MONTICELLO – It’s going to be a colorful track and field season replete with its photo finishes by a shade and its strokes of style and boldness. And so, it was no surprise that the early season meet hosted by Monticello presented a palette of striking performances. 

By day’s end, host Monticello arrayed in black topped second place Tri-Valley in their navy blue, followed by Liberty in red and finally Homestead Collaborative College in green. The order of finish was the same for both boys and girls teams, each of which had their bright moments. 

For Monticello, which lost a lot of talent to graduation in June, the victory over powerful Tri-Valley was a positive preamble to a season in which the Monti boys will need everything they can muster to preserve their fourth consecutive Division III title and their 11th in the past 13 years. 

That annual rivalry primarily against the Goshen Gladiators looms on the horizon. Both teams got to see a bit of what the other can offer at Saturday’s abbreviated Coliseum Classic at Goshen. That meet was shortened by lightning but not before Monticello showed its prominence in the high jump taking second, fourth and sixth with jumps by David Williams, Quintin Liciaga and Raphael Liciaga. They all jumped 5-04 but their places came as a result of attempts. 

In the Monti meet the trio finished 1,2,3 with Quintin clearing 6-0 followed by Williams at 5-6 and Raphael Liciaga at the same height. Look for the Monti jumpers to gather key points in coming meets. 

Tyrese Shaw showed his quickness with wins in the 100, 200 and a leg in the speedy 4x100 and 4x400 relays. Other key Monti performers included Christian Corces in the 400 hurdles (first) and 110 hurdles (second). Tahir Denton won the 110 hurdles. Javier Williams won the triple jump. As expected, Tri-Valley showed its strength in distance running. Adam Furman ran in the winning 4x800 relay with brother Van, Craig Costa and Thomas Houghtaling. Furman also captured the 400 and 800. Mighty thrower Armaan Butler won the shot and discus. 

In the girls meet Monticello was paced by Meg Cruz’s wins in the 100, 200 and leg in the 4x400 relay. Hannah Cavello prevailed in the long and triple jumps along with the pole vault. Diya Patel captured the high jump, Chelsea Reynolds won the 400 and ran a leg in the 4x400. Gabrielle Brumbaugh won the 3000. 

Tri-Valley’s Anna Furman won the 1500 and ran a leg in the winning 4x800 relay with Amelia Mickelson, Sami Mentnech and Brynn Poley. Mackenzie Closs won the 800 while Brooke Mulholland captured the discus. Liberty’s Sydania Foster handily won the 100 and 400 hurdles and Homestead’s Gabriela Almonte burst to an expected win in the 100. 

On Saturday at the Goshen Coliseum Classic, a huge invitational featuring 30 schools, Monticello, Eldred, Tri-Valley and Sullivan West all participated in the abbreviated meet. 

Most of the day’s events never came to pass as lightning curtailed the competition but not before T-V’s triumphs in the girls 2000 and boys 3000-meter steeplechases evinced first place finished by Anna Furman (7:31.75) and Van Furman (10:09.36) respectively. 

Other top-ten local finishes in a field that often topped 200 plus contenders in certain events included the following: Hammer throw: 5. Armaan Butler (T-V) 126-08; 6. Talan Scanna (T-V) 103.03; Mark Klein (T-V) 102-09. Shot put: 9. Dillan Hanslmaier (SW) 37-05.25; Scanna (T-V) 37-05.  Girls long jump: 8. Gisella King (Fallsburg) 15-07. Shot put: 6. Lindsay Zgrodek (Eldred) 29-09; 2000 Steeplechase: 10. Diya Patel (Monticello) 8:49.47.