SPORTS lead FIXED

SPORTS lead FIXED SoRo Sweeps Track Championships

Both the South Royalton boys and girls track and field teams took the Division III state championships this year.

For the girls, this year’s win marks an unprecedented second year in a row of winning the championship. Their team has been strong for many years, either winning or coming in second for the last eight years.

And the boys aren’t far behind the girls as this championship marks the fourth year in a row they have either won or been runners up.

"There are a lot of great athletes in that group and a lot of great citizens as well, so we’re very, very happy for them. They deserve it," said South Royalton’s principal, Shaun Pickett.

"It’s a very senior-laden team," commented coach Jeff Moreno "These kids have been together for four years."

A highlight of the state meet was that, using her new pole, Julia Collins vaulted 9-0. This beat a previous record set by herself of 8-3

For the girls, Roselie Phillip won first place in the 100-meter hurdles preliminaries at 16.79 and finals at 16.24, as well as the 300 meter hurdles at 48.54. Alex Honkala came in second at the 800-meter run.

The 4X400 meter relay team came in second with runners Sarah Guillot, Betsy Paige, Mikayla Geraci, Kayla Henry, Erin Nichols, Shannon McDowell, and Naomi Paige at 4:32.9. And the 4X800 meter relay team came in first with runners Julia Collins, Molly Bowen, Jackie Bowen, Alex Honkala, Kate Bascom, and Taylor Webster at 10:33.9.

Julia Collins won first place at the pole vault with her 9-0 and Lauren Farnsworth came in second vaulting 8-.03. Jane Manby threw her javelin 96-10 winning first place in that event.

For the boys, Cal Wilmot won the 400-meter dash with a time of 53.03. Ki Walker came in second at the 110-meter hurdle preliminaries with a time of 17.8, the 110-meter final with a time of 17.17 and the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 42.23.

The 4X400-meter relay team came in first at 3:36.3 with runners Ki Walker, David Mattern, Cal Wilmot, Jake Timian, and Justin Shepard. That time broke by more than four seconds their own Division III 4X400-meter relay record set this May of 3:40.91.

Finally, the boys’ 4X800-meter relay team came in second with a time of 8:54 with runners Cole Rediker, Andy Staudinger, Cal Wilmot, Jake Timian, Tim Carlson, Shad Orechovesky, Colin Judge, and Daniel Bingham. Andy Staudinger vaulted 10-06 coming in second at the pole vault. And David Mattern threw his javelin 155-04 winning first place at the javelin throw.