Cameron Turner and Robert Jeffrey
Cameron Turner Photo
UNION-ENDICOTT – Hard work, perseverance and putting it all together – the Norwich and Unadilla Valley Track and Field varsity programs enjoyed advancing the best of their student-athletes to this year’s New York State Championship for outdoor Track and Field.
The two day meet, held at Ty Cobb Stadium at Union-Endicott High School this past weekend, June 9 and 10 – featured the best of the best.
The best of the best in NYS high school Track and Field included the likes of Norwich’s Zack Race, his 4x100m relay team (Race, David Berger, Ky’sawn Veale, and Eric Conant), Norwich’s Kara Evans and Caroline Stewart and the Norwich girls 4x800m relay team (Katie Gawronski, Nicole Jeffrey, Hailey Colabelli, and Meghan Komendarek) – as well as Unadilla Valley sprinter, Julia Oglesby.
Race dominated the field, bringing home five medals and securing a podium finish in the Federation finals (Combined finals for DI and DII schools) in the 100m and 200m dashes. Caroline Stewart would compete in two events, besting her seeding to bring home podium finishes in DII for long and triple jump – while the boys 4x100m relay team reset the NHS school record to bring home a podium finish in DII.
Norwich completes a season where both the boys and girls squad smashed multiple school records – en route to both winning the Class B Championship in the same year – an accomplishment that head coach Shaun Horan says hasn’t happened since at least 1993.
Full results for the 2017 New York State Championship for outdoor Track and Field can be found online at http://www.leonetiming.com/2017/Outdoor/States/
• Norwich’s Zack Race – five podium finishes in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m relay
Race, just a junior and having now officially completed his second year of track and field – just might be the most improved state class sprinter in NYS – and that is saying something with regard to a sprinter who made a podium finish at states in their first year of competition.
Race entered the NYS Championship seeded fifth in the 100m dash and third in the 200m dash.
“You’ve got to go back to last year. That was really his (Race’s) first full year of track and I think he was glad to make the state meet last year. Even though he medaled in the 200 (in 2016), he barely made the finals, and that was just for small schools,” said Norwich head coach Shaun Horan. “This year he ran some great races, only missing a PR by .02 in the 100m, and that got him to federation finals. The goal really was to place as high as he possible could in Division II. He was really in contention for that DII state title in the 200. If it was a 210m race it might have been a different story.”
Race put together a stellar performance on the weekend, bringing home five medals for Norwich High School – starting with his very first performance on the track, the 100m dash.
Facing a strong wind, Race busted out a 10.93 in the preliminary round of the event on Friday. This mark – of a sub 11 second race – was met by just three sprinters in DII, Race being the third – all other DII sprinters ran in the 11 second range.
“Last year he came to experience it. But this year, he stepped up in every aspect. He improved in every single spot,” said Norwich sprinting coach Phil Curley. “He brought home five medals, which is really impressive. He tied his personal best 100m at 10.93), into a headwind.”
Heading into the finals of the DII 100m dash, Race was seeded third. Emerging from the group of eight runners, Race was ranked third, running a time of 11.13 – only losing to Jaheim Jones of Lourdes at 10.97 and Kabongo Barry of Spackenkill at 11.04.
Although an 11 second 100m was not the goal, this mark still advanced Race to the Federation finals later on Saturday.
Nigel Green of William Floyd would take home the gold in the event with a 10.80 – earning him an outright state championship. However, Race is now marked as the seventh fastest sprinter in NYS, as he finished seventh in the Federation finals, running a 11.16.
“He went from just trying to bring home one medal last year, and this year he brought home five medals. It is pretty incredible,” said coach Horan. “As much as he has improved, he knows he still has work to do. He is still very focused and trying to improve, and working hard. He hasn’t settled in.”
Race wasn’t done yet, his best event on the track was still to come – the 200m dash.
“States was amazing, clearly the competition is the best of the best so being able to compete with those caliber of guys is truly a blessing. As far as times go, yeah I’m not gonna lie I’m a tad disappointed, but even when I’m not having my greatest of days I still made federation in both my events,” said Race of his performance over the weekend. “Yes that’s something to be proud of, and for now I am, but for me I don’t like to settle in.”
The 200m dash saw Race blow out the competition on Friday in the preliminary round – running a time of 22.05 and winning his qualifying heat.
Advancing to the DII finals, Race was again seeded third behind D’Andre Barriffe of Bishop Loughlin at 21.87 and Jaheim Jones of Lourdes at 22.01.
And that is how the rankings stayed – one, two three – Race would fly to hit a mark in the 21 second range, however, could not overcome Barriffe or Jones as he placed third for DII in the 200m.
