Local athletes wrap up track season

DEERFIELD VALLEY- Athletes from area schools took part in state track championships across Vermont this past week.
Twin Valley Middle High School’s varsity track team had a solid day at the D4 track and field state championships Friday at Green Mountain High School in Chester.
“The girls were 12th,” said Twin Valley coach Buddy Hayford. “For two kids, that’s a half decent result. The boys had even better results, finishing eighth.  Considering the size of the team, those that were there did a nice job, not a bad day at all. We saw lots of improvement. We can’t expect too much as a team, but individually I thought the kids accounted well.”
The boys’ team was led by Cooper Pell, who had second-place finishes in the long jump and the triple jump. The senior leaped 19 feet, 8.75 inches in the long jump and set a personal record with a 41-08.75 in the triple jump. Pell, who won the D4 triple jump title in 2017, lost out on first place in the triple jump by a scant eight inches.
Rivendell’s Owen Pelletier showed some serious hops by winning the triple jump, long jump, and high jump events along with a win in the 100-meter dash.
“Cooper just couldn’t defend his triple jump title,” said Hayford. “After the second jump, Cooper was in first  place. But (Pelletier) could jump out of the building. He’s 6’ 3” and built to jump and run. There’s no shame for Cooper, he lost to somebody who is just a phenomenal athlete. That kid was on.”
Pell teamed up with Izaak Park, Quinlan Barber, and Yeongjun Yoo to run a 49.74 in the 4x100 relay, good for fourth place on the day.
“They ran a pretty solid 4x100,” said Hayford “It was only the second time this year. Their time was consistent with their other race and they did the best they could. We were close to Winooski for third, only two-tenths of a second behind.”
Park was the other Twin Valley medalist. He finished third in the 1,500-meter run with a personal-best time of  4 minutes, 32.81 seconds.
“Izaak was only two seconds behind,” said Hayford. “He’s a freshman. If he stays with it he’ll be right in the hunt next year.”
Yoo, a sophomore, finished 11th in the long jump and 15th in the 100-meter dash preliminaries. Freshman Barber finished 17th in the long jump.  Junior Cole Cunningham finished 18th in the 200 and 22nd in the 100.
“Jeongjun had a good run there,” said Hayford. “Cole did really well.  I was pleased, and pleased he stuck around and ran the 200 meters. Quinlan, if he sticks with it, his scores will improve.”
The Twin Valley girls’ team qualified two competitors, sophomore Brianna O’Hearn and junior Morgen Janovsky.
O’Hearn finished fifth in the 100 finals with a personal-best 14.37. She also finished 10th in the 300-meter hurdles with a personal-best 63.95 time.
“Briana was very impressive in the 100,” said Hayford “ That was a good result for Brianna, she saved her best for last. You’ve got to look beyond where you finish and look at your own improvement. She had two personal bests in her events.”
Janovsky set a personal record in the long jump with a 12-04, good for eighth on the day. She was eighth in the 300 hurdles, 12th in the 100 hurdles prelims, and 18th in the 100 prelims.
“Morgen was up against some really tough competition,” noted Hayford. “She had some pretty good scores.”
Rebels have good day
Leland & Gray athletes also had a good day at the D4 meet.  
Senior Dakota Fillion won the boys’ 200 and 400 races, and also finished sixth in the 100 finals.  Jarien Sanderson finished ninth in the 400 and 11th in the 800, while Justin Crosby placed 10th in the javelin, 11th in the discus, and 17th in the shot put.
Arin Bates won the girls 400 and finished fourth in the 200 and seventh in the 100 prelims.  Bay Holmes finished 13th in the girls’ javelin and 16th in the shot put.
Overall, the Twin Valley boys’ team finished eighth with 26 points. Leland & Gray was right behind with 21 points. The Leland & Gray girls finished 11th with 14 points, while the Twin Valley girls were tied with Hazen Union, right behind the Rebels.
Boyd repeats, King runs well
Two local athletes competed for Brattleboro in the D1 track finals, held Saturday at Burlington High School.  Kai Boyd, of Wilmington, won the girls’ javelin with a throw of 116 feet, 3 inches. It was her second straight D1 title, as she defended her 2017 championship. Max King, of Wilmington, finished 15th in the boys’ 200 and 22nd in the 400.
Kennedy helps BBA
In the D2 championships, Burr and Burton Academy’s Amelia Kennedy, of Wilmington, placed seventh in the javelin throw.  She also was seventh in the discus, ninth in the 300 hurdles, and 20th in the 100 hurdles.  The meet was held at South Burlington High School on Saturday.