NY-PA Invitational

WINDSOR – Norwich’s preseason goals may indeed be attainable after the boys’ track and field team placed second at the 23-team NY-PA Invitational at Windsor High School Saturday.

The Tornado boys totaled 52 points, well back of Vestal, but still an impressive season-opening performance. Tornado coach Paul Sims admitted he was a little surprised by his team’s high finish. “We were about to leave, and the Windsor coach told us not to,” Sims said. “He said that we finished second.”

Norwich marked down a STAC Central Division title as one goal, and a Class B team title as the other. Those aspirations now seem plausible since the Tornado just beat nearly every Section IV Class B contender. “We haven’t won a Class B title since 1984,” Sims said. “What we did on Saturday, I think we now have a legitimate shot at it. This gives us a bit of momentum and gets us pumped up for the season.”

Norwich did not have any winners, but piled up top-three finishes. Patrick Taylor was second in the long jump (20-10 1/2); Jon Foulds placed second in the 400-meter hurdles (1:00.91); Matt Murray took home a third in the 400-meter dash (52.73), and the 1,600-meter relay team of Murray, David Jones, Max Morse, and Cameron Turner came in second clocking 3:37 even. Adding third-place finishes were Morse in the triple jump (38-0) and pole vault (10-0); and Morgan Crawford in the 100-meter dash (11.87).

Sims revealed that the Norwich squad has had just two practices outside before Saturday, and “very limited practice” of individual events. “We only lost one dual meet in the division last year, and this year we’re deeper,” Sims said. “We’ve had a couple of seniors join the team for the first time, and they’re excited about helping the team out.”