To prove that it could still reign atop the CNY Counties League National division, the Cicero-North Syracuse girls track and field team had to, once again, withstand the challenge of archrival Liverpool.
And when the two sides met Tuesday at Bragman Stadium, it proved an exciting meet, with a pair of timely sweeps making the difference for the Northstars as it squeaked to a 72-69 victory over the Warriors.
In distance running, CNS’s Nicole Waterrud roared to victory in the 1,500-meter run in 4:52.48, with Jackie Halstead second (4:53.88) and Katie Laris (4:54.02) in third. In the longer 3,000-meter run, it was Halstead prevailing in 11:01.28,
just ahead of Waterrud (11:01.50) and Laris (11:02.95) in another 1-2-3 sweep.
Meanwhile, Mariah Thomson claimed the shot put with a toss of 32 feet 9 inches. But it was her heave of 99 feet 1 inch in the discus that, late in the meet, gave CNS the clinching points.
Otherwise for the Northstars, Katie Osborne took the 100-meter hurdles in 15.81 seconds, with Jessica Wheeler (16.24) in seconds, and Osborne also would win the high jump, clearing 5 feet. Wheeler claimed the pole vault by clearing 9 feet.
Nicole Campagna was first in the 800-meter run in 2:22.40 as, earlier in the meet, she teamed with Watterud, Marissa Colburn and Kaitlyn Donahue for a top time of 11:00.79 in the 4×800 relay.
In response, Liverpool turned to Ore Akinpelu, who had three titles. She ran the 200-meter dash in 27.58 seconds,
claimed first in the 400-meter dash (1:01.77) and, for good measure, needed 1:09.37 to edge CNS’s Jade Jenkins (1:09.79) in the 400 hurdles.
Armani Moore sped to victory in the 100-meter dash in 13.26 seconds before unleashing a top long jump of 16 feet 3 inches. Shanice Leach took the triple jump, going 35 feet 11 inches.
In the 4×100 relay, Liverpool prevailed as Leach, Angela Kulpa, Connie Torres and Hannah Anthes finished in 52.34 seconds. Over in the 4×400, Akinpelu, Anthes, Tammy Brodie and Rachel Putman combined to win in 4:15.56.
This all took place a week before CNS and Liverpool will reunite at Bragman Stadium for the Section III Class AA championship meet.
