Sports Archives — The Altamont Enterprise, June 2, 2011
“Big Four” and depth lead the way
BKW boys win Class CC sectionals for track and field
By Jordan J. Michael
BERNE –– The track-and-field community already knew that the Bulldogs were a dangerous team, but on Saturday the Hilltown athletes completely lapped the rest of the meadow. Berne-Knox-Westerlo won the Class CC sectionals with 124 points, 50 points ahead of Greenwich in second place.
Actually, senior Brandon Kallner and juniors Sean Reynolds, Connor Devine, and Derek Struck beat Greenwich on their own by scoring 78 combined points. The depth of BKW took care of the rest.
“I’m always cautious, but I thought we were the team to beat,” said Head Coach Fred Marcil this week. “We avoided possible catastrophes and everyone got their points.”
Marcil, a Boston Celtics fan, has been calling Kallner, Reynolds, Devine, and Struck the “Big Four” this season. Marcil compares these athletes to the “Big Four” in Boston –– Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Rajon Rondo.
Different sport, but same winning result, and probably just as many points scored.
“Coach says the ‘Big Four’ thing all of the time,” said Kallner, who tallied 32 points over four events. He was first in the 400-meter hurdles (58.25), first in long jump (19 feet, 6 inches), second in 110-meter hurdles (15.93), and fourth in high jump (5 feet, 8 inches).
“But, I’m not a Boston fan,” Kallner added. “I like the Miami Heat.”
Struck was second place in the 3200-meter (9:52.61), second in the 3000-meter steeplechase (10:47.78), and fourth in the pole vault (11 feet). Devine was second in the 1600-meter (4:38.30) and third in the 800-meter (2:11.44). Reynolds placed second in the 800-meter (2:09.27) and fourth in the 3200-meter (10:00.05).
“What can I say? They’re terrific athletes,” said Marcil. “They’re so dedicated to training in every way. Reliable. Excellent. I’m running out of adjectives…”
Even though Kallner, Struck, Reynolds, and Devine beat Greenwich’s entire team, the depth beyond those four has been important for the Bulldogs all season long. It helped the team go undefeated in the Western Athletic Conference.
“They won the league title, but asked, ‘So what?’” Marcil said. “Their goal was to win sectionals.”
Kallner told The Enterprise that BKW won the Class CC title because his team is the deepest one out there. “Everyone helps this team out a lot,” he said. “They score the little points that we need to win.”
Kallner went on, “We take this very seriously. Everyone shows up to practice and no one messes around.”
The 1600-meter relay and the 3200-meter relay teams both came in second place on Saturday. Ben Becker cleared 12 feet, 6 inches to take second in the pole vault, and Geoff Bentley got third in the long jump (18 feet, 10 inches) and fourth in the triple jump (38 feet, 2 inches). Sophomore Jacob Farnam placed third in the pentathlon with 2,136 points and Adam Forti was fourth in the 3000-meter steeplechase.
“The Big Four take most of the credit, but this is a deep team,” said Marcil, who will see the majority of athletes return next year. “They’re head and shoulders above.”
Today, a few BKW athletes will compete for a position on the Section II state team at Knox Field in Johnstown.
Kallner and Farnam will participate in the pentathlon; Becker in the pole vault; Bentley in the long jump; Struck in the 3200-meter; and Marcil said that the 3200-meter relay team will make an appearance.
“You compete if you have a chance,” Marcil said of the state qualifiers. “I think all these guys have a very good chance.”
Following are highlights from the other sectional championship competitions that featured athletes from BKW, Voorheesville, and Guilderland.
BKW girls
–– Courtney Tedeschi, 800-meter, second, 2:25.66;
–– Courtney Tedeschi, 3000-meter, second, 10:44.33;
–– Morgan Viscio, 100-meter hurdles, second, 17.19;
–– Abby Swint, 2000-meter steeplechase, fourth, 8:20.96; and
–– Morgan Viscio; high jump; fourth; 4 feet, 6 inches.
Voorheesville
–– Vinny Saccocio, pole vault, first, 13 feet;
–– Colin Kelly; high jump; first; 6 feet, 2 inches;
–– Caitlin Abelseth, 200-meter, first, 26.42;
–– Michaela Conway; pentathlon; first; 1,928 points;
–– Keegan Nally, 400-meter, second, 52.49;
–– Tim Stewart, high jump, second, 6 feet;
–– Sal Loccisano; triple jump; second; 38 feet, 6 inches;
–– Emma Simpson, pole vault, second, 8 feet;
–– Caitlin Abelseth; long jump; second; 16 feet, 3 inches;
–– Jane Pritchard; triple jump; second; 32 feet, 12 inches;
–– Dan Zemanek; pole vault; third; 11 feet, 6 inches;
–– Sawyer Cresap, 1500-meter, third, 5:20.09;
–– Stephen Meyer, 800-meter, fourth, 2:12.57;
–– Dylan Foster, 400-meter hurdles, fourth, 1:03.62;
–– Sawyer Cresap, 800-meter, fourth, 2:41.70; and
–– Courtney Reilly, 400-meter hurdles, fourth, 1:17.01.
Guilderland
–– Catelena Diamente; triple jump; first; 38 feet, 2 inches;
–– Nico Turek, 800-meter, third, 1:58:83;
–– Liz Tapler; pentathlon; third; 2,456 points;
–– Dejana Harris, 100-meter hurdles, fourth, 15.85;
–– Catelena Diamente; high jump; fourth; 4 feet, 10 inches; and
–– Jaclyn Levy, pole vault, fourth, 9 feet.