The Amsterdam Rams and Lady Rams track teams remained unbeaten in the Big 10 with victories over Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons High School and Bishop Maginn High School on another chilly Wednesday afternoon at Amsterdam High School.
The Amsterdam girls defeated Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons 122-55 and Bishop Maginn 127-18, while the Amsterdam boys were victorious 127-34 over Notre Dame Bishop Gibbons, and 132-25 over Bishop Maginn. The strongest competition came from ND-BG in the girls distance track events.
“We knew Bishop Gibbons was strong in the middle distance and relay events and I was concerned about that,” Amsterdam girls head coach Stu Palczak said. “Our kids responded to the challenge.”
Senior Caitlin Adamchick took first in the 400 meter run (1:10.9), and teamed up with Chantel Dopp, Ilenis Quinones, and Olivia Lazarou in the 3200 meter relay. Lazarou would place first in the 1500 meter run with a time of 5 minutes and 9.9 seconds, the 800 meter run (2:33.9) and anchored the winning 4X400 meter relay team that featured Adamchick, Brenda Santana and Gianna DeRosa. The eighth graders performance stood out.
“Olivia Lazarou won two races and was part of two winning relays,” coach Palczak said. “She’s turning into a very good distance runner.”
Amsterdam got first place finishes from McKenna Palczak in both hurdles events, Brenda Santana in the 100 meter (13.31 seconds) and 200 meter runs (28.16), Quinones in the 3000 meter run, and from the 4×100 meter relay team of Abby Wollman, Santana, Maddie Janetsky and Hannah Wollman. Janetsky also turned in top performances in the high jump (4’3”), and triple jump (31”) field events. Cassandra Robataille earned a first place finish in the pole vault (7 feet). Amber Richardson finished second in the shot put. Other second place finishes included Dopp (3000 meter), Robataille (100M hurdles), Gianna DeRosa (400 meter), Kayla Dzikowicz (400m hurdles), and Carissa Bottisti (pole vault).
“I was very pleased with the overall effort today,” coach Palczak said. “We responded well to the challenge.”
The Amsterdam boys team was also up to the challenge in their wins over both Big 10 rivals. There were a few changes in the line- up due to a baseball game scheduled on the same day. However, the outcomes were in the Rams favor.
“Kids were asked to fill different roles today and stepped up,” Amsterdam boys head coach Kevin Wilary said. “Shane Derose came in third in the 100 meters, and was anchor of the 4×100 meter relay which was big for us.”
Derose ran because the Rams expected to be without Julian and Jared Gallup who also play for the Amsterdam Rams baseball team which was scheduled to play CBA that afternoon. That game was postponed giving the track team more available members. Wilary stuck with the runners he had scheduled and they came through.
“I had confidence they would do a good job,” Wilary said. The Rams finished at or near the top in all events. Isaiah Brown was first in four events including the 200 meter (22.68 seconds), 400 meter (51.8), long jump, and the high jump (5’10”). David Graveley took first in both hurdles events. Lucas Dorr tuned in a first place win the 100 meter run with a time of 11.79 seconds. Andrew Druziak and Johnathan Knack picked up wins with Druziak besting the field in the 800 meter (2:12.7) and Knack tops in the 3200 meter distance event. Both were part of winning relay teams that included Omari Sturdivant, who won the triple jump and Cameron Thomas finished second. The Rams were dominant in the field events. Jose Perez (discus), Austin Bartone (shot put) were individual winners. Austin Brock and Isaiah Cameron Murray shared honors in the pole vault. The dual meet wins came despite another chilly afternoon at AHS.
“They did a fantastic job,” Wilary said. The kids did a good job for the conditions they had to run in.”
Both Amsterdam teams will join other area squads this Saturday for the CBA /Lasalle relays at the University at Albany’s new state of the art complex. Events are set to begin around 10am and are scheduled throughout the day. Many athletes will be getting their first look at the facility that will also host Section 2 and state events later this year. Amsterdam track teams will return home for their final home meet in less than two weeks.
