Leadership from returning members, rookies showing their best effort, and a record-breaking performance were all part of both Amsterdam High School’s boys and girls track team victories on Wednesday afternoon at Amsterdam High School.
The Amsterdam girls team finished first in nearly every event earning an impressive 120-57 win over Big 10 rival Schenectady. Junior McKenna Palczak finished first in both hurdle events and in the triple jump and the Lady Rams were victorious in all but discus in the field events leading a team that had little time to prepare outdoors.
“Our fitness was very good for not having much practice,” AHS girls head coach Stu Palczak said. “McKenna took both hurdles and Cassie Robataille, Maddie Janetsky, and the Wollman sisters did a super job.”
Robataille finished first in the high jump and pole vault and second in the 100M hurdles. Hannah Wollman earned first in the long jump. Amber Richardson placed first in the shot. The Lady Rams also finished first in the relay events. Caitlin Adamchick, Chantel Dopp, Ilenis Quinnones and Olivia Lazarou started the meet with a win in the 4X 800M relay. Adamchick, Lazarou, Gianna DeRosa, and Brenda Santana were victorious in the 1600M, and Santana was joined by Janetsky and Abby and Hannah Wollman in the 4X 100M win. Santanna’s performance running the middle leg of the race caught everyone’s attention as she tracked down and passed a Schenectady runner.
“She looked awesome,” Palczak said. “She made up ground in a hurry when we trailed early on the race.”
Santanna finished first in the 10o meter and 200 meter runs Eighth grader Olivia Lazarou took first in the 800 meter and 1500 meter girls events. Lazarou’s classmate Kayla Dzikowicz finished second in the 400M hurdles.
“Brenda Santanna and Olivia Lazarou did well in winning their events,” Palczak said. “Gianna DeRosa did a nice job in the 4X 800, and Kayla Dzikowicz did well also in the hurdles.” Dzikowicz and DeRosa are new to the team this year. Senior and veteran leader Caitlin Adamchick finished first in the 400 meter run.
The boys team also benefited from their senior leadership in their wins over Schenectady (109-66) and Lasalle Institute (108-69).
“Isaiah Brown and David Gravely were the standouts today,” Amsterdam boys head coach Kevin Wilary said.
Graveley won both hurdles events and Brown finished first in the 400 meter run, high jump and 200 meter.
Before the start of the meet when asked which record he was aiming to break, Brown said the 200 meter. He did just that setting a new school high mark with an official time of 21.8 seconds. Brown, whose father and uncles hold high school records is looking to set more new standards at AHS before he graduates next year. Brown was also part of the winning 1600 meter relay team with Graveley, Julian Gallup and Andrew Druziak. Gallup earned first in the long jump and Druziak was part of the winning 4X800 meter relay team.
“Julian Galllup did a great job in the long jump,” Wilary said. “At 21 feet and six inches, that’s far.”
Wilary also noted another newcomer. “Anthony Mercado went two minutes and 13 seconds in the middle of the 4 by 800 relay. That’s good for a first time.”
The AHS boys also did well in the field getting wins from Jose Perez (discus), Omari Sturdevant (triple jump), and Austin Brock (pole vault). Among other newcomers, Wilary noted; “Lucas Dorr did a fantastic job in the 100 meter.”
The Amsterdam track teams will be looking for more fantastic finishes as they take on Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons and Bishop Maginn next Wednesday at Amsterdam High School.
