The Lady Rams scored 58.5 points to finish third behind Saratoga Springs (183 points), and Fonda-Fultonville (60 points) at Friday’s Johnstown Invitational at Knox Field. Amsterdam, led by first place finishes from Edena Sanchez, Brenda Santana, and the 4×400 meter relay team, scored in nine of the 18 events.
Brenda Santana – The Lady Rams sophomore finished first in the 200 meter run with a time of 27.7 seconds, and came in third in the 100 meter dash. Santana had to contend with a pair of sprinters from Suburban Council power Saratoga Springs in the 100 meter race. Her time of 13.19 seconds wasn’t far off the pace of the winning time of 12.95 seconds. Santana also joined Edena Sanchez, Olivia Lazarou, and Lauren Santiago on the winning 4×400 meter relay team.
Edena Sanchez – The junior ran a powerful 800 meter race and her winning time of 2 minutes, 20.54 seconds was among her best. It was seven seconds faster than the next competitor. Sanchez ran a key leg of the winning 4×400 meter relay team.
Gabby Stanavich – The Lady Rams freshman took third in the 400 meter hurdles, fourth in the 100 meter hurdles, and placed eighth in the 200 meter run against some tough competition. Stanavich had to face three hurdlers from Saratoga Springs and placed third in her heat. Her versatility is a valuable asset to a young Lady Rams team.
Alyssa Kuchis – The AHS sophomore finished 20th in the triple jump, and she set a personal record with a leap of 29 feet and one inch. Kuchis helped get the Lady Rams some points with the 4×100 meter relay team that finished seventh.
Olivia Lazarou – The sophomore has been outstanding in the distance events all season long for the Lady Rams, but on Friday her 800 meter race was stronger than her 3000 meter. Lazarou clocked in at 2:30.98 in the shorter distance to cross the line in sixth. She ran a 11:18.55 in the 3000 meter while battling some of the top competition in Section 2 from Saratoga Springs and Schalmont, among them Julia Flower (Schalmont), who ran one of her best times in the event, winning and crossing the finish line in under ten minutes. Lazarou became the only Amsterdam girl in school history to qualify for the state championships in cross country and is aiming for a trip to states in track and field as well. She was part of the winning 4×400 relay team that won with a time of 55.51 seconds.
Lauren Santiago – Another talented AHS freshman, Santiago came in fourth in both the 200 meter and 400 meter runs, and was part of the 4×400 meter winning relay team. Santiago also participates in the long jump, but on Friday her focus was on the sprints. She helped score 18 points for the Lady Rams.
AHS relay teams – In addition to the winning with the 4×400 meter relay team, both the 4×100 meter, and 4×800 meter relay teams helped the Lady Rams pick up some points against some outstanding competition. Kuchis, Santana, Kaitlyn Devine, and Giuliana Pritchard were part of the seventh place 4×100 meter team, and Emma Patrei, Emma Gomez, Kayla Sondrup, and Chantel Dopp were part of the seventh place 4×800 meter team.
Notable performances – Emma Patrei (8th in 800 meter run, 18th in triple jump), Giuliana Pritchard (10th in 100 meter dash), Emma Gomez (13th in triple jump, 18th in 400 meter run), Kayla Sondrup (12th in 1500 meter run), Chantel Dopp (20th in 1500 meter), Kayla Dzikowicz (21st in 100 meter hurdles).
“You get a different and higher level competition at meets like this,” Amsterdam coach Stu Palczak said. “For the girls today it’s both. I like to see how we compete with teams from some of the larger schools. Today the weather is a factor on our times. It’s good competition. We just have to run hard and see how we do.”
Authors note: Thank you to Kayla Dzikowicz for providing an umbrella and keeping my notes and camera safe from the rain.
Broadalbin-Perth girls tie with Johnstown
The Broadalbin-Perth girls track and field team tied with Johnstown scoring 17 points in a very strong 20 team field. The Patriots scored in three events and posted several top ten finishes. BPHS got points on the track from Celina Onzo and the 4×400 meter relay team, and in the field from Joanna Tavolaro and Lexi Eipp.
