Section V Indoor Track: Top performances at state qualifiers

Norwood “Woody” Hughes saved his gritty best for the very last Friday night.

He had no choice.

The Newark High School senior’s first two tries to win at Section V’s track and field state qualifiers, otherwise known as the Meet of Champions, were a disaster.

"It was my last chance to get to states," he said by phone, explaining why, after dropping out of the 300-meter sprint after three strides and fouling out of the long jump, he stripped the brace off a swollen left ankle that he hurt in practice before sectionals and summoned his 800 relay teammates for an emergency summit.

"I told the guys, 'okay, no matter what we’re feeling, we do NOT slow down now. We stay with UPrep all the way. It’s our only shot left to get to states.'

"I went by myself two years ago. This time I wanted to go with my team."

The result was a rousing effort at Houghton College's Kerr-Pagula Field House in Allegany County. Four Reds seniors – leadoff man Rocco Salerno, Noah Kellogg, TyRee Orbaker and anchor Hughes – lowered their own school record by two seconds, 1:33.93, finishing just two and a half seconds behind Rochester’s University Prep Charter School. Because Newark’s time met the state qualifying standard for the event – 1:34.94 – they earned their ticket as well.

"It was an exceptional performance," said Newark coach Mark Pettit. "Woody hurt his ankle just before sectionals last week. We really weren't sure if he could go today. We worked hard without him this week, but he told me he could do it."

Norwood said he turned his ankle jumping on a dusty gym floor.

"I've been wrapping it, icing it, doing everything I can to baby it this week," he said. "Hopefully it will be OK for states."

While no section V records fell Friday, several athletes improved their state rankings and set personal bests to qualify for the state meet next Saturday at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island.

Guided by an Olympian

Clyde-Savannah senior high jumper Tyler Kell rolled the dice, taking a big chance to leap from six feet to 6-6. He made it on his last try, breaking a seven-way tie for online track site MileSplit’s No. 1 ranking in New York state at 6-4.

"There were just two of us left, Jack (Webster Thomas' junior Jack Roetker) and me," Kell said. "He cleared 6-2, then passed to me. I'd done 6-6 before so I knew I had a chance, so why not go for it?

"I cleared it. Only thing that may have touched the bar was my shirt."

Roetker said Kell "cleared it nicely. It was a bit of a gamble for him. Actually it was a bit less stressful for us with Kam not here."

Senior Kameron Cusmano of Oakfield-Alabama, another of the seven at 6-4, had to make a tough choice this week – jump at states or play a basketball game with his twin brother Kaden on O-A's 20-1 varsity.

"He’s a dual athlete this season," said his track coach, Peter Beuler. "Because of the weather, and the meet being changed (from Nazareth College) he unfortunately wasn’t able to be with us tonight. Hopefully he'll be able to make it to the Armory the week after states."

Kell said he has been following the advice of a mentor he "met" on Instagram – Canadian Olympic gold medalist Derek Drouin.

"He always emphasizes ‘'the higher the bar the farther away you have to start.'

"I do a five step right foot, five step left foot until I get to a height of six feet. Then I move back. It's been working well."

Smart choices for Pitts

Victor's multi-discipline sprinter/jumper, senior Maddie Pitts, had qualified in six events from sectionals – the 55 hurdles, high jump, triple jump, long jump, 800 relay and 1,600 relay.

She had to choose three — the maximum allowed.

"I dropped the hurdles, the long jump and the relays," she said. "I wanted to choose the events I enjoyed the most. I'm ranked No. 1 in the triple (which she won by three inches) and I really enjoy the high jump (which she won in 5-4, becoming the girls meet's only double individual event winner)."

Victor scratched the 800 relay, and the 1,600 she said fell at the same time as the high jump.

"My first triple jump was in the mid-36s," she said. "Then it went up from there. Each one got a little better. The last jump (37-10.75) was my best."

In the high jump she tried three times to get to 5-6, but settled for tying her personal-record at 5-4.

Schroeder dominant again

The Webster Schroeder girls, who won their second Section V title in 25 years last week, and second ever, swept three individual titles and the 800 and 3,200 relays.

"If you ask me to pick an MVP today, it would be impossible," coach Dave Klehr said. "No way. I don't know what I’m going to do come our awards banquet time."

Senior team leader Sierra Doody justified her No. 15 state ranking by winning the 1,000 in 2:57.26, dropping her personal record by a second and a half.

"I’m most excited for our team, just super happy for everyone," she said. "Most of us PR'd. I had my doubts running last in the four by eight but I just gunned it on the last lap. We didn't want to get beat by Fairport."

