By Jordan J. Michael

The Berne-Knox-Westerlo and Voorheesville track and field teams are sending athletes to the State Meet in Vestal this weekend.

Freshman Courtney Tedeschi will compete in both the 800-meter and 2000-meter steeplechase for BKW. Tedeschi set a school record of 2:16.55 in the 800-meter race at Johnstown last weekend to qualify for states. She also finished with a time of 7:13.63 in the 2000-meter.

“She’s improved a fair amount over the season and beat the record by five seconds,” Head Coach Scott Hannay said of Tedeschi. “She was pushed really hard in qualifiers and she still has room to get even faster.”

Hannay said that Tedeschi should be very competitive in both events this weekend. “She’s a hard worker, plain and simple,” said Hannay. “It’s a year-long discipline for her.”

The Bulldogs’ Brandon Kallner will participate in the pentathlon after finishing first in Johnstown with 3,016 points, which also set a school record. Hannay said that Kallner has added 300 points to his score since the season began.

“The kid will never quit,” Hannay said of Kallner, who also wrestles and plays soccer for BKW. “I was shocked when he put down a good time in the mile run. Track is his favorite sport.”

Senior Conor Cashin will be running in two different events at the state meet for Voorheesville. He posted a time of 1:58.99 in the 800-meter to qualify and he will also join teammates Taylor Treadgold, Rolly Lloyd, and Dylan Parry in the 4x800-meter relay.

Juniors Caitlin Abelseth and Colin Kelly will also make the trip to Vestal for the Blackbirds. Abelseth has a time of 58.21 in the 400-meter and Kelly cleared 6 feet, 2 inches in the high jump.