Congratulations to the Varsity Boys 4x400 meter relay team and pentathlete Ella Michelitch, who state champions in their events following their victories at the NYSPHSAA Class A State and Federation Outdoor Track & Field Championships, held today, June 14 at Middletown High School!
The boys’ 4x400 meter relay team of Samuel Anderson, Robert LaBarbera, Jordan Mabra and Benjamin Spevak avenged their state qualifier defeat to rivals Washingtonville with a 3:16.29 time, before losing a photo finish to Elmont Memorial in the Federation final, lowering their program record over a second further to 3:15.02 in the process.
Ella Michelitch romped to a 250-point margin in the girls State and Federation pentathlon, amassing 3,527 points and smashing her own Section IX record. The pentathlon is comprised of 100-meter hurdles, the high jump, shot put, long jump and 800-meter run.
Their first-place wins are part of nine podium finishes in the championship meet for Minisink Valley.
Pole vault duo Logan Schupner and Delila Kronimus finished second and third in the State competition and second and fourth in the Federation, respectively.
Relay linchpin Robert LaBarbera rounded earned sixth place individual run in the open 400 meters.
The boys team tied for fifth place out of 72 teams with 16 points in the final standing; and the girts team tied for 13th place out of 77 teams.
Minisink Valley will close out its spring season next weekend, sending 20 athletes to the New Balance Nationals Outdoor, hosted by the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field in Philadelphia.