Lady Dutch track has respectable showing at William F Eddy Meet at Union College
By Jordan J. Michael
SCHENECTADY The Guilderland girls’ track team competed against 29 other teams on Saturday at Union College for the 69th Annual William F. Eddy Meet and placed 10th overall with 16 points.
“We have a lot of talent at the lower level and there’s plenty of excitement running through the team,” said long-time Coach Dick Usher, earlier in the season. “The competitiveness has reached a new level.”
“In 2003, my first year here, we took one bus to a meet,” said Coach Mike Schafer. “Now, we have to take two buses because there’s 85 girls. The love for track and field is growing and we don’t make cuts.”
Ernestine Skipper placed second in the 100-meter dash with a final time of 13.00. “Individuality only comes out at the end of the year,” she said. “We have many leaders on this team that provide support to the newer athletes.”
Briana DelBene finished third in the discus throw with a toss of 112 feet, 9 inches. “You can’t be distracted, just believe in the throw,” she said. “It’s all in the legs.”
DelBene also placed 12th in the shot-put competition and her teammate Jen DeNovio came in 13th place. Alicia Bowman placed eighth in the discus throw at 99 feet, 10 inches.
Lauren Fehervari placed 13th in the long jump with a length of 15 feet, 6 inches, and both Emily Cure and Mary Kate Nagy tied for ninth in the pole vault at 8 feet. Karly Giles placed fifth for the Lady Dutch in the high jump at 5 feet, 2 inches.
“I love this sport because you can compete against yourself,” Giles said. “Also, the track and field community is very friendly, unlike some other sports. Everyone is your friend.”
Dejana Harris just missed qualifying for the semi-finals of the 100-meter hurdles, coming in 13th with a time of 17.35. Lynley Joynt had a time of 5:04.34 in the 1500-meter run for 18th place out of 47 girls.
Anna Picket ran the 800-meter for Guilderland and placed 11th out of 39 with a time of 2:25.70.
“This is a sport where everyone is continuously improving,” Schafer said. “Times usually improve as the season progresses. Running and jumping keeps everyone happy.”