There’s no way the Schalmont kid is going to hold it.
That was the hushed word going around Larry Mulvaney Field after Julia Flower opened up a 60-meter lead one lap through the 1,500 at Saturday’s William F. Eddy Jr. Memorial Track and Field Meet at Schenectady High School.
“I didn’t want to feel like I was going to win,” said Flower. “Even with the big lead, I kept pushing.”
The competition never caught up to the rising sophomore, who willed her way into the meet record book with a 4:32.09 for one of the highlight performances at the 74th annual festival.
Izaiah Brown turned in another when he made up 20 meters as Amsterdam’s anchor in a triumphant 1,600 relay for the team champion Rams.
“I didn’t want to let the team down. My adrenaline was pumping,” said Brown, who was named the meet’s top male athlete for the third time after his sizzling 46.40 relay split and wins in the 200, 400 and long jump. “It was a sprint the whole way. Not like a regular 400 with a gradual build.”
Flower used a fast burst to separate from a strong group that included juniors Janelle Rothacker of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake and Emily Burns of Guilderland, and ended up with the state’s No. 2 time this season while topping her school record. Flower’s previous best was a 4:37.24, and the meet record was a 4:35.46 turned in by Susanne Hayer of Columbia in 1994.
“The fact that she’s still standing is impressive,” said Rothacker, who ran a personal-record 4:37.81 for second. “I knew she would take it out fast. I expected that. I didn’t expect it to be that fast.”
That was the Schalmont camp’s plan, remembering that Rothacker had overtaken Flower late to win the 1,500 at the Burnt Hills Invitational.
“Her best attribute is she listens,” said Schalmont distance coach Rich Kranick. “She had to get out of traffic quick. She had to break free and distance herself.”
“I just went out,” said Flower. “I didn’t really know at first how far ahead I was. I didn’t hear anyone behind me.”
Megan Kellog of Queensbury ran third in 4:40.90, and Burns was fourth in a school-record 4:45.55.
“That helped me,” said Flower. “Knowing they were there.”
“I expected her to run a 40, not a 32,” said Burns. “That was amazing. She ran on her own.”
The Amsterdam boys ran and jumped to their second straight team title as a tribute to Mike Flower, a 2011 graduate of the school who died recently in a swimming mishap.
“He was our first guy to make the states since the early ’90s. Everyone wanted to follow his path. He set the tone for where we are now,” said Amsterdam coach Kevin Wilary. “Our guys wanted to do it for him.”
The Rams wanted to win the 1,600 relay in a bad way after Albany beat them on the same track at Wednesday’s Big 10 championship meet.
“The main thing today was the relay,” said Brown, a junior.“We wanted to avenge that loss. We wanted to see if we could redeem ourselves.”
David Graveley, Andrew Druziak, Edgar Maldonado and Brown combined for a 3:21.84. Albany finished second in 3:23.72.
“The other guys know their role. Keep it close or pass them. I know my role,” said Brown, the reigning state 400 champ. “It hurt, but I chased the kid [Albany’s Ben Wells] down. Once I got past him, I had to keep going.”
Brown won the 400 for the third year in a row in 47.73, placed first in the 200 with a 21.84 and was best in the long jump at 21-41⁄4.
Holy Names senior Leah Triller won the Eddy 800 for the third year in a row in 2:12.65.
“This is a race I look forward to all season. It crossed my mind to run the 1,500, too, but I wanted to have all my focus on the 800,” said Triller, adding with a laugh, “I wanted to get a ‘trill’-ogy.”
Triller has for years been chasing the Holy Names school record of 2:09.84 set by Liz Maloy in 2003.
“She wants to get under 2:10 before her high school career is over,” said Holy Names coach Carlo Cherubino. “She’s good at 600. It’s the last 200, but it’s coming. She’s gone 2:12, 2:14 and 2:12 in her last three races.”
While Triller cruised home, Bethlehem senior Steve Booker had to fight to the end for his 800 win in 1:57.97. Down the stretched, he was flanked across by John Feil of Guilderland (second, 1:58.03) and Justin Van Epps of Christian Brothers Academy (third, 1:58.46).
“I’ve been working on keeping my form in the last 100 meters. Pumping my arms. Running like a sprinter,” said Booker, a Rice-bound senior. “It’s nice that it worked out.
Booker set a PR Saturday, just like he did last year when he ran third in the 3,200.
“It’s awesome to come back here and have another good race,” he said.
Colonie brothers Jake and Jordan Johnson won the mile (4:19.39) and 3,200 (9:36.16), respectively, and schoolmate Kara Snyder had a national-qualifying 11-6 to win the pole vault.
“We’re starting to get into the championship season,” said the Villanova-bound Snyder. “Time to bring out the bigger pole.”
Ellery Bianco of Saratoga Springs won the 400 hurdles in 60.55 for the No. 2 time in the United States this season. The Shenendehowa girls set a meet record in the 3,200 relay (9:15.14).
