Klarissa Ricks left Saturday’s William F. Eddy Jr. Memorial Track and Field Meet with three victories, four big trophies and a piece of knowledge that could serve the Holy Names senior well through the rest of the season.
“She knows she can do it,” Holy Names coach Carlo Cherubino said of Ricks’ quest to reach 20 feet in the long jump. “It’s in her. She’s got it.”
Not officially, though.
Ricks won the long jump at 18-7 1/2, but actually sailed much farther, and later won the 100-meter dash and anchored Holy Names’ triumphant 400 relay for the top female performance at Schenectady High School’s Larry Mulvaney Field.
The Colonie tandem of Kyle Plante and Giancarlo Sainato were impressive in winning an individual race and finishing off a first-place relay, Albany’s DaShawn Gates was selected the top male performer with a first, second and third, Section II athletes swept the weight events and the Saratoga Springs girls and Bay Shore boys took the team championships in the 71st annual event.
“I love this meet. It’s great to come here. It’s great competition,” Sainato said after defending his 800 Eddy title. “I’ll try for a three-peat next year.”
Ricks is on course to crack the 20-foot plateau this year after setting the Section II long jump record with a 19-103⁄4 last month at the Penn Relays. She crushed that mark Saturday on her last attempt, but launched herself from well in front of the board for the official 18-7 1/2 mark.
“When we measured the actual jump, it was 20 feet, five inches,” said Ricks, the state Division II outdoor long jump runner-up as a junior. “It’s disappointing that it didn’t go on the record board, but I know I can do it now.
“It’s just a matter of getting my head in it, and my feet right.”
Ricks’ feet and pumping arms churned out an 11.97 in the 100, just missing the Eddy record of 11.96 set by Keyon Soley of Uniondale in 1997.
“We had to run the 100 three times,” said Ricks. “You have to pace yourself and let it all out in the third one. I did that.”
Ricks followed Amanda Stark, Jennifer Stodgell and Mikaila Ford in capping Holy Names’ season-best 49.30 effort in the 400 relay, and locking up the meet’s outstanding female award.
“I got it [the baton] in second or third, and Saratoga was in first,” Ricks said. “I was thinking, ‘There’s no way we’re getting second in this race.’ I had to pass the person in front of me.
“It was definitely a good way to finish. We all get to go home happy.”
“She [Ricks] ran five 100s, and they were all high quality,” Cherubino said. “In both her [finals] 100s, there was no doubt who won that race.”
Plante won an outdoor race she had never competeted in before, taking the 400 in 55.46 for a school record. The star junior set an Eddy record in winning the 400 intermediate hurdles (59.95) last year, and Saturday threatened the meet 400 record of 54.99 set by Yasanne Williams of Albany in 1998.
“It was different without the hurdles in front of me, but it was fun,” said Plante. “It feels good to win a race that you’ve never done before.”
“It was a good opportunity to do something different,” Colonie coach Jennifer Jette said. “It was good to give her a break from the [400] hurdles.”
Plante built a big lead halfway through and posted her fast time without a push. Caitlin Abelseth of Voorheesville was second in 58.17.
“In my mind, I always hear footsteps, whether they’re there or not,” said Plante. “It makes me run fast.”
Sainato ran his fastest 800 ever, closing in 1:52.90 to better the 1:55.4 he produced last year while defending his meet title.
“I wanted to go out there and open up a big lead. That’s what I did,” Sainato, a junior, said. “My goal was to get to the 600 mark and give it everything I had left.”
Sainato flashed a thumbs-up after closing the meet with his anchor leg as Colonie clocked a winning 3:25.96 in the 1,600 relay. He followed Nazim Roberts-Smith, Fred Freeman and Matt Leizzi, while just before, Plante, Christina Lenge, Uwa Omorogbe and Andrea Guidarelli put together a 3:56.83 for a victory in the girls’ 1,600 relay.