The Red Raiders were two and a half seconds back in second after being just .42 behind Schroeder at the Class A1 sectionals six days earlier, also at Houghton.

Sophomore Corintia Griffith edged Churchville-Chili's Ay’rianna Moore by just .19 seconds to win the 300, and PR'd in long jump to finish second at 17-10.5 behind Spencerport senior Emily Sugar at 18-3. Griffith ran lead leg on the 800 relay as well.

"Long jump kind of stressed me out a bit," Griffith said. "I was off the board on my mark the first jump, but my best jump was the second one. Otherwise things went pretty normal for me."

Junior Cameron Cole cruised to victory in the meet's second event, the 55 hurdles, where she's ranked 10th in the state. Then she followed with a 5-4 for second in the high jump, but Pitts earned her 5-4 first.

"We both tried at 5-6," Cole said. "I thought I was going to get it, but my arm just caught the bar going over. I'm looking forward to states because I really hope to beat Maddie. I consider her my rival."

A double for OJ

Rush-Henrietta junior OJ Singletary was the only boys double winner, claiming the sprint king crown by doubling in the 55 and 300, but he had to look at the scoreboard to tell whether he was No. 1 in the 55.

"I got kind of a bad start out of the blocks," he said. "Stumbled just a bit. I told myself to pick up my knees and arms. We all knew it was going to be close at the finish."

It was OJ at 6.55, UPrep’s Mark McClary at 6.56 and McClary’s teammate Juelz Russell at 6.57. All three qualified. They are among 12 Section V sprinters who hold state qualifying times, but only the top three go.

Singletary's 35.12 in the 300 is just 1.05 seconds within the Section V record of 34.17, set by Brian Smith of Greece Athena in 2012.

"I think I can run a 34 at states," Singletary said. "That’s what I'm shooting for."

Singletary also ran anchor on R-H's 800 relay, which finished just .13 behind second-place Newark.

"We were tied with Newark," he said, "but a Franklin guy moved into the wrong lane and I had to twist to avoid him. I was closing in on Newark at the end, but it was just short."

Crowding a record, too

Like Singletary, Brockport senior Jacob Miller is eyeing a sectional record, in the 600. It's 1:19.56, set way back in 1989 by McQuaid's legendary miler Brad Sumner.

"Oh, really," Miller said when told of the mark. "Well, I'm going for it then. That banked track should give me a chance. I have nothing to lose."

Miller stayed right on his race plan for his 1:21.50, which lowered his PR by .12. "I always take it out hard. States, I'll just have to stick with the leaders as long as I can." He also ran a 50.93 opening leg on Brockport's winning 1,600 relay. Three seniors and a sophomore beat McQuaid's 3:30.65 with a 3:30.56. Both qualified to go.

No. 1 in the U.S

He was breaking Junior Olympics records as an 8-year-old at School 53 five years ago, so McQuaid 8th-grader Rhoan Kaulder hasn’t exactly snuck up on anyone.

Now the best long jumper in the nation among 8th-graders, he's also beating top marks among seniors, juniors, sophomores and freshmen. He won the long jump at 22-4, already crowding the Sec. V record of 24-2.5.

"I pray before every race and give thanks for the support of my family and my teammates," he said. After hurting his left hamstring, “my jumping leg” he said, he skipped outdoor season last spring and gave up playing wide receiver in football to prepare for indoor and outdoor track.

His four jumps Friday came at 22-2, 22-4, 22-4 and 21-10.

Others of note

Chance Rice Porter’s first place for Waterloo in the 600 came with a PR of 1:39.93, edging top-seeded Canandaigua senior Kate Scibelli’s 1:38.87 . . . McQuaid senior Jayson Chichelli handled the 1,000 in 2:31.15, nipping Irondequoit senior Cooper Branch by a couple seconds. Top-seeded senior Nico Valentine of Pittsford Mendon also qualified, easing to a 2:39.25 because he’d met the qualifying standard earlier in the season . . . Spencerport’s Sugar beat her best jump by a foot to win the long jump in 18-3 . . . Irondequoit senior Candace Tytler was pushed hard to defend her title in the 3,000 as R-H freshman Haylie Smith had a 10:27.87 time to Tytler’s 10:26.62 . . .