Race’s time of 21.85 is no joke, despite not standing atop the podium, as he advanced to the Federation finals as well in this event. Facing NYS best sprinters once again, it was no easy task for the second year Norwich sprinter. Race would finish eighth in Federation which classifies him as the 8th fastest in the entire state for the 200m dash in 2017 – as he ran a time of 22.30.
Five medals, a podium finish in DII 100m and 200m – with a Federation podium finish in both events – while throwing in a DII podium finish in the 4x100m relay. Race had a stellar weekend and season.
“Just means it’s right back to work this upcoming week and begin preparing for next year. I’d like to say thanks again, to my coaches for all the time they’ve taken away from their families in order too come down to the track. They not only help us become better athletes, but overall better people. Lastly, thank you to my family and friends once again for always being there too support me,” said Race.
Race will be traveling down to Greensboro, North Carolina to compete in the Emerging Elite division at the New Balance Nationals competition this coming Saturday.
– CT
• Norwich’s 4x100m relay – second-place in DII
Four stellar student-athletes, all flying around the track dead set on making the best of their state berth in 2017.
David Berger, a freshman, flew out of the blocks on Friday evening in what will go down in history as Norwich’s fastest relay ever ran.
Berger handed to Norwich’s fastest sprinter Zack Race – who was hot off two stellar performances in the 100m and 200m preliminary heats. Race used the backstretch and wind on Friday to propel himself, as the gap grew on the rest of the DII 4x100m competition.
It all seemed to be going as planned. Norwich was chasing – and had a legitimate shot at a DII State Championship in the relay.
Race handed to senior, Ky’sawn Veale, who bolted around the third leg of the race, rounding the corner to extend the baton to the NHS anchor – sophomore Eric Conant.
It was a dead sprint between Conant and UPrep Rochester junior, Fonati Merriam. Conant would fly down the track – staring down a state championship – however, Merriam would find a pocket in the strong headwind, coming out of nowhere to take the crown of the DII relay sprinters.
Norwich’s second-place finish in the finals of the 4x100m relay is unprecedented – and just losing one leg of their relay – Norwich has solidified themselves as a powerhouse for next season.
The squad reset their NHS record, to now rest at 43.48 – only missing the qualifying time to advance to the national competition by .04 of a second. UPrep Rochester would manage a winning time of 43.17.
“The times from first to second, those are the two fastest Division II times in New York State this year. We (Norwich and UPrep Rochester) both just ran out of our minds. Going from the start, David Berger, he had a really really good start. It was phenomenal. Then the passes, the hand offs were just great. I think you just watch everybody and it was just really well done,” said Norwich head coach Shaun Horan. “There are so many variables (in the 4x100m relay). So many things that can go wrong, and we had some problems earlier in the year. We went out of the zone one time, we lost in a dual meet, we bobbled some batons. Then to have everything go well at the state meet. Another school record and its about a second faster than the old school record. It was a great accomplishment. They handled the pressure of the state meet. With the exception of Zack (Race), none of them had been there before.”
Norwich’s relay squad entered the state meet seeded 6th with their school record time of 43.83. They successfully four squads ranked higher than they, with the most notably being Rye County Day – who was ranked number one in NYS for DII with their personal best time of 43.60.
“I think our team performance was pretty good considering we broke our school record again and took second in states,” said Conant. “The competition at states was much faster but I think as a 4x1, we were all ready to take it on. I’m happy with what our 4x1 accomplished, but next year we’ll be back for more, faster and better.”
Race added similar sentiments on the 4x100m relay second-place finish in DII.
“I believe our relay team killed it. We wanted too send Pop (Ky’sawn Veale) out in a big way, obviously getting first was our main objective but I think second-place and running almost a half a second PR is honestly amazing. I’m extremely proud of my boys and I’ve loved working with them. Spending day in, and day out with them is something I will never forget,” said Race.
Norwich will be looking to fill some big shoes come the 2018 outdoor season, as Ky’sawn, the lone senior, will not be a part of the record-breaking squad – instead he will be prepping all summer to play collegiate football.
“We did good, I mean we wanted first, but who doesn’t. States was an amazing experience, especially because that was my last time in a purple jersey. Competition at states was mind blowing, I thought the coolest thing was some kid high jumping 7’0. I would like to thank my parents, coaches and teammates for all the encouragement they gave me throughout year.”
Norwich’s 4x100m relay team finished as the 17th fastest squad in NYS for the 2017 season.
– CT
Norwich’s Kara Evans – takes 10th for DII discus
