KANE – ‘Four’ was the lucky number of the day for Bradford High
as Erin Hannon won her fourth consecutive James Manners Award and
the Lady Owls earned their fourth straight District 9 Class AAA
track and field championship Wednesday.
Earning 15 out of 16 first-place finishes in her four
appearances at the District 9 Class AAA meet, Hannon also capped
her career with a District 9 Class AAA meet record in the high jump
with a leap of 5’8″.
The Manners Award is given annually to the outstanding female
athlete who scored the most points. Hannon tallied 32 points.
“Erin is a great athlete and teammate,” enthused Larry Stillman,
BHS coach. “It has been an honor to coach her and she has helped
elevate our program to one of the elite in the state.
“She has one more meet left in her high school career at the
state meet and a few more goals to reach.”
Completing Hannon’s quadruple performance were first-place
finishes in the 100 hurdles (15.62), triple jump (38’10 1/2″) and
long jump (17’6 3/4″).
The Lady Owls tallied 148 first-place points in the five-school
event.
Sarah Lonzi also set a District 9 Class AAA meet record in the
3200 run, completing the race in 11:36.12. She also took first
place in the 1600 run with a time of 5:26.21.
“Sarah was her dominating self despite being a little under the
weather,” offered Stillman. “We hope to have her rested and ready
to set up even higher at states.”
Tricia Copeland earned wins in the 100 dash (13.21) and the 200
dash (26.62).
“Tricia has had a great year and been consistent since the first
meet,” Stillman said. “Her 200 dash time is one of best in our
program’s history.”
The Lady Owls’ distance runners performed well – despite a
20-minute downpour – with Lindsay Sherman running four hard races,
taking second in both the 200 dash and 400 dash, and Katie White
placing second in the 800 run and 1600 run. Paige Ambrose took
third in the 800 run and 1600 run, while Renee Cavallaro and Erica
Pascarella both had personal best times in the 3200 relay and
placed in the 3200.
“Coach (Bob) Macfarlane and coach (Mark) Kelley had the distance
girls ready to go,” Stillman added. “Katie White had an outstanding
day. She has been so consistent all year for us.
“Paige Ambrose had her best 800-1600 combination of the year
taking third in each, and Sarah Trumbull and Caitlin Szczupak both
ran well in the 3200 relay.”
Chloe Nickel earned her first trip to the state meet, taking
first in the 300 hurdles with a time of 47.70.
“Chloe has dominated this area all year and ran to victory,”
Stillman praised. “She is improving week by week and states will
allow her to continue to improve. She also placed in the 100 and
ran hard in two relays.”
Bobbi Hopkins took second in both the 100 and 300 hurdles.
“Bobbi is just a freshman and came up big today,” admitted
Stillman. “Kevryn Boser also had a very good 300 hurdle race for
us.”
The relay events were very competitive, with Bradford taking
third in the 400, second in both the 1600 and 3200. The relay race
of the day, however, was the 1600. A tight race throughout, DuBois
set a District 9 meet record to trim Bradford with a time of
4:08.42. The Lady Owls set their own school record with their time
of 4:08.43, snapping the old record set at the state meet in 1988
by the team of Kristen Potter, Dominica Applegate, Jill Bolster and
Kris McCracken.
“It was a great race to watch,” Stillman admitted. “Our relay
team of Chloe Nickel, Tricia Copeland, Katie White and Lindsay
Sherman ran their hearts out. They set a new school record but came
up just short to DuBois.
“It was a great effort. Our relay teams did a good job
overall.”
Pascarella took fourth in the high jump, Bri Rychcik was fifth
in the pole vault and Shea Miller placed sixth in the long jump,
leaping her personal best of 14’1″.
Katie Vecellio placed fourth in the javelin and fifth in the
discus.
“Our throwers all had good days,” declared Stillman. “Coach
(Greg) Ambuske has worked hard to bring this young group along.
Katie (Vecellio) had worked hard to come back from an arm injury
and she looked good today.
“Nicole Cappelo and Whitney Cline both placed in the shot and
javelin, respectively. I am happy for them; they work hard every
day and deserve it.
“This was a great team win,” concluded Stillman. “We worked so
hard for this all spring. The girls really deserved this win. They
are a dedicated, talented group of athletes with a great deal of
pride. They were focused all day long and supported each other. I
am happy for our kids and pleased to finish this part of our season
with this win. We hope to now go on to states and do our best to
represent our district and school with pride and honor.
“On behalf of our coaches I want to thank them for all their
efforts this year. I’d like congratulate Tom Tessena and the Owls
on their district championship. I also want to thank our parents
for the way they support their kids.”
