long jump. Freshman Gabrielle Eckles tied for second place in the high jump with a jump of 4 feet 10 inches.
In the throws, senior Ellen Meyer took fifth in the shot put (28 feet 6.25 inches) and fourth in the discus (84 feet 7 inches). Freshman Caroline Walton took sixth in the shot put (28 feet 6 inches) and fifth in the discus (79 feet 1 inch).
The Section 3 Class B-1 track title completes the Lakers’ quest for sectional championships in all three seasons this year, including Class C-1 in cross country and Class B in indoor track. Select Lakers will compete to advance on to the State Meet at this Thursday’s Qualifiers at CNS.
