by Kurt Wheeler
MARCELLUS – The Cazenovia girls track and field team capped an undefeated regular season with a 96-45 victory over Marcellus last Wednesday to capture the OHSL Liberty-Central division title.
Taking advantage of the best weather of the season, the Lakers achieved 41 season bests and 8 new sectional qualifying standards during the meet.
Grace Dolan led the squad with two individual event wins and roles on two winning relays. She won her signature 400 meter event with a 1:02.7 effort, just 0.3 seconds off her season best, and returned to run a career-best time of 27.0 to win the 200-meter dash. She also ran strong legs on both the 4×100 and 4×400 meter relays.
Katie Whitney added a victory in the 100 at 13.3 seconds and anchored the 4×100 to its winning time of 53.6 while also scoring in the 200. Melanie Michael continued her dominance in the hurdles, winning the 100 meter hurdles in 17.9 and the 400 meter hurdles in 1:14.4 in addition to her powerful lead-off leg on the 4×100.
Meghan Mehlbaum and Olivia Ruddy both had career best days for the Lakers as Mehlbaum earned second in the 400- meter dash in a personal record time of 1:03.8 while Ruddy scored in the 400 hurdles with a personal best, sectional time of 1:16.0. The duo also ran strong legs on the 4×400 as they combined with Dolan and Mary Williams for the win in 4:26.8
Dinah Gifford led the Cazenovia distance runners, winning the 3000 in 11:58.0 and also achieving career best times in the 400 (1:06.9) and 800 (2:35.5) as she helped the 4×800 relay to a winning time of 10:59.9.
Claire Braaten also ran a season best of 2:33.1 to lead off the relay with Nadia Segall and Kate Millson adding to the win. Braaten returned to run another excellent race in the 800, taking second in 2:35.3 with Faith Wheeler third at 2:40.6.
Segall earned a personal best of her own as she took second in the 1,500 at 5:30.3 to easily meet the sectional standard. Olivia Wong capped the distance scoring with an 11:59.2 second place in the 3000. Bonnie Pittman was also outstanding on the track, running season best times in both the 100 hurdles (18.9) and 400 hurdles (1:14.8) to score in both events.
Danielle Smith led the Lakers in the field events as she won the discus with a career best effort of 78 feet 2 inches to meet the sectional standard in the event. Olivia Morse also qualified for sectionals with a personal best throw of 75’6”to claim second.
Michaela Tobin joined the day’s high achievers as she had a nearly two foot improvement on her best in the shot to take second at 24’2” with Karly Vaas close behind for third at 23’6”
Sophie Rheaume and Rachel Molloy both hit personal bests in the long jump as Rheaume earned second place and a sectional bid with a 14’6 1/2” leap and Molloy scored third at 14’3” Corinne Albicker led the team in the triple jump as she took third at 29’3 1/2”in addition to her role on the winning 4×100.
Susie Pittman led the vertical jumpers, winning the pole vault at 8’6” and nearly clearing 9 feet for the first time. Wheeler was second at 7 feet. Pittman also scored in the high jump with teammate Katie Pavelchak taking first in the event at 4’8”.
Overall, the Lakers dominated the track events, winning nine of 11 for a 65-22 margin, and added three more wins and a 31-23 advantage in the field events to seal the league title victory.
Cazenovia would be back in action Monday at the OHSL Liberty Championship meet hosted by Hannibal where it hopes to repeat their 2021 victory in the competition.
