Photos: Dutch Girls Win Third Straight Title, State Quals On Horizon

Last Wednesday, May 28, the Guilderland and Bethlehem track teams battled it out with the other Section 2, Group 1 schools at Colonie High School in hopes of hitting the super standard or being admitted to this week’s state qualifiers at Shenendehowa High School. After the last event was scored, the Guilderland girls took home their third consecutive sectional championship, Bethlehem girls were eighth, Guilderland boys were seventh, and Bethlehem boys were ninth.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Going toe to toe: Guilderland’s Lauren Burnash and Bethlehem’s Abigail Okeke-Kitchen are neck and neck as they race down the backstretch in the 400-meters. Burnash finished 4th with a time of 57.99 seconds and Okeke-Kitchen in 5th with a time of 59.52 seconds.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Big exhale: Eagles’ Lucas Nalbone comes around the far turn looking to have a late kick in the 400-meters. Nalbone finished 10th with a time of 51.86 seconds.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Flying through the wind: Guilderland’s Avery Duncan sores in the air after taking his last step during his second attempt in the triple jump. Duncan finished 21st with a distance of 35 feet, 3.75 inches.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Speed hover: Guilderland’s Jack Larson comes around the turn at top speed as he looks to have that late kick in the 400-meters. Larson finished second with a time of 49.52 seconds.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Up and over: Eagles’ Sophia Jones looks down at the hurdle as she clears it easily in her 400-meter hurdle heat. Jones finished 14th with a time of 1:14.43.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Determined run: Guilderland’s Parker Steele soars over the last hurdle as she stares towards the finish line in the 400-meter hurdles. Steele finished second with a time of 1:04.01.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Coming on late: Guilderland’s Lauren Hickey looks down at the hurdle as her left leg starts to go over the hurdle in her 400-meter hurdle heat. Hickey finished 4th with a time of 1:07.52.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Staying close: Eagles’ Caroline Murphy looks at the small opening the Saratoga runner is leaving as they race down the backstretch in the 800-meters. Murphy finished 12th with a time of 2:29.78.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Cruising along: Guilderland’s Addison Vellekoop takes the lead around the far turn as her teammate Alexa Kosier follows behind the Shen runner in the 800-meters. Vellekoop won with a time of 2:13.42 and Kosier in 4th with a time of 2:19.35.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Eyeing the competition: Eagles’ Alexandra Rivard looks over to her left to see who is running besides her as they come around the turn in the 800-meters. Rivard finished 7th with a time of 2:27.49.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Going shoulder to shoulder: Eagles’ Tristan McCarthy starts to go around the final turn as he looks ahead in an attempt to pass the Niskayuna runner. McCarthy finished 20th with a time of 2:13.59.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Boxed in: Guilderland’s Luca Cummings looks for running room as he is trapped behind two Shen runners in the 800-meters heat. Cummings finished 15th with a time of 2:08.02.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Racing the clock: Guilderland’s Graham Clark looks around the turn as he starts his second lap as he looks to pass other runners. Clark finished 17th with a time of 2:11.66.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Gaining traction: Eagles’ Elijah Ketzer starts to pick up his pace as he gets past the Schenectady runner in the 800-meters. Ketzer finished 13th with a time of 2:06.94.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Huge push: Guilderland’s Tatum Cramer soars towards the pit after leaping off the board as she heads towards the pit in her first attempt in the long jump. Cramer won the event with a distance of 19 feet, 4.75 inches and finished second in triple jump.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Nothing but speed: Guilderland’s Saida Assabahi, center, comes around the turn at full speed as her teammate Lauren Hickey follows suit in their 200-meter heat. Assabahi won with a time of 25.60 seconds and Hickey in 12th with a time of 27.79 seconds.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Pushing off the toes: Guilderland’s Brian Igweike breaks from his blocks during his 200-meter heat. Igweike finished 15th with a time of 24.30 seconds.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Breaking together: Guilderland’s Jack Larson, left, and Eagles’ Jonathan Radcliffe push off from their blocks in the final heat of the 200-meters. Larson won with a time of 22.44 seconds and Radcliffe came in second with a time of 22.54 seconds.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Running away: Guilderland’s Fiona McCarthy starts to go around the turn as she runs in the 800-meters portion of the pentathlon. McCarthy finished 2nd in the 800-meters with a time of 2:43.76 and 3rd overall with 2190 points.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Making strides: Guilderland’s Jeanne Lu runs at her pace as she goes down the backstretch in the 800-meters portion of the pentathlon. Lu finished 4th in the 800-meters with a time of 2:54.05 and won the pentathlon with 2390 points.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Full reach: Guilderland’s Evynn Burnett flies through the air after leaping off the board as she heads towards the pit. Burnett finished third in the long jump with a distance of 17 feet, 8.50 inches.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Soaring Dutch: Guilderland’s Kirsten Barnhart flies in the air as she looks at the pit during her third attempt in the long jump. Barnhart finished second with a distance of 17 feet, 10 inches and also won the triple jump.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Stiff competition: Eagles’ Logan Kuhn takes an early lead as she comes around the turn as the Shen runner stays close to her right shoulder in the 3000-meters. Kuhn finished 2nd with a time of 10:02.19.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

All in line: Guilderland’s Tara Iyer (3) runs in the middle of two other competitors as they go around the turn in the early laps of the 3000-meters. Iyer finished 4th with a time of 10:21.87.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

In the zone: Guilderland’s Teagan Davis stares at her competition ahead of her as she starts going around the turn in the 3000-meters. Davis finished 7th with a time of 10:43.05.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Leading the charge: Eagles’ Calvin Howard comes down the front stretch in the lead as they start another lap in the 3200-meters. Howard finished 8th with a time of 9:49.88.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Getting to the inside: Guilderland’s Joe Kosier cuts over to the line as he gets around the Niskayuna runner as they compete in the 3200-meters. Kosier finished 7th with a time of 9:45.95.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Going along: Guilderland’s Ben Mayer pumps his arms as he starts another lap in the 3200-meters. Mayer finished 14th with a time of 10:05.22.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Easy peasy: Eagles’ Simon Annastas flies in the air as he soars over the bar with his eyes closed during his attempt in the pole vault. Annastas finished sixth with a height of 12 feet even.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Ready to kick: Eagles’ Andrew Turinsky looks at his coach for his lap time as he prepares to start his final lap in the 3200-meters. Turinsky finished 13th with a time of 10:04.26.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Last lap moves: Eagles’ Lucas Bernacki follows a Shen runner as he starts around the turn on his last lap in the 3200-meters. Bernacki finished 12th with a time of 10:03.17.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

In sync: Guilderland’s Lauren Burnash looks the baton into her teammate Parker Steele’s hand as they make the exchange for the second leg of the 4x400-meter relay. The relay team won with a time of 3:56.43.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

In battle: Eagles’ Anna Chrapowitzky watches the baton go into teammate Charlotte O’Meara’s hand as they make the last exchange in the 4x400-meter relay. The relay team finished fourth with a time of 4:02.33.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Continuous motion: Guilderland’s Will Smitas grabs the baton from teammate Brian Igweike for the 3rd leg of the 4x400-meter relay. The relay team finished 5th with a time of 3:28.58.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

Ready to grab: Eagles’ Marley Brundage extends his arm with the baton as he looks to give it to Mikey Murphy for the third leg in the 4x400-meter relay. The relay team finished 7th with a time of 3:30.67.

The Enterprise — Michael Koff

All smiles: Members of the Guilderland girls track team pose with the newly won sectional championship, their third in a row, after scoring 200 points, 102 points ahead of Shenendehowa on Wednesday night.