CHENANGO FORKS – To conclude the final duel meet of the 2016 season for the Norwich varsity Track and Field team, they elected to win both boys and girls divisions, when they traveled to take on Chenango Forks on May 11.
This marks the third year in a row the girls side has claimed the title, while 2016 will be the first year since 2011 since the boys have donned the award. Norwich head coach Shaun Horan admittedly claimed that he could not remember a time when both girls and boys won in the same year.
On the girls side, they claimed the win over The Blue Devils at 79-61.
“There were a lot of good performances, they def upset us in a few spots, they shocked us a little,” said Horan.
The Norwich girls claimed 10 of the first place finishes with a variety of other top-three finishes scattered around to help secure the title win.
At the 100 meter dash it was standout Emily Shattuck who claimed the top spot for the Tornado running a 13.2, while Michaela Fazio of Norwich earned some points with her third place finish at the event with a 13.9.
Shattuck would suffer a loss in the 200 meter dash, running a 27.5 to take first followed by her two teammates, Michaela Fazio and Delilah Geislinger in third and fourth.
Norwich claimed the win in the 4x100 relay with a time off 54.9. The team consisted of Hannah Klockowski, Emily Shattuck, Delilliah Geislinger, and Hailey Colabelli.
Shattuck would appear in her fourth event, for once again another win jumping a 15' 2 ½” in the long jump followed by Nicole Jeffrey 14' 5 ½” for second.
Hannah Klockowski would impress in the 100 hurdles winning the event for the Tornado with a time of 17.9. The 400 hurdles saw Destiny Gladney managed a solid third place finish for Norwich as well.
Nicole Jeffrey would help hold the win together for Norwich with her outstanding performances week after week in the distance events. Jeffrey would ultimately win the 3000 meter run with a time of 12:11.4, win the 800 meter run with a personal best time of 2:32.5, and manage a second place finish in the 1500 with a solid time of 5:23.
Liz Eddy of Norwich would manage a second place finish in the pole vault for Norwich when she cleared 6'6”, this would occur right after Eddy saw herself take a fourth place finish in the 3000 meter run.
“Liz is one of those girls we can put anywhere, she is a real tough kid. She really is pretty good all around, there are not many girls who can go run a 3000 then go pole vault,” said Horan.
Norwich would sweep the triple jump going first through third with Vanessa Salerno taking first with 30' 11”, Savannah Williams in second with 30' 3 ½”, and Hannah Klockowski at third with 27' 11”.
Williams would see a second place finish fall her way in the high jump when she cleared 4' 10”, followed by a third place finish go to Destiny Gladney when she cleared 4'.
Back on the track, it was Hailey Colabelli who took a second place finish in the 400 meter dash with a 1:03.5, with Norwich's Geislinger in third with a 1:08.4.
The normal outcome occurred at the shot put and discus when Katelyn Shaver won the shot put with a throw of 34' 4 ¼”, and Kara Evans took a first in the discus with a throw of 97' 11” followed by Shaver in second with a 95' 11”.
It was however, the last event on the track that impressed the most, the 4x400 meter relay saw lead changes all the way around the track. Horan attested that with each hand off came a lead change.
“Awesome race, it was insane both girls and boys. We went back and forth every single leg for the girls, we edged them out beating them by just a second or two. Each girl changed leads at least once,” said Horan.
The team of Destiny Gladney, Delilah Gesilinger, Liz Eddy, and Hailey Colabelli would earn the close win with a seasons best time of 4:32.1 to cap of the division title win.
On the boys side things got slightly more interesting, as it seemed at any moment the lead could have been surrendered to Chenango Forks.
