WEST POINT -- In track and field, as with all competitive endeavors, there are ascending levels of talent. For the Sullivan County runners, jumpers and throwers, competing against each other weekly at the meets staged at the Paul Gerry Fieldhouse at SUNY Sullivan affords them a measure of themselves against familiar rivals in their events. But once the scene shifts to West Point, particularly in the Sectional Championship meet, the level of competition ramps up dramatically. Thus, to score in one's event (placing in the top eight) represents a far greater achievement than the weekly accomplishments staged against the smaller talent pool.

This year's sectionals were an anomaly in that normally the Class A schools (1000 or more grades 9-11) and the Class B schools with fewer than 1000 grades 9-11 are held on separate days. This year, due to the dense schedule at the Gillis Field House on the base, only one day was provided making for a venue packed to the max with athletes, coaches and parents and the same limited timespan allotted for the meet to be completed.

To that end, the Section changed its entry rules to allow only one entry per school in an event and a second who had met the state qualifying standard. Those standards are rigorous and the vast majority of kids competing in indoor track don't make them despite their assiduous efforts. To wit, a number of kids never got a chance to compete in Sectionals which is for most, the last meet they would have participated in this season. Unfortunately, expediency trumped opportunity and the meet, while exciting and riveting for its performances and surprises, had a downside due to circumstances outside of the control of the Section. Just to clarify, Monticello was the only county school in the Class A competition. All the rest were vying in Class B.

Looking over the results and tabulating those who finished 1-8 in their events which is as far as the scoring goes, several of our county kids showed incredible grit, talent and determination in marshaling their best performances to register among the top finishers.

Fallsburg's Dolce McPherson won both of her events as she did at last week's OCIAA championship, another large meet but not nearly as large as this one which included all the schools from the Mid-Hudson Athletic League (MHAL) as well as the Orange County League Schools. McPherson garnered first place in the 55-meter dash with a time of 7.51 as well as first in the 300 in 42.43.

Liberty's Brooke Roth captured first place in long jump (14-11.75), as well as the triple jump (31-07). She was second in the 55 hurdles in 9.71.

Second place finishers on the day included Sullivan West's Bryce Maopolski in the 3200 (10:18.75) who was fourth with two laps to go and made up 70 yards to finish second eclipsing Tri-Valley's Daniel Rush who had a big lead on him throughout the race. Maopolski nearly caught O'Neill's Harry Marson who ended up beating him by .63 hundredths of a second. Rush had his moment of glory in taking the silver in the 1600 (4:48.01) and in the Tri-Valley's boys 4x800 relay which took second in 9:16.11.

Eldred's Jaxon Stutz took second in the triple jump (39-06.00). Teammate Matt Dutcher won silver in the shot put (40-51.25.

Sullivan West's Roan Gillingham took silver in the 300 (37.33).

In the girls ‘B' competition, Tri-Valley's Andrea Decker won gold in the shot put (33-03.00), while Liberty's Sydneigh Fleischman captured the 1500 racewalk in 9:11.25. Fallsburg's 4x400 relay came in second with a time of 4:35.95. Rounding out the top three scorers the following girls came away with bronze medals.

Sullivan West's Emily Bair in the 600 (1:50.43), Fallsburg's Gisella King in the 1500 (5:25.49, Sullivan West's Paige Parucki in the high jump (4-06), Sullivan West's Laura Smith in the 1500 racewalk (9:35:53).

Boys bronze medalists include Tri-Valley's Daniel Rush in the 3200 (10:19.66), Eldred's Stutz in the long jump (19:00.25), Monticello's Evan Waterton in the 1600 (4:30.99), Liberty's Gabriel Desrochers in the 1000 (2:30.06).

Next up in the round of key meets is the State Qualifier to determine who will represent the Section at the State Meet on March 3 at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. The top two finishers in each event will go plus a possible third who has met the state qualifying standard.

Class A Results

Monticello (top eight listed only)

Boys --1000: 8. Brandon Mancroni 4:30.99. 1600: 3. Evan Waterton 4:30.99. 55 Hurdles: 7. Elijah Rausch 8.56; 4x200 Relay 7. 1.38.94.

Girls -- 300. 5. Taina DeJesus 43.78; 55 Hurdles: 7. DeJesus 9.19

Class B

Boys

55. 5. Roan Gillingham (SW) 6.97. 6. Cj Sickmiller (Eld) 7.00. 300: 2. Gillingham (SW) 37.33; 4. Troy Will (Lib) 38.23. 600: 7. Colin Mickelson (T-V) 1:35.63. 1000: 3. Gabriel Desrochers 2:30.06. 4. Sean Rush (T-V) 2:51.97. 1600: 2. Daniel Rush (T-V) 4:48.01; 6. Caleb Edwards (T-V) 4:55.83; 7. Bryce Maopolski (SW) 4:57.30; 3200: 2. Bryce Maopolski 10:18.75; 3. Daniel Rush (T-V) 10:19.66; 4. Adam Furman (T-V) 10:26.98. 4x400 Relay: 4. Liberty 4:05.90; 6. Tri-Valley 4:08.20. 4x800 Relay: 2. Tri-Valley 9:16.11. Long jump: 3. Jaxon Stutz (Eld) 19-00.25. Triple jump: 2. Stutz (Eld) 39-06.00. Pole Vault: 2. Gillingham (SW) 11-00; 5. Sid South (SW) 10-05; 7. Matt Dunker (Eld) 8-00. Shot put: 2. Matt Dutcher (Eld) 40-01.25; 5. Devin Mullen (T-V) 38-02.25. Weight throw: 7. Mullen (T-V) 44-08.75.

Girls

55: 1. Dolce McPherson (Falls) 7.51. 300: 1. McPherson (Falls) 42.43. 600: 3. Emily Bair (SW) 1:50.43; 8. Sam Everett (SW) 2:00.00. 1500: 3. Gisella King (Falls) 5:25.49. 55 Hurdles: 2. Brooke Roth (Lib) 9.71; 5. Kylie Bachman (Lib) 10.25; 7. Katrina Blais 10.77. 4x200 Relay: 6. Liberty 2:05.69. 4x400 Relay 2. 4:35.95. 4x800 Relay: 4. Liberty 12:48.17. High jump: 3. Paige Parucki (SW) 4-06; 5. Brianna Roth (Lib) 4-04; 7. Chezzy Hanofee (Lib) 4-04; Long jump: 1. Brooke Roth (Lib) 14-11.75. Triple jump: 1. Brooke Roth (Lib) 31-07.00; 6. Brianna Roth 28-11.75. Shot put: 1. Andrea Decker (T-V) 33-03.00; 4. Sarah Jacobson (SW) 27-00.75; 5. Alexandra Allison (T-V) 25-05.00. Weight throw: 4. Allison (T-V) 28-10.00; 5. Decker (T-V) 28-05.75; 7. Carrie Sykes (SW) 28-00.50. 1500 Racewalk: 1. Sydneigh Fleischman (Lib) 9:11.25; 3. Laura Smith (SW) 9:35.53; 5. Aiyana Brown (T-V) 9:44.46; 6. Cheyenne Decker (SW) 10:40.19; 7. Emma Dworetsky (Lib) 10:50.31; 8. Ceci Mancia (Falls) 10:51.62.