Even though it had the star power on hand, the Oneida boys track and field team could not stay undefeated.
The Indians ran into New Hartford last Wednesday afternoon and, despite lots of wins from Pat McLaughlin and Mike Rabbitt, lost to the Spartans 78-63 in a meet at Sauquoit Valley, New Hartford’s temporary home track while its school oval gets replaced.
Oneida watched as the Spartans piled up points with sweeps of the top three spots in distance races like the 800 and 3,200-meter runs. New Hartford also won all three relay events, and got individual titles from Ryan Millar in the mile and 3,200.
Still, McLaughlin had his share of highlights, going 22 feet 3 inches in the long jump and 43 feet 7 3/4 inches in the triple jump as he also beat teammate Jeff Barres to win the 110-meter high hurdles. Barres, on his own, won the 400 hurdles.
Rabbitt also earned three titles, taking the 100-meter dash (11.6 seconds) and 400-meter dash (51.2 seconds) before clearing 6 feet 2 inches in the high jump, a new career mark. Rabbitt also finished second to McLaughlin in the long jump.
New Hartford’s depth in field events overcame the fact that Oneida’s Kyle Mosack cleared 11 feet in the pole vault and Matt Gillmeister threw the shot put 44 feet 7 inches to win there.
In a simultaneous girls meet, Oneida lost to Camden 88-53, despite winning most of the field events in the meet.
Jordan Armstrong took the long jump (16 feet) and triple jump (29 feet 3 inches), while Courtney Casler cleared 4 feet 10 inches in the high jump. Taylor Youngkrans threw the discus 99 feet 8 inches as Rachel Kline (32 feet 8 inches) earned first place in the shot put.
Camden dominated on the track, tough, claiming all three relays, plus the bulk of individual events. Only Mckenzie Lynch broke through for the Indians, earning a 1,500-meter title in 5:36.5.
All this is a prelude to next Friday’s Tri-Valley League Championship meet at Rome Free Academy Stadium, the start of the post-season.
