by Kurt Wheeler
CAZENOVIA – The Cazenovia girls track and field team held onto the “Laker Cup” with a powerful win over rival Skaneateles last Tuesday at Buckley-Volo Field.
This Laker Cup is a rotating trophy held by the victor of the most recent dual meet in cross country and track between the two Central New York running powers. Cazenovia’s 107-34 victory was the largest margin in the long series and accompanied an even more lopsided 135-6 win over Living Word Academy.
Cazenovia was able to tap into its deep and well-balanced roster for the surprising margin of victory with 26 of the 40 girls on the team scoring points. A talented batch of sophomores and juniors continued to lead the Lakers in scoring as Cazenovia swept all three relays and won 11 of 14 individual events.
Junior Katie Whitney won the 100 (13.2 seconds) and 200-meter (29.1) dashes, both with season-best times, and anchored the 4×100 meter relay to a first place in 54.3 seconds.
Fellow junior Melanie Michael matched her 15 point total with two season bests of her own as she won the 100 meter hurdles in 17.4 seconds and the 400 meter hurdles in 1:13.3.
Michael also added a leg in the winning 4×400 relay. Caryn Gagnon and Lili Gavitt added to a sweep in the 100 hurdles while Bonnie Pittman also scored in the 400 hurdles.
In the distance events, junior Mary Williams captured the 3,000 in 13:54.2, took second in the 1,500 in a personal best, sectional time of 5:33.6 and led off the winning 4×800 meter relay (11:26.1 total).
Senior captain Molly Hart led the Lakers in the 800 with a time of 2:41.8 for second with Claire Braaten close behind. Freshmen Dinah Gifford and Lauren McLean joined Williams and Braaten in the winning 4×800, while Nadia Segall also scored twice in long events for Cazenovia.
Sophomore Grace Dolan led the Lakers in the 400 sprint, out-leaning teammate Lily Clonan for first with both girls clocking an outstanding 1:04.3. Dolan also took second in the 100 (13.4 seconds) and led off the winning 4×100. Gagnon and Corinne Albicker also added to the winning 4×100.
The meet’s most dramatic moment came during the final event as Clonan got the baton in the 4×400 relay more than 40 meters behind Skaneateles. A track newcomer, Clonan ran like a seasoned veteran as she steadily gained on her foe, passing her in the final straightaway to win the race with an exceptional 1:03.1 leg.
Michael, Braaten and Ella Huftalen added to a 4:36.5 total, the fastest of the year for Cazenovia. The relay win boosted the team over the 100 point threshold for the first time ever against Skaneateles.
Cazenovia also won four of seven field events to expand their overall winning margin. Albicker led the way in the long jump with a season-best 14 feet 1 inch for first with Emmi Rightmyre also scoring.
Christina Brown (7 feet) led a sweep in the pole vault with Kiara Dolan (6’6”) and Faith Wheeler (6 feet) contributing. Katie Pavelchak topped the high jump at 4’8” with Lili Gavitt third (4’4”) while Ava Gavitt (29 feet) and Kylie Anthony (27’10”) both scored in the triple jump.
Danielle Smith headlined a Cazenovia sweep in the discus at 68 feet with Faith Wheeler and Michaela Tobin contributing. Megan Lawton took third in the shot put (23’3”) to round out the Cazenovia effort.
Cazenovia, 3-0 and leading the OHSL Liberty National dvision, will host Hannibal on Wednesday afternoon.
