by Kurt Wheeler

CENTRAL NEW YORK – The Cazenovia girls track and field team finally got its weather-delayed regular season off to an impressive start as it won two dual meets and dominated the Onondaga Central Invitational with a first place finish among 18 teams.

First, the Lakers topped Christian Brothers Academy 122-18 and overwhelmed OnTech Charter School 136-3 in a double-dual meet contest last Tuesday, achieving 38 new season bests despite the cold conditions.

Katie Whitney, Melanie Michael, Susie Pittman and Grace Dolan won three events each to pace the Lakers in its first home contest of the season, since its scheduled April 19 meet with Westhill was cancelled due to the foot of snow that fell a day earlier.

Whitney won the 100 (13.2), 200 (28.1) and anchored the 4×100 relay to victory in 53.8 seconds. Michael won the 100 hurdles (17.8), 400 hurdles (1:17.0) and helped the 4×100 to victory.

Pittman topped the pole vault (8’6”), high jump (4’6”) and triple jump (30’7”) to lead Cazenovia in the field events. Grace Dolan added a trio of wins in the 400 sprint (career best of 1:02.4), 4×100 and 4×400.

Corinne Albicker was a double winner as she captured the long jump at 14’2” and helped the 4×100 to first while also adding second place finishes in the 100 hurdles (18.9) and triple jump. Olivia Wong 12:01.4 in the 3,000) and Claire Braaten (2:38.4 in the 800) were also individual winner for the Lakers’ on the track.

Braaten, Nadia Segall, Dinah Gifford and Kate Millson won the 4×800 relay while Mary Williams, Olivia Ruddy and Meghan Mehlbaum teamed with Dolan for the 4×400 victory.

Olivia Morse threw a career best of 71’11 ½” to win the discus with Skye Stanford second in a best of her own at 66’6”. Williams won the shot with a 24’ ½” effort with Danielle Smith close behind at 23’10 ½”.

The Lakers were even more impressive at the Onondaga Central Invitational on Friday, scoring 122 points to top the 18-team field with Oswego (57) and Vernon-Verona-Sherrill (56) finishing a distant second and third. Cazenovia earned 18 season bests during the meet including six new sectional qualifiers and three State Qualifer performances.

Michael (17.50 in the 100 hurdles), Braaten (2:34.42 in the 800) and Susie Pittman (State Qualifier height of 8’6” in the pole vault) were all individual winners for Cazenovia, who also swept all three relays.

Whitney added a pair of impressive second place finishes, running a career best, State Qualifier time of 12.95 in the 100 meter dash and a season best of 28.19 in the 200. She also anchored the 4×100 relay of Dolan, Albicker and Michael to victory in their fastest time of the year at 53.13.

Dolan added a second place finish of 1:02.75 in the 400, with Mehlbaum sixth in a career best 1:05.03. The duo were joined by Williams and Ruddy to win the 4×400 in a season best time of 4:26.90.

Segall ran her best 800 ever to finish second to Braaten in the 800 at 2:34.49. She was joined by Wheeler (season best of 2:35.2), Millson and Gifford to win the 4×800.

Gifford (fifth in 11:57.75) and Wong (fourth in in 11:49.66) both achieved season bests in the 3,000. Williams and Grace Kingsley scored in the 1,500, while Michael added a fourth in the 400 hurdles and Bonnie Pittman a sixth in the 100 hurdles to round out the Lakers’ track scoring.

Katie Pavelchak led the high jump with a third-place finish, while Susie Pittman added fourth place points in both the high jump and long jump in the field events for Cazenovia.

The Lakers will return to action against Solvay in their final home meet of the season this Wednesday as it strives to celebrate Senior Night with another win.