Simply The Best: Youth Track Ends Regular Season Undefeated

After a nail-biting finish and two-point win in its penultimate competition of the regular season, the Long Valley Wolf Pack Track and Field team ended the year in style.

Taking on Montville this past weekend, the young athletes dominated the event, more than doubling their opponents' score, winning the meet 274 to 134. The win improves the team's record to 7-0 as it heads into the individual and county relay championships in the coming weeks. 

The following is a recap from the team of its dominating performance over Montville.

The 9-10 year old results were encouraging, based both on outright wins and also the overall standard of performance. Rosalie Olsen took first place in both the 100m and 200m, closely followed by Maggie Macintyre in both events. Rosalie also dominated in the Shot put, with Shannon Delgurcio and Shannon Carratura in 2nd and 3rd. Libby Masterson led the 800 followed by Shannon Flammer and Colleen Hare. In the Long Jump Natalia Agnolet, Haley Bishop and Sydney St Jacques gave Montville a run for their money, dominating the top spots.  In the Men’s section David Brown grabbed two second places in the Mile and the 400m, Eric Lusskin took two top spots in the 100m and the Mile and Mason Gough kept his season unbeaten record in the 400m and 200m, taking first place in both events. In the Long Jump Pat Kelly, Trevor Hennebury and Kurt Dichiaro placed 1, 2 and 3, and in the Shot Put Gerard Carratura, Jake Doerr-Frederickson and Antoni Kaplinski gave their all to overcome the opposition.

In the 11-12 year old category Molly Sabo proved her all-round capability by taking second place in the Mile, the 400m and the Long Jump. Caroline Delong took second and third in the 100m and 200m respectively. Cari Isemann took first in the 400m and 200m, Doris Miglaccio first in the Shot, and Savannah Porrao first in the Long Jump.  In the Mens 11/12 Section the 200m first, second and third places were separated by only a tenth of a second in each case, Luke Doerr-Frederickson, James Zeolla and Lars Olsen taking those places respectively. Luke Lusskin continued to dominate the long distance races as he has done all season, taking first place in both the Mile (5:30) and 400m (1:14). The Shot Put was fiercely contested with only 4 inches separating first place (Luke Doerr-Frederickson) and second place (Alec Rybarski). James Zeolla took first place in the Long Jump, with Matthew Hayden and Ethan Stoute taking third.

The 13-15 Age group again saw all-round performances from Benjamin Girardy (1st in Shot Put and 100m) Caroline Hurley (1st in Shot Put, 100m and 2nd in 200m), Chris Pollack (1st in 400m and 2nd place in both 100m and Shot Put) and Mitch Butynes (1st in Long Jump, 2nd in 400m and 3rd place in the 400m). Ava Lusskin’s dominance in the Women’s Mile was testament to her commitment throughout the season, and the fierce competition for the Men’s mile was illustrated by the hundredths of a second separating first place (Tyler Bishop) and second place (Neil Macintyre).