Amanda Borroughs of Saratoga won her second consecutive Eddy 800 (2:12.16) after prevailing in the 400 hurdles as a sophomore, and eighth-grader Emily Burns of Guilderland was the day’s youngest victor in the 3,000 (10:17.84). In the field, Sarah Palmer of Schuylerville won the high jump (5-6) for the fourth time, Molly Shapiro of Emma Willard placed first in the triple jump (38-31⁄4), and Shenendehowa got a victory from Madessen Weekes in the pole vault (11-0) and two from Samantha Kosa, in the shot put (41-1⁄4) and discus (121-7).
Kosa had an outstanding winter season in the shot put, culminating in a state meet runner-up performance, and has carried her success into the spring with 11 victories in the 12 meets in which the University at Albany-bound senior has entered.
“The stretch run is coming up,” said Kosa. “I feel confident, but that doesn’t mean someone can’t take it from me. That drives me. I’ve got to keep working.”
The Saratoga girls’ team championship was not planned. They showed up to compete in the Knight at the Races Friday at Lansingburgh, but when that meet was cancelled because of storms, the Eddy Meet quickly became Plan B.
Speedy eighth-grader Ellery Bianco was a key point producer in the Streaks’ 67-62 win over Shenendehowa with seconds in the 100 and 200 while running a leg on the Blue Streaks’ runner-up 400 relay.
Rudy Winkler of Averill Park won the boys’ shot put (52-1⁄4) and discus (172-0), schoolmate Chris Miller won the 200 (22.02) and placed second in the 100, and Voorheesville got first-place showings from Tim Stewart in the high jump (6-2) and Vincent Saccocio in the pole vault (13-0).
Otis Ubriaco of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake held off Mike Libruk of Shaker in the 3,200 (9:29.46), and Gates beat the pack in the 400 hurdles (55.13), took second in the 110 hurdles and third in the 200 dash.
Shaker’s Christian Delago made a great bid to chase down Owen Skeete in the invitational mile, but and just missed, clocking a 4:19.62 to the Westbury standout’s 4:19.30.
BOYS
Team scores
Bay Shore 49, Shenendehowea 43, Averill Park 38, Shaker 38, Port Jefferson 32, Westbury 27, Amsterdam 26, Albany 25, Utica Proctor 24, Voorheesville 24, Saratoga Springs 22, Colonie 20, Cooperstown 19, Amityville 14, Rome Free Academy 13, Ticonderoga 12.3, Saranac 12, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 11, Albany Academy 10.3, Schenectady 10, Bethlehem 10, Ballston Spa 9, Bishop Maginn 9, Niskayuna 8, Corinth 8, Lake George 6, Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk 4, Peru 4, Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons 4, Queensbury 3.3, Berne-Knox-Westerlo 3, Maple Hill 2, Fonda-Fultonville 1, Glens Falls 1, LaSalle 1.
Individuals
