by Kurt Wheeler
SYRACUSE – Cazenovia’s girls indoor track team picked up in the new season right where it left off at the end of last year’s: with a big win.
The defending Section III Class B-2 champions won the Jack Morse Kickoff Meet Wednesday at Onondaga Community College’s SRC Arena, scoring 78 points to outpace Class AA Liverpool (58.5) and 17 other teams for the victory.
Cazenovia won three events and scored in 11 of 13 including top three finishes in all five relays on the track to earn the win. Susie Pittman led the team, contributing to two first place finishes and a second in the relay style meet.
Pittman cleared 7 feet 6 inches in the pole vault to partner with senior captain Faith Wheeler (7 feet) for first as a pair and made 4’8” in the high jump to team up with Meghan Mehlbaum (4’6”) for the victory there. She also contributed a 30’5 1/2” in the triple jump to earn second with senior captain Corrine Albicker (30-3.75)
Albicker was also second as an individual in the long jump (14’1 1/2”) and ran the hurdles for the Lakers. Wheeler led the 1,500-meter team to victory with a time of 5:28.25 with Zoey Gagne (5:40.80), Dinah Gifford (5:40.90) and Maeve McGreevy (5:43.02) close behind as the foursome continued their winning ways from cross country.
Gifford also anchored the 4×800 to a silver medal finish with a gutsy 2:39.7 leg as McGreevy, Sally Hughes and Kate Millson helped the team to a 11:31.18 total.
Mehlhbaum led off the Lakers’ second place 4×400 team with a 1:08.3 leg. Newcomer Izzy Stromer-Galley ran the team’s fastest leg with a 1:07.0 effort with Maura Phillips and Julia Reff each running 1:10 for a strong early season total of 4:35.74.
Stromer-Galley returned to lead the 4×200 to a strong third place finish with her 28.3 second leg. Senior Caitlyn Smithers added a quick 29.1 time as Reff and Sofie Reger rounded out the team’s 2:00.35 total. Smithers also topped the Lakers’ effort in the 55 meter dash with a 7.95-second clocking in her first indoor track meet.
Senior captain Bonnie Pittman led the way for Cazenovia in two ohterws events, anchoring the sprint medley relay to a third place finish with her 2:47.1 effort in the 800-meter leg.
Reid McMurtie led off with a 1:10.0 for 400 meters with Phillips and Haylee Stearns each adding 31.4 second 200 meter legs. Pitttman also had the team’s best time in the 55 meter hurdles (11.10) as she teamed with Angela Moskvich (11.86) for seventh place.
Newcomer Maddie Rothfeld led Cazenovia in both of throwing events, hitting the sectional qualifying standard for the shot put in her first meet with25’10 3/4′ as she teamed with Karly Vaas (24’8 3/4”) for third place.
Rothfeld also posted an excellent 25’3” effort in the weight throw to partner with Skye Stanford (24’8 1/4”) for fifth place. Vaas also added a personal best 24’1” effort in the weight.
The Lakers will be back in action at OCC Dec. 11 for the Oscar B. Jensen Holiday Relays, part of a busy month with three meets before the end of 2022.
