Skaneateles seniors Khiary Gale and Kaela Fiutak both battled their way to top-10 finishes at Saturday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association championship meet at Cornell University’s Barton Hall.
Gale competed in the third of fourth flights in the boys triple jump, and went 44 feet 5 inches on his first of six attempts. The second attempt went 42 feet 8 ¼ inches, and though he never fouled, Gale could not improve on either of those efforts.
Still, the 44 feet 5 inches meant that Gale won his flight and took sixth overall. White Plains’ Thomas Johnson won the state title by going 47 feet 7 ¾ inches. Oneida’s Jimmy Moyer, who beat Gale by a quarter of an inch in the Feb. 22 state qualifier at SRC Arena, was 12th (43 feet 11 ¾ inches) here.
Meanwhile, Fiutak set a new personal mark in the pole vault, clearing 10 feet 6 inches, one of the best performances among small-school entrants. Shenendehowa’s Maddessen Weekes won when she was the only one to clear 11 feet 9 inches.
Skaneateles was also part of a sixth-place effort on the girls side. Sophomore Madeline Adams, teaming with West Genesee’s Kelly Powelland Cazenovia teammates Jillian Vogl and Caroline Marshall, posted a time of 10:35.72 in the Intersectional Medley Relay. That meant sixth place as Section II (10:16.68) grabbed the top spot.
Junior Emma Ford made it to the 300-meter dash, finishing sixth in her qualifying heat in a time of 42.14 seconds and 17th overall. Colonie’s Kyle Plante won the event in 38.23 seconds.
