Cameron Turner Photo

ITHACA – The culmination of an entire season of hard work – and only Norwich athletes advanced.

Whether it be shin splints, countless laps on the track, or grueling lifts in the weight-room – a multitude of athletes from Norwich, as well as Unadilla Valley, and Harpursville-Afton gave it one last shot at qualifying for the New York State championship for the 2016-2017 the sport of Indoor Track and Field.

There would be only one Norwich athlete – as well as one Harpursville-Afton athlete who earned the right to advance past the Section IV State Qualifier meet – which was held in Ithaca, New York at Cornell University this past Saturday, Feb. 25.

Norwich speedster, junior Zack Race has qualified for the state meet – following an appearance on the podium in last year's Outdoor Track and Field Championship – Race has qualified for a second trip to states in the 55 meter dash as well as the 300 meter dash.

“I have to thank my coaches because obviously none of this would be possible without them,” said Race.

Better yet for Race, he not only qualified for the state meet – which is held in Staten Island at Ocean Breeze Center this coming Saturday, March, 4. – he has now bettered his Norwich High School record in the 55 meter dash. Race reset his school record at 6.70, an obvious season's best time – while also setting a new personal best time in the 300 meter dash at 36.44.

Currently, Race trails the Section IV and NHS record in the 300 meter dash at 35.3 – a mark set by Norwich alum Matt Murray.

“Usually before my first event at each meet, I go over to coach (Shaun) Horan and I will talk with him about times, technique, things like that. But at state-quals', all he had to say to me was, today is a perfect day to run,” said Race. “That was it. What he said stuck with me and I just overall had a great day on the track.”

Race finished in third at the Section IV State Qualifier with a best mark in the finals at 6.70 – behind Sincere Williams at 6.52, and Egypt Page at 6.59, both of Binghamton. In the 300 meter dash, Race again qualified with his time in the finals at 36.44, taking a second place finish behind again Williams of Binghamton at 36.18.

“As far as states goes, I think I'm going to go down with the same goal I always have, and that's just consistently improving on my last performances.”

Accompanying Zack Race – fellow Chenango County athlete, Harpursville-Afton senior, Amanda Greenwood has qualified for the NYS Championship meet in the 300 meter dash when she placed first in the event in the finals with a time of 42.40.

Notably for the Norwich runners, senior Ben Ericksen did have a shot at qualifying for this year's state meet – joining Race on the trip – however, Ericksen will have to wait for Outdoor Track and Field for his shot to compete at the meet due to missing the qualifying spot by just one slot.

In the loss for Ericksen, he did in fact better his school record in the process of attempting to qualify – improving the NHS school record in the 3200 meter run to 10:03.10, placing third behind Silas Derfel of Ithaca at 9:38.58, and Quinn Nicholson of Corning at 10:03.10.

The following are the other notable top finishes for Chenango County athletes at this years Section IV State Qualifier meet:

Local boys results:

• 3200 meter run: Matt Johnson of Harprusville-Afton finished the event in ninth place with a time of 10:46.86.

• 55 meter dash: Norwich's Eric Conant – who will be accompanying Race to Staten Island but will not compete – made finals in the event, claiming an overall eighth place spot with his best mark of 7.04 seconds.