On Sunday, January 30th Saint Anthony’s took the NSCHSAA Varsity League Championships title for the boys and girls track programs. They took the meet by storm and crushed the competition, with a boys team total of 121.50 and the girls scoring 92.50. The boys’ and girls’ success came from the depths of a strong team.
Despite the victory, there was notable competition in several events. Our biggest competitors for the boys was Holy Trinity in the sprints and field events and Chaminade in the distance events. The female Friars earned nine out of 17 spots in the finals in three sprints (55, 300, 600) and our male Friars found themselves with a total of 10 scoring positions out of 23 in four sprints (55, 600, 300, & High Hurdles). Both boy’s and girl’s overall distance performance was just as strong securing more than half of the scoring positions in the distance events. In the field events, the boys and girls did an outstanding job with the boys having a perfect five out of five top finishes and the girls having an almost perfect score with four out of five top finishes. These top five finishes carry great significance for a track athlete because it gives them varsity stats by being an immediate contribution to the team victory.
The Friars covered all angles, worked hard this whole season, pushed themselves to the limit, and came out as champions.
We had several notable event champions: Micheal Terry 55m hurdle, boys shot put Spencer Borghart, girls shot put Maria Chiariello, 600m Jack Ward and Amanda Dolan, Girls 1000 Lindsey Yakaboski, Girls 1500 Emma Rodriguez, long jump Kenyon Miles (who also earned Field MVP honors), triple jumps, Jordan Spencer and finally, pole vaulter, Matthew Lourenco, and Marisa D’Angelo, also earning championship status.
These champions worked hard to get to the point where they are now, starting back in November and going three months to their 2022 victory. Some did not expect to stand on top of a podium but are now proudly listed in the recorded books as a champion. Michael Terry said, “after my preliminary race I didn’t feel as confident I would make it into the finals,” but then he saw he had made it and he knew this was his second chance. “Not going to lie, lining up was pretty scary because I was one of the only juniors.” Terry hadn’t even known he won until a little bit after his race but words could not describe how happy he was. Maria, our female shot put champion, succeeded her own expectations throwing 37 feet and 4 inches for a new personal record while she had set her sights on 32 feet, but didn’t realize how ready to win she was.
Some came ready to win such as Spencer Borghart 22’. Spencer said, “I always expect to do my best, the competition was better than I expected.” He did not let that shake him and with second place throwing 41 and 3rd 38 feet winning was not easy. “I knew I was going to out throw them because when it comes to competition I’m always going to persevere.” Obviously, he did!
Back on the track, our relays had major highlights. If you are a true track fan you know the relays command 100% attention at the end of the meat. Relays can sometimes be the deciding factor if the score is close and an opportunity to regain respect from an individual race and regardless of the team outcome the bragging rights are like gold.
The relays opened with the 4×800 and both girls and boys set the tone with victories Kellenberg and Chaminade respectfully. Next was the 4×400 and bragging rights would be reclaimed by the Kellenberg and Chaminade with both friar teams finishing third. Finally the 4×200 with both Trinity being dominant in both the girls and boys sprints for the day. They would come out victorious versus the boys running 1:32.13 and SA second running 1:33.33. Our girls in even a tighter race would hold onto their victory winning in 1:49.23 to Holy Trinity’s 1:49.87.
With both boys and girls winning fourteen champions titles, those Friars contributed 84 points to the 214 combined points total. Second went to Chaminade, which secured 74 points and Sacred Heart in second with 53 points.
Uchenna Kelly is a freshman at St.Anthonys; this is her first year writing for a sports paper and is very excited. She also is planning on joining the winter and spring track team.
