by Kurt Wheeler
The Cazenovia girls indoor track team wrapped up 2019 with another strong performance, finishing first among all Class B/C/D schools and third overall among 18 teams in the morning session at the George Constantino Memorial Invitational at Onondaga Community College’s SRC Arena on Dec 21.
Only Class AA Fayetteville-Manlius (166 points) and Class A Jamesville-DeWitt (66) finished ahead of the Lakers, who ended up with 55.5 points.
The Lakers scored in 11 of 16 events with a well-balanced attack that included top-two finishes in both track and field events.
The 4×200 meter relay team had one of the best performances of the day, finishing second in a season best time of 1:55.46. Grace Dolan led off with a personal best time of 28.3 seconds, followed by Molly Dolan (30.3), Chloe Smith (28.5) and anchor Savannah Johnson (28.2).
Each of the girls also contributed strong performances in individual events, led by Smith, who finished second in the long jump at 15 feet 8 ¾ inches and fourth in the 55 meter dash at 7.84 seconds.
Grace Dolan took fourth in the 600 at 1:52.20 while Molly Dolan (48.97) and Johnson (46.56) both ran well in the 300 meter dash.
Claire Edwards was the Lakers’ other top performer in the field events, taking second in the shot put at 29’9 1/2”. Lili Sorbello led the way in the weight throw at 25’10”.
Carley Lounsbury took fifth in the pole vault at 6’6”, while Ava Gavitt led the team in the triple at 28’8” and Lili Gavitt was tops in the high jump at 4’6”.
Melanie Michael earned fourth in the 55-meter hurdles in 9.82 seconds with Lili Gavitt close behind to capture seventh in 10.14. Michael also led off the Lakers’ fourth place 4×400 meter relay, passing the baton to Ainsley Schug, Kiara Dolan and anchor leg Katie Whitney (1:10.6) for a total time of 4:49.28.
Molly Hart led the team in the distance events, scoring in both the 1,500-meter run (sectional qualifying time of 5:20.30) and 1,000-meter run (3:28.02).
Claire Braaten (5:30.26 in the 1,500 and 3:28.80 in the 1,000) and Ava Hartley (5:34.04 in the 1500) were also outstanding for the Lakers in those events while Nadia Segall led the team in the tough 3,000-meter distance (12:51.29).
Hartley returned to anchor Cazenovia’s 4×800 meter relay to a fifth place finish with a 2:43.3 leg. Anna Reger, Mia Chesbrough and Ella Huftalen also contributed to the team’s 11:25.26 total to cap the Lakers’ scoring.
Cazenovia finished first among small schools in each of their first three meets to open the 2019-20 campaign, placing in the top three overall every contest.
Now the Lakers will have two weeks to train over the holidays before returning to action at OCC on Jan. 4 at the John Arcaro Memorial Meet.