Like the boys 55, the girls 55 was another razor-thin photo finish, with Victor junior Melody Harloff winning at 7.29, Greece Odyssey sophomore Ekemini Udofa at 7.291 and Churchville-Chili sophomore Moore at 7.293 . . . Brighton senior Anson Butler became one of just three area boys to make a return to states (R-H’s Gabe Watson and Newark’s Hughes are the others) by winning the 1,600 . . . Eight girls are returning to states – Victor’s Harloff, Red Jacket senior Madalenn Fee, Brockport sophomore racewalker Desilets Dubois, Irondequoit’s Tytler, Brighton senior Eilee Ossont, Churchville-Chili’s Moore and Hilton pole vault teammates, seniors Laura Reigle and Cara Pellechia. Reigle’s winning 12-6 vault is closing in on Erica Ellis’ Sec. V record of 13-1 set while a Gates Chili sophomore in 2017 . . . There was no state meet a year ago because of the pandemic.

Meet of Champions

New York State Public High School Athletic Association Section V indoor track state qualifier at Kerr-Pegula Field House, Houghton College, Allegany County.

*-Top relay and top two individuals, third-place finishers who have met state qualifying standard and second-place relays that have met the state standard, qualify for state championships next weekend at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex, Staten Island. Medals to top three.

Boys results/55 meters: 1. OJ Singletary (Rush-Henrietta) 6.55 seconds*, 2. Mark McClary (UPrep) 6.56*, 3. Juelz Russell (UPrep) 6.57* 300: 1. OJ Singletary (Rush-Henrietta) 35.29*, 2. Caleb Passero (Edison) 36.64*, 3. Colden Chierichella (Victor) 36.88 600: 1. Jacob Miller (Brockport) 1:21.50*, 2. Gabe Watson (Rush-Henrietta) 1:23.45*, 3. Brendan McCollum (Irondequoit) 1:24.62*

1,000: 1. Jayson Chichelli (McQuaid) 2:31.51*, 2. Cooper Branch (Irondequoit) 2:33.63*, 3. Nico Valentine (Pittsford Mendon) 2:39.25* 1,600: 1. Anson Butler (Brighton) 4:30.47*, 2. Colin Burke (Pittsford Mendon) 4:32.61*, 3. Jayson Chichelli (McQ) 4:32.99* 3,200: 1. John Farrell (Fairport) 9:32.20*, 2. Pierce Young (Arkport/Canaseraga/Alfred-Almond) 9:34.70*, 3. Adam Barbato (Victor) 9:39.63*

55 hurdles: 1. Jackson Gloskey (Webster Thomas) 7.72*, 2. Carter Halpin (Pittsford Mendon) 8.08*, 3. Fabian Vazquez (Batavia) 8.18 Long jump: 1. Rhoan Kaulder 22-4*, 2. Jarrod Polk (Bolivar-Richburg) 21-3.50*, 3. Judson DeLany (Brockport) 20-10 Triple jump: 1. Manuel Sepulveda (East Rochester) 43-5.50*, 2. Rocco Salerno (Newark) 42-4.75*, 3. Judson DeLany (Brockport) 41-9.75* High jump: 1. Tyler Kell (Clyde-Savannah) 6-6*, 2. Jack Roetker (Webster Thomas) 6-2*, 3. Terreque Davis (Victor) 5-10

Shot put: 1. William Trembley (Newark) 50-7*, 2. Jaylen Wims (Pittsford Sutherland) 45-5.25*, 3. Andrew Kovalesky (Victor) 45-3 Weight throw: 1. Martin Carey (Webster Thomas) 61-7.25*, 2. William Trembley (Newark) 60-6.5*, 3. Luke Geiger (Batavia) 56-4* Pole vault: 1. Jason Bletsko (Spencerport) 12-6*, 2. Drew Alloco (Webster Schroeder) 12-6*, 3. Hayden Penna (Hilton) 12-6

800 relay: 1. UPrep (Isaiah Moonsheim, Christopher Jean, Savoi Newsome, Mark McClary) 1:31.24*, 2. Newark (Rocco Salerno, Noah Kellogg, TyRee Orbaker, Norwood Hughes) 1:33.93*, 3. Rush-Henrietta (Donovan Groth, Josiah Thomas, Gabe Watson, OJ Singletary) 1:34.06 1,600 relay: 1. Brockport (Jacob Miller, Jacob Rightmyer, Brandt Marshall, Judson DeLany) 3:30.56*, 2. McQuaid (Jayson Chichelli, Jonathan Gearinger, Rhoan Kaulder, Carson Larry) 3:30.65*, 3. Wayne (John Manne, Aidan Mills, Michael Prentice, Dylan Vance) 3:31.91 3,200 relay: 1. Irondequoit (Cooper Branch, Brendam McCollum, Anthony Rizzo, Dylan Lyons) 8:04.85*, 2. Fairport (John Farrell, Jack Kelly, Ben Schwab, Colin Lesher) 8:20.75, 3. Webster Thomas (Jackson Klehr, Jerry Lewis, Aidan Civiletti, William Bainbridge) 8:38.06.

