JOHNSONBURG – Bradford High improved its track and field record
to 11-0 with a 117-33 win over Elk County Catholic on Tuesday.
Rob Bleem and Shroy Mukerjee tripled to lead the Owls. Andy
Preston, Vanere Maynard, Alex Ita, Shane Hvizdzak and Steve
Kirkland were double winners.
Record breaking performances were everywhere for the Owls. The
4×100 relay team of Nick Johnson, Hvizdzak, Ben Walter and Maynard
tied the record set last Tuesday with an identical time of 44.2.
Johnson replaced Josh Holleran, who was ill.
“Johnson ran a super race,” BAHS coach Tom Tessena noted.
Kirkland, a senior, had an outstanding time of 4:30.4 in the
1600 meters. This is Bradford’s second all-time performance.
“Steve ran an incredible race,” Tessena added.
Kirkland also came back to win the 3200 meters in 10:33.8 and
ran a 54.3 split in the third 4×400 relay team.
“Steve wanted to run a fast 1600 today and he sure did,” Tessena
admitted.
The record is 4:25.54 held by Steve Bean (1979).
“It (the record) is within Steve’s reach now,” Tessena said.
“Alex Ita had a great time of 22.8 in the 200 meters,” the coach
said.
This is Bradford’s 10th best time ever. Ita also ran an 11.3 in
the 100 and a 51.1 in the 400 along with a 52.5 split in the 4×400
relay.
“Alex is really coming along in all the sprints just at the
right time,” the coach declared.
Ita, Maynard, Mukerjee and Hvizdzak ran 3:29.6 for that relay.
This is Bradford’s sixth all-time mark for that race. Mukerjee and
Hvizdzak ran 51.8 and 51.7, respectively, for their legs.
“Hvizdzak had a great time of 23.0 in the 200 to go with those
two great relays,” Tessena said.
Mukerjee won the 800 and anchored the 4×800 relay team of
Mukerjee, Anthony Cavallaro, Rich Bartlebaugh and Jared Feura.
Bartlebaugh came back to place second in the 800 and Feura placed
second in the 3200.
Maynard, a sophomore, ran two great relay legs and had a
personal best of 23.0 in the 200.ðð
Preston, a senior, took both hurdle events. He had a 40.4 in the
300 hurdles and a 16.0 in the 110 high hurdles.
“That 40.4 was a great time,” Tessena pointed out.
Johnson took second in both hurdles to go along with his relay
win in the 4×100.
Ryan Miller had a personal best of 17.2 to help the Owls sweep
the high hurdles. Ben Moran had a great time of 4:49.8 in the
1600.
Matt Teribery vaulted 13′ to set a sophomore mark and put
himself tied for sixth on the all-time list. Freshman Shane Speaker
took second with 10’9″. David Rivera set a triple jump mark for
sophomores with a 43’10 1/2″. This put him sixth all-time. Rivera
went 19’6 3/4″ in the long jump.
Tommy Morris placed second in the high jump (5’10”). Rob Bleem
had the best day of all with a 50’5 1/4″ toss in the shot put (10th
all-time) and a 151’3 1/2″ throw in the discus. This was the fourth
best throw ever. He also placed first in the javelin (165’4″).
Bleem joins Kyle Macfarlane, Pat Confer and Zack Brodis in the 50′
shot put and 150′ discus club. Bleem holds the school record in the
javelin (183’6 1/2″).
Bleem has 209 points this season. He is the first pure thrower
ever to accomplish the feat.
Garrett McEwen had a personal best of 46′ 1/2″ in the shot put
and Ryan Mongillo threw 44’2 3/4″ for a new best.
The Owls travel to Altoona on Friday for the West Central
Coaches meet.
