Cameron Turner Photo

CICERO-NORTH SYRACUSE – Norwich varsity track and field capped off their already impressive 2016 campaign, when they had three athletes bring home four medals and a new school record at the New York State outdoor track and field championships.

“To bring three kids and come home with four medals is incredible,” said Norwich head coach Shaun Horan.

Norwich saw three of their athletes qualify for the NYS meet, held on Friday and Saturday, June 10 and 11, in four different events, and not just qualify but each would be chasing various school records along with goals of placing or winning their respective events.

• Emily Shattuck, a sophomore, would enjoy her second trip to the state level – missing finals at states in long jump in eighth grade, and missing the state meet in ninth, due to getting beaten out her teammate, Morgan Hagenbuch, Shattuck's freshman year – Shattuck would qualified for the long jump in division II, this time around and took full advantage of her opportunity. Shattuck would come into the meet chasing the ever evasive Norwich school record of 17'7”, set by Dana Stiles back in 1990's.

Shattuck came into the tournament ranked eighth in division II, something she soon proved to be a mere ranking as she emerged with a silver in the event, taking home a second place finish.

Shattuck would take to the long jump runway in the second heat of the semifinals in the event, with jumps of 16'5” and 16'9”, and 17'4”. Shattuck's golden ticket came when she launched herself to a new school record of 17'7.5”, downing the old school record by a half an inch.

Shattuck would qualify to make the finals in the event, and ultimately be in a place to possibly take the lead over the eventual champion, Samantha Spinella of Depew high school.

Shattuck would however finish in second overall in division II, with her best jump of the meet and season at 17'7.5”. Spinella would earn the win with her best jump of 17'9.75”.

“I never expected to even get to states this year, due to to my injury. So getting there, breaking the record and getting second is just a great reward for all the hard work I have put in,” said Shattuck. “I look forward to the next two seasons and the work that will follow. Hopefully get first next time and break my own record.”

Coach Horan shared some thoughts of Shattuck's outstanding school-record breaking performance, saying, “She didn’t get to go last year. She got beat out by her own teammate, Morgan Hagenbuch took her spot, and she was a phenomenal jumper and medalled last year,” said Horan. “But for Emily to come back, get seeded eighth and finish second. It was really good and she got the school record. So I think she got her goals. She was injured with pulls and strains all season, but she is one of these kids that just works so hard.”

• Zack Race, a sophomore, would find himself in the whirlwind of the NYS tournament, after just his first season running track. Race would admittedly struggle somewhat early on with his starts, by with his raw speed and perseverance found himself qualifying for the 100 and 200 meter dashes at the state level.

Race, who already broke the NHS record in the 200 meter dash earlier in the season – setting it at 22.36 – would be chasing medals and a chance to reset his 200 record and possibly break Jason Morris' school record of 10.8 seconds in the 100 meter dash.

Race would see his first taste of a state meet, when he took to the track on Friday in the 100 meter dash. Prior to the start of the event, Race held a season best FAT time of 11.08.

The semi-finals in the event saw Race post a time of 11.311, finishing him in fourth in the second heat of the semi-finals. Kabongo Barry, of Spackenkill would earn the win in the heat with a time of 10.813.

Race would fail to reach the finals in the event with his time, with the eventual champion of division II earning the win on Saturday with a time of 10.75, go to Kelly Brown of Wilson Magnet.

“For Zack I think it was an experience. First year and just to get him in and get his feet wet,” said coach Horan.

In the 200 meter dash, Race's admitted favorite of the two events, he would see much more success during the two day span.