Girls results/55-meter dash: 1. Melody Harloff (Victor) 7.29*, 2. Ekemini Udofa (Greece Odyssey) 7.30*, 3. Ay’rianna Moore (Churchville-Chili) 7.30* 300: 1. Corintia Griffith (Webster Schroeder) 40.68*, 2. Ay’rianna Moore (Churchville-Chili) 40.87*, 3. Jordan Smith (Webster Schroeder) 42.02 600: 1. Chance Rice Porter (Waterloo) 1:39.93*, 2. Kate Scibelli (Canandaigua) 1:38.87*, 3. Ailena Reynolds-Diaz (Palmyra-Macedon) 1:39.14

1,000: 1. Sierra Doody (Webster Schroeder) 2:57.26*, 2. Eilee Ossont (Brighton) 3:02.89*, 3. Zoe Marcus (Fairport) 3:04.48 1,500: 1. Annalee Capuano 4:45.04*, 2. Madalenn Fee (Red Jacket) 4:57.11*, 3. Lila Munger (Brighton) 4:57.99* 3,000: 1. Candace Tytler (Irondequoit) 10:26.62*, 2. Haylie Smith (Rush-Henrietta) 10:27.87*, 3. McKenna Arguien (Churchville-Chili) 10:42.68

55 hurdles: 1. Camryn Cole (Webster Schroeder) 8.79*, 2. Alexis Rodriguez (Williamson) 9.11*,3. Shiana Susa (Gates Chili) 9.16 1,500 racewalk: 1. Desilet Dubois (Brockport) 7:18.82*, 2. Kyra Pellegrino (Gates Chili) 7:47.58*, 3. Charlotte Engin (Pittsford Mendon) 8:13.87 Long jump: 1. Emily Sugar (Spencerport) 18-3*, 2. Corintia Griffith (Webster Schroeder) 17-10.5*, 3. Molly Ritter (Pittsford Sutherland) 17-0 Triple jump: 1. Maddie Pitts (Victor) 37-10.75*, 2. Elsye Klump (Keshequa) 37-7.75*, 3. Jenna Allen (Sodus) 35-3.25 High jump: 1. Maddie Pitts (Victor) 5-4*, 2. Camryn Cole (Webster Schroeder) 5-4*, 3. Mallory Casler (Victor) 5-2*

Shot put: 1. Zenallah Simmons (Batavia) 35-6*, 2. Janiyah Henry (Gates Chili) 33-7.5*, 3. Trinity Dees (Hilton) 33-5 Weight throw: 1. Jaclyn Jorolemon (Canandaigua) 41-6.75*, 2. Hanna Atallah (Webster Thomas) 40-4.5*, 3. Janiyah Henry (Gates Chili) 39-4 Pole vault: 1. Laura Reigle (Hilton) 12-6*, 2. Cara Pellechia (Hilton) 11-0*, 3. Rebecca Bready (Gates Chili) 10-6*

800 relay: 1. Webster Schroeder (Corintia Griffith, Camryn Cole, Alyssa Fici, Jordan Smith) 1:45.45*, 2. Penfield (Reese Cialini, Allison Nickson, Katie Richardson, Gabriella Zapasnik) 1:49.47, 3. Pittsford Sutherland (Serena Norton, Molly Ritter, Maya Rouse, Hannah Wang) 1:50.75 1,600 relay: 1. Victor (Lia Brasacchio, Grace Woodworth, Julia Sodoma, Melody Harloff) 4:09.70*, 2. Spencerport (Ileana Cheruiyot, Emma Mahoney, Emily Sugar, Jenna Hostetler) 4:15.14, 3. Canandaigua (Jordyn Canali, Kate Scibelli, Jordan Nemitz, Jessica Andrews) 4:26.50 3,200 relay: 1. Webster Schroeder (Shelby Boise, Alyssa Doody, Sofia Magnera, Sierra Doody) 10:01.42*, 2. Fairport (Mary Kate Fish, Hannah Casler, Kate Balland, Zoe Marcus) 10:03.97, 3. Brighton (Hannah Devine, Lila Munger, Georgia Ross, Eile Ossont) 10:13.05.

Complete results online at www.sectionvtrack.com or www.yentiming.com

Jim Castor, retired assistant sports editor of the Democrat and Chronicle, has covered high school sports in the Rochester area for more than five decades. He can be reached at jcastor@jimcastor.com

This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Section V Indoor Track: Top performances at state qualifiers