BOYS
Team scores
Amsterdam 50, Guilderland 32, Bay Shore 28, Rome Free Academy 28, Riverdale Baptist 28, Bethehem 28, Amityville 26, Colonie 24, Shaker 23, Port Jefferson 23, Albany 22, CBA 20, Uniondale 16, Smithtown East 14, South Glens Falls 14, Queensbury 13, Gloversville 13, Mt. Mansfield 12, East Syracuse-Minoa 12, Schuylerville 10, Ticonderoga 10, Shenendehowa 9, Johnstown 8, Duanesburg 8, Cobleskill-Richmondville 7, Jamestown 6, Hudson 6, Chatham 6, LaSalle 5, Broadalbin-Perth 4, Maple Hill 4, Albany Academy 4, Saratoga Springs 3, Westbury 2, Rensselaer/Doane Stuart 2, Averill Park 2, Ballston Spa 2, Fort Plain 1, Ichabod Crane 1, Saranac 1.
Individuals/relays
100 — Lloyd Smalling (Shak), 11,01; Kaashief Morgan (Amit), 11.23; Jasper Rubin-Sigler (PJ), 11.38; Cordell Nix (BSh), 11.43; Brad Dougherty (RFA), 11.44.
200 — Izaiah Brown (Amst), 21.84; John Hightower (RB), 22.27; Blanks Darian (Hud), 22.29; William Melchionni (AA), 22.53; Devlin Bahruth (John), 22.78.
400 — Izaiah Brown (Amst), 47.73; Justin Bove (PJ), 50.21; Devlin Bahruth (John), 50.34; Austin Ellis (CBA), 50.50; Wesley Clayton (AP), 50.76.
800 — Steve Booker (BC), 1:57.97; Jon Feil (Guild), 1:58.03; Justin Van Epps (CBA), 1:58.46; Ian Allen (Chat), 1:59.23; Kevin LaFleche (CBA), 1:59.66.
3,200 — Jordan Johnson (Colo), 9:36.16; Patrick Murphy (Dua), 9:41.33; Justin Julich (PJ), 10:03.31; Jordan Healy (MH), 10:07.11; Zane Belden (Q), 10:09.52.
Mile — Jake Johnson (Colo), 4:19.39; Noah Carey (Guild), 4:21.62; Luciano Fiore (BSh), 4:26.97; Jesse Perrone (ESM), 4:28.80; Tyler Leicht (BSpa), 4:29.46.
110 hurdles — Jay Hebert (Ti), 14.24; Shawn Bleichert (Shen), 14.63; Max Comer (Schuy), 15.14; Alec Escholz (MM), 15.31; Travon Duncan (Amit), 15.32.
400 hurdles — John Hightower (RB), 53.65; Alec Escholz (MM), 54.14; Mitchell Moore (James), 54.17; Max Comer (Schuy), 56.35; Conor Kimmey (BC), 56.42.
400 relay — Albany (Chris Wolcott, Nesta Littlejohn, James Willard, Syeed Holtzclaw), 43.37; Uniondale, 43.70; Rome Free Academy, 44.35; Shaker, 44.59; Bay Shore, 44.62.
1,600 relay — Amsterdam (David Graveley, Andrew Druziak, Edgar Maldonado, Izaiah Brown), 3:21.84; Albany, 3:23.72; Uniondale, 3:33.71; LaSalle, 3:35.23; Riverdale Baptist, 3:36.14.
3,200 relay — Smithtown East (Patrick Teese, Eric Herrmann, Eric Melcer, Matthew Whalen), 8:05.16; CBA, 8:07.80; Guilderland, 8:12.26; Colonie, 8:16.16; Port Jefferson, 8:19.71.
Long jump — Izaiah Brown (Amst), 21-41⁄4; John Hightower (RB), 21-31⁄2; Cordell Nix (BSh), 21-21⁄4; Julian Gallup (Amst), 21-1; Mike Visco (BP), 20-8.
Triple jump — Brian Greenberg (BC), 46-1; Ronel Forde (Shak), 45-10; Omahri Sturdivant (Amst), 44-11⁄2; Chris Wolcott (Alb), 42-11; Jake Coveney (BP), 42-63⁄4.
High jump — Harrison Bickmore (Guild), 6-0; Cordell Nix (BSh), 6-0; Liam Martens (BC), 6-0; Dan Claxton (SE), 5-10; Quantel McGee (Glove), 5-10.
Pole vault — Michael Budka (Glove), 13-0; Caiden Moynihan (ESM), 12-6; Zach Morris (SGF), 12-0; Aaron Stone (Q), 12-0; Michael Schmidt (BSh), 12-0.
Shot put — Robert Alder (RFA), 54-31⁄4 (meet record); Aasin Thomas (Amit), 52-11⁄4; Don Thorington (CR), 52-1; Anthony Santoro (SGF), 50-8; Nick Green (Sara), 50-21⁄2.