Celina Onzo – Back from an early season injury, the spirited Lady Patriots junior finished strong in the 800 meter run passing a pair of Saratoga Springs runners and came in third. Onzo, who often can be seen with a set of earphones on playing motivational music before a race was true to form in the 800 mete,r and in the 400 meter where she finished seventh. She was also part of the 4×400 meter relay team with Lexi Eipp, Gabby Larsen, and Meghan O’Connor. A healthy Onzo will be a key factor when the Lady Patriots attempt to win a second straight sectional title later this month. Last year she won the 800 meter run at sectionals, the only first place finish for BPHS in their one point win over Albany Academy to claim the sectional group title.
Gabby Larsen – The talented freshman was one of the Lady Patriots best in cross country this past fall, and was a top performer for BPHS in the 1500 meter run where she finished with a time of 5:27.91, only five seconds off her personal best, and good enough for a top ten finish. Her time in the race would have been a personal best for the majority of the runners in the race, and was an impressive time under adverse conditions. Larsen also placed eleventh in the 400 meter hurdles, and was part of the 4×400 meter relay team.
Joanna Tavolaro – The Lady Patriots senior came through with the best finish for her team, taking second in the pole vault event. The BPHS field leader also finished seventh in the 100 meter hurdles and was tenth in the triple jump. Another key factor in the Lady Patriots drive toward sectionals.
Lexi Eipp – Another senior leader for the Lady Patriots, Eipp made the top five in the pole vault, was seventh in the triple jump, and was part of the 4×400 meter relay team. Like Tavolaro and Onzo, she will be counted on for her leadership as BPHS heads through the last weeks of the season.
Ali Visco – The versatile junior participated in four events for the Lady Patriots and placed in three of them. Visco was 16th in the long jump, 23rd in the triple jump, and 34th in the 100 meter dash, and she also competed in the high jump. Add to that the fact that she also plays for the BPHS varsity softball team and attends practices for two sports on a weekly basis, anything she contributes is impressive.
Cadey Nolan – The Lady Patriots senior was her teams’ lone competitor in the 3000 meter run. Nolan posted a top 20 finish running in a crowded second heat with some of the best distance runners in Section 2. The last remaining member who was part of both the 2013 sectional champion Lady Patriots cross country team, and last years’ sectional champion Lady Patriots track and field team, Nolan and her teammates will return to Knox Field which was the site of the 2015 sectional championships, on Tuesday when they challenge the Johnstown Lady Bills in a key Foothills Council meet.
BPHS relay teams – In addition to the seventh place finish by the 4×400 meter relay team, the 4×100 meter relay team of Tavolaro, Kelly Makarowsky, Lindsey Price, and Meghan O’Connor turned in a ninth place finish.
Notable finshes – Madison Macfarland (9th in the high jump), Victoria Laurange (10th in the pentathlon), Jordyn DeNeuville (20th in the 400 meter hurdles), Katelyn Davis (11th in discus throw, 14th in shot put), Brooke McClarren (14th in the discus throw), Alyson Becker (23rd in shot put). Lakshmi Kesari (10th in pole vault), Lauren Smith (26th in 200 meter), Lindsey Price (18th in 200 meter), Meghan O’Connor (17th in 200 meter), Kristen Murphy (32nd in 800 meter), and Mackenzie Frye (24th in 1500 meter run, 23rd in 3000 meter).
More of the best from local schools
Fonda-Fultonville – The Lady Braves got first place finishes from Emma Rhodes in the 400 meter hurdles, and the 4×100 meter relay team of Rhodes, Alyssa Duval, Alesha Heacock, and Skyler Hesch. Rhodes was also second in the long jump, and third in the 100 meter hurdles. Heacock was third in the high jump, and Alyson Shirley took fourth in the pentathlon.
Gloversville – The Lady Huskies were eighth with 29 points. Sierra Fancher was first in the long jump, and second in the triple jump. Madison Fancher finished second in the pentathlon.
Canajoharie – The Lady Cougars placed tenth with 18.5 points. Sophomore Jordan Porter was second in the 800 meter run, and fourth in the 400 meter run.
Johnstown – The Lady Bills tied Broadalbin-Perth for eleventh place with 17 points. Junior Molly Sear put up one of her best distances at 33 feet nine inches to take first place in the triple jump.
All track and field teams return to action next week with key league meets. The Amsterdam Lady Rams will face South Glens Falls at AHS on Tuesday afternoon. Broadalbin-Perth and Johnstown will also face off on Tuesday. Amsterdam, Broadalbin-Perth, Johnstown, and Gloversville will also compete in the Foothills Council championships on May 18 at Schuylerville High School.