100 — Dayne Savory (Bay), 11.08; Chris Miller (AP), 11.10; Jared Allen (Shen), 11.39; Josiah Owhe (West), 11.42; Mike Flowers (Amst), 11.44. 200 — Chris Miller (AP), 22.02; Mike Flowers (Amst), 22.46; DaShawn Gates (Alb), 22.52; Derrick Smith (Nisk), 22.58; Raphael Rother (Bay), 22.65. 400 — Raphael Rother (Bay), 50.06; Eric Hernandez (Cor), 40.42; Colin Flanagan (PJ), 50.76; James Marra (Shen), 50.92; Keegan Nally (Voor), 51.12. 800 — Giancarlo Sainato (Colo), 1:52.90; Ruben Feinman (Shak), 1:54.60; Andrew Keresztes (PJ), 1:55.47; Will Reis (Coop), 1:55.81; Matt Crawford (Beth), 1:55.94. Mile — Owen Skeete (West), 4:19.30; Christian Delago (Shak), 4:19.62; Willie Underwood (LG), 4:22.93; Dan Lennon (Peru), 4:23.81; Jon Vallecorsa (Shak), 4:25.27. 3,200 — Otis Ubriaco (BHBL), 9:29.46; Michael Libruk (Shak), 9:30.35; Sam Place (Sara), 9:47.04; Jason Lange (NDBG), 9:49.76; Derek Struck (BKW), 9:50.51. 110 hurdles — Sancho Barrett (Amit), 14.56; DaShawn Gates (Alb), 14.77; Kadesh Roberts (Bay), 14.91; Alec Silvera (Coop), 14.96; Jay Hebert (Tico), 14.96. 400 hurdles — DaShawn Gates (Alb), 55.13; Kadesh Roberts (Bay), 55.71; Steven Kuznia (Sara), 56.45; Jake Martindale (Sara), 57.10; Keilan McMillan-Moss (Sch), 57.38. 400 relay — Bay Shore (John Scott, Dayne Savory, Raphael Rother, Connor Crane), 43.63; Shenendehowa, 44.29; Amsterdam, 44.65; Amityville, 44.66; Westbury, 45.21. 1,600 relay — Colonie (Nazim Roberts-Smith, Fred Freeman, Matt Leizzi, Giancarlo Sainato), 3:25.96; Shenendehowa, 3:27.03; Saranac, 3:29.70; Saratoga Springs, 3:30.81; Schenectady, 3:31.0. 3,200 relay — Cooperstown (Alec Silvera, Will Reis, Jacob Miller, Jeremiah Ford), 8:13.44; Port Jefferson, 8:17.51; Saratoga Springs, 8:18.78; Niskayuna, 8:19.34; Voorheesville, 8:45.70.
High jump — Tim Stewart (Voor), 6-2; Matthew White (Amst), 6-0; Keilan McMillan-Moss (Sch), 6-0; James Vandoran (Q), 5-10; Jelani Currie (AA), 5-10; Jesse Perkins (Tico), 5-10. Pole vault — Vincent Saccocio (Voor), 13-0; Joe Cronin (Beth), 13-0; Connor TenEych (Shen), 13-0; Connor Brant (Shak), 12-6; Corey Kenealley (Shen), 12-6.Long jump — Richard Pere (UP), 22-83⁄4; Thomas Bove (PJ), 221⁄4; Jonathan Granger (Tico), 21-11; Hakem Stewart (UP), 21-53⁄4; Jourmel Castma (West), 21-43⁄4. Triple jump — Richard Pete (UP), 46-8; Jelani Currie (AA),
45-33⁄4; Isaiah Phillips (BM), 44-4; Sayvon Burt (West), 43-8; Joshuwa Maiolo (RFA), 42-6. Shot put — Rudy Winkler (AP), 521⁄4; Carlos Mendez (Shak), 51-0; Miles Bardo (RFA), 48-93⁄4; Pat Gosier (RFA), 48-8; Corey Duval (Sara), 48-31⁄2. Discus — Rudy Winkler (AP), 172-0; Anthony Russo (BSpa), 148-8; Mark Thomas (Shen), 144-10; R.J. Boomhower (RCS), 144-5; Cole Lampman (Shen), 141-10.
GIRLS
Team scores
Saratoga Springs 67, Shenendehowa 62, Bay Shore 42, Colonie 40, Holy Names 37, Northport 36, Guilderland 30, Sachem East 29, Queensbury 26, Emma Willard 20, Shaker 19, Sachem North 18, Ward Melville 15, Utica Proctor 14, Frontier 12, Herkimer 12, Schuylerville 10, Voorheesville 8, East Syracuse-Minoa 8, Greenwich 8, Bishop Maginn 5, Ballston Spa 4.3, Westbury 4, Hoosic Valley 4, Lake George 2, Schalmont 2, Berne-Knox-Westerlo 2, Albany 2, Columbia 2, Bethlehem 1, Worcester School 1, St. Francis Prep .3, Port Jefferson .3.