Discus — Robert Alder (RFA), 160-8; Aasin Thomas (Amit), 153-5; David Slattery (Q), 147-1; Anthony Santoro (SGF), 142-7; Cassidy Palladino (Chat), 141-9.
GIRLS
Team scores
Bay Shore 62, Uniondale 36, Saratoga Springs 34, Shenendehowa 31, Columbia 30, Riverdale Baptist 28, Rome Free Academy 28, Colonie 24, Holy Names 20, Albany 19, Bethlehem 19, EKMW 18, Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake 17, Queensbury 15, Stillwater 14, Albany Academy 13, Seton Catholic 12, Amityville 11, Schalmont 11, Glens Falls 10, Fairfield Warde 10, Guilderland 10, James Hillhouse 8, Chenango Forks 5, Saranac 6, Maple Hill 5, Proctor 4, Niskayuna 4, St. Francis Prep 4, Cooperstown 4, Wmithtown East 3, Shaker 3, Cobleskill-Richmondville 1, Beekmantown 2.
Individuals/events
100 — Imani McGhee (BSh), 12.27; Jahari Coleman (Alb), 12.44; Olivia Ventra (Sara), 12.46; Sarah Friess (MH), 12.74; Asia Cornwall (Colu), 12.79.
400 — Halie Snyder (EKMW), 55.59; Nastasja Johnston (Colu), 56.81; Dnia Freeman (RB), 57.59; Selena Lott (Colu), 59.06; Kaitlin Close (HN), 59.39.
800 — Leah Triller (HN), 2:12.65; Jacqueline Anderson (BSh), 2:17.26; Nia McCaslin (BSh), 2:17.89; Melissa Whyman (SC), 2:18.25; Cesia Andrade (BSh), 2:18.82.
1,500 — Julia Flower (Schal), 4:32.09 (meet record); Janelle Rothacker (BH), 4:37.81; Megan Kelloff (Q), 4:40.90; Emily Burns (Guild), 4:45.55; Natalie Muller (BC), 4:46.68.
3,000 — Cate Allen (FW), 9:53.14 (meet record); Margaret Champagne (SC), 10:06.58; Amanda Chambers (Colo), 10:34.12; Emily Acker (AA), 10:35.14; Lexi Sciortino (Nisk), 10:40.51.
100 hurdles — Aviana Goode (BSh), 14.70; Nikari Carota (Q), 14.73; Cryasal Green (Un), 14.87; Abby Marco (Guild), 15.82; Michala Webster (Un), 15.91.
400 hurdles — Ellery Bianco (Sara), 60.55; Jaliyah White (JH), 61.64; Crystal Green (Un), 62.88; Ronke Osipitan (Colo), 65.00; Ashley Suffrant (Un), 66.54.
400 relay — Uniondale (Kristina Cherington, Chelsea Desouze, Micha Forehand, Aliesha Jeffers), 49.99; Albany, 51.39; Rome Free Academy, 51.78; Stillwater, 52.39; Niskayuna, 52.60.
1,600 relay — Uniondale (Kristina Cherington, Crystal Green, Ashley Suffrant, Michala Webster), 3:53.71; Columbia, 3:58.96; Saratoga Springs, 3:59.58; Riverdale Baptist, 4:06.30; Colonie, 4:09.05.
3,200 relay — Shenendehowa (Julia Zachgo, Caroline Rusch, Hannah Reale, Sarah Knowles), 9:15.14 (meet record); Holy Names, 9:27.18; Bethlehem, 9:52.45; St. Francis Prep, 9:55.65; Colonie, 9:56.83.
Long jump — Imani McGhee (BSh), 18-8; Nastasja Johnston (Colu), 17-111⁄4; Taylor Woods (RB), 17-101⁄2; Patrice Baston (BSh), 17-41⁄5; Shawna Thornton (Amit), 17-2.
Triple jump — Leah Moran (Still), 37-3; Shawna Thornton (Amit), 36-6; Patrice Baston (BSh), 35-6; Hilda Jordan (Pro), 34-113⁄4; Mia Montgomery (ESM), 34-10.
High jump — Grace Smith (BC), 5-5; Victoria Godden (CF), 5-4; Aviana Goode (BSh), 5-4; Lucy Ford (Coop), 5-4; Jessica Martin (SE), 5-2.
Pole vault — Kara Snyder (Colo), 11-6; Kalli Manly (BH), 10-6; Sarah Jones (AA), 9-6; Mary Sunukjian (Shen), 9-6 (tie for third); Eileen Bequette (Alb), 9-6.
Shot put — Mariah Mays (RFA), 40-6; Grayce French (Sara), 38-1; Mehann Wood (Sar), 37-5; Zoe Doolittle (GF), 37-3; Jill Shippee (Shen), 37-1.
Discus — Mariah Mays (RFA), 144-10; Jess Craven (Shen), 118-05; Zoe Doolittle (GF), 116-0; Grayce French (Sara), 109-8; Emily Anderson (Beek), 108-6.
Categories: High School Sports
