04-17-09 - Both the Chatham boys’ and girls’ track teams picked up pivotal early season track victories on Thursday in Chatham as they defeated Taconic Hills, a consensus top-three team in the league on both the boys’ and girls’ side. The boys won 94 to 47 over the Titans, while the Chatham girls won 89-52.
Of the 17 events on the girls’ side, Chatham captured 13 victories en route to the easy win. Per the usual, Chatham won every event that seniors Leah Wightman and Hayley Madsen entered on Thursday. Wightman captured wins in the 200, 400, 400-meter hurdles, and as part of the 1600 x 4. Madsen was also part of that 1600 x 4 relay team, while also capturing a win as a member of the 3200-meter relay team. Madsen also picked up wins in the 800- and 1500-meter races.
Boys Hurdles
Other top performers for the Panthers on the girls’ side include Cailey Nieto, who won the 100 and long jump and was also part of the 400-meter relay team and brought home second in the 200, and eighth-grader Faith Avens, who notched wins in the 3000 and also as part of the 3200 meter relay team.
For the Titans, Henderson picked up two of her teams four wins, taking home the 100-meter hurdles and the shot put while also taking home third in the high jump. Emma Gryner also secured a win for Taconic Hills, taking first in the high jump and taking second in the 800. The final win for the Titans came with a victory in the triple jump by Rachel Preusser. Schmidt also put together a strong performance for the Titans despite not winning an event, scoring in three, taking second place in the 400, pole vault, and triple jump. Rachel Gellert took second in the 100 and long jump.
The Chatham boys matched the girls by winning 13 events, losing only in the field where the Titans picked up wins in the discus, high jump, long jump, and shot put. Ryan Coon was part of four wins for the Panthers as he won the 1600 and the pole vault on his own and was also part of the winning 4 x 800 and 4 x 400 relay teams. Quinn Calhoun won the 100-meter hurdles and the 400, while also being part of the winning 4 x 400 relay team. Football standout Josh Keyes showed his speed in winning the 100 and 200 races and also anchoring the winning 4 x 100 team.
Other multiple-event winners for Chatham included Ryan Behrans, who won the 3200 and was part of the winning 4 x 800 team; and Phil Mastrosimone, who was part of two winning relay teams, the 4 x 800 and the 4 x 400.
Chatham Shot Put
For the Titans, Nolan Boice won two events: the discus and the shot put. Colton Mahar won the high jump, and Shawn Bradyway added a win in the long jump.
Chatham returns to action next Tuesday when they host Rensselaer and then travel to Emma Willard on Thursday to square off with Emma Willard and Greenville. The Titans host Catskill on Tuesday and Coxsackie-Athens on Thursday