Individuals
100 — Klarissa Ricks (HN), 11.97; Ellery Bianco (Sara), 12.76; Lauren Delude (Herk), 12.76; Kayla Miller BM), 12.79; Molly Shapiro (EW), 12.79. 200 — Sara Ronde (North), 25.38; Ellery Bianco (Sara), 25.42; Lauren Delude (Herk), 25.64; Brianah Allen (Bay), 25.66; Kelly Fredette (Sara), 25.67. 400 — Kyle Plante (Colo), 55.46; Caitlin Abelseth (Voor), 58.17; Kelly Fredette (Sara), 58.59; Mollie Gilchrist (HV), 59.63; Kristen Hayes (Shak), 60.05. 800 — Amanda Borroughs (Sara), 2:12.16; Sam Cisafulli (Shen), 2:13.07; Danielle Rowe (Bay), 2:14.10; Demi Feder (BSpa), 2:14.51; Emily Krasinski (Fron), 2:14.64. 1,500 — Rachel Paul (SachE), 4:35.37; Brittany Winslow (Q), 4:38.66; Maryanna Lansing (Shak), 4:43.57; Keelin Hollowood (Sara), 4:45.30; Courtney Tedeschi (BKW), 4:45.50. 3,000 — Emily Burns (Guild), 10:17.84; Molly Pezzulo (Sara), 10:27.44; Jolie Navatka (Q), 10:27.86; Kelly Lavan (SachN), 10:30.42; Brianna Freestone (Sara), 10:44.28. 100 hurdles — Jessica Gelibert (Bay), 14.37; Kierra Arthur (UP), 14.57; Dejana Harris (Guild), 15.39; Jeana Esernio (Ward), 15.45; Nikari Carota (Q), 15.82; 400 hurdles — Jessica Gelibert (Bay), 61.22; Andrea Guidarelli (Colo), 66.91; Meaghan Hartough (NP), 67.01; Stephanie Quinn (NP), 67.63; Cassidy Driscoll (Sara), 67.65. 400 relay — Holy Names (Amanda Stark, Jennifer Stodgell, Mikaila Ford, Klarissa Ricks), 49.30; Saratoga Springs, 49.76; Shenendehowa, 50.52; Sachem East, 50.53; Bay Shore, 50.85. 1,600 relay — Colonie (Christina Lenge, Uwa Omorogbe, Andrea Guidarelli, Kyle Plante), 3:56.83; Bay Shore, 4:02.43; Shaker, 4:02.55; Sachem East, 4:04.25; Northport, 4:07.19. 3,200 relay — Ward Melville (Mary Kate Anselmini, Caroline O’Hea, Julianna Marcucci, Kayla Monahan), 9:12.80; Saratoga Springs, 9:15.39; Shenendehowa, 9:21.98; Colonie, 9:24.06; Frontier, 9:35.76.
High jump — Sarah Palmer (Schuy), 5-6;
Nina Zesky (ESM), 5-6; Kristie Michta (SachN), 5-2; Catalena Diamente (Guild), 5-1;
Isabella Borini (Schal), 5-0. Pole vault — Madessen Weekes (Shen), 11-0; Kara Snyder (Colo), 10-6; Amanda Stark (HN), 10-3; Kayla Cataldo (SachN), 10-0; Moriah Baer (LG), 10-0. Long jump — Klarissa Ricks (HN), 18-71⁄2; Sara Ronde (NP), 18-41⁄4; Molly Shapiro (EW), 17-4; Emily Vandenburgh (Shak), 17-33⁄4; Alexis Barrau (Bay), 17-1. Triple jump — Molly Shapiro (EW), 38-31⁄4; Catalena Diamente (Guild), 37-101⁄2; Kierra Arthur (UP), 37-3; Tiara Mitchell (West), 37-23⁄4; McKyla Brooks (Fron), 36-23⁄4. Shot put — Samantha Kosa (Shen), 411⁄4; Brittany Christiansen (SachE), 38-11⁄2; Savannah Gordon (Shen), 38-0; Brenda Perrella (Fron), 34-61⁄2; Brittany See (SachE), 33-111⁄2. Discus — Samantha Kosa (Shen), 121-7; Sara Donahue (Green), 116-8;
Savannah Gordon (Shen), 114-5; Jenna
Bureau (Q), 113-8; Elyssa Slawinski (NP), 112-3.
Categories: -Sports-, High School Sports
