At the Center State Conference Indoor Track League Championships, it is common to see Clinton leading the pack each year.
Thursday proved to be no different for the Comets.
Both Clinton’s boys and girls teams finished atop the CSC 1 Division standings. The Comets were the only program to achieve this feat.
But for Clinton coach Norm Deep, it has become the standard for the Comets.
“We started in the Tri-Valley League years ago and moved to the Center State Conference in 2012,” Deep said. “During that time Mohawk Valley has had 23 league championships … Our girls have now won 20 of 23 since the program started and our boys have now won 23 in a row since starting.”
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Center State Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships
On the girls side, Clinton took first place in CSC 1 with 224 points. The next closest CSC 1 team in Little Falls finished with 76 points.
Clinton had the most first-place finishes overall (all three divisions counted) with four. The Comets, while experienced, flashed a blend of youth and veteran leadership. Eighth grade student Quinn Catterson had the best time in the 1000 meters (3:22.10). freshmen Sierra Townsend (11:55.66 in the 3000 meters) a Sadie Gall (5-1 in the high jump) also secured their events. Clinton’s winning 4×800-meter relay was led by a “shining role model” in the seniors Natalie Cortright.
Westmoreland/Oriskany turned in an impressive performance from the junior Emma Szarek. She finished with the best overall time in both the 600-meter run (1:41.40) and the 55-meter hurdles (8.73).
The Sauquoit Valley girls team had a similarly dominant performance in CSC 2. The Red Hawks scored 229 points to outscore second-place Herkimer by 174 points.
Sauquoit Valley senior Hannah Miller showed up in style with first place in the shot put (31-4.50.) Herkimer’s Leah Bray he finished the 1500 meters in 5:23.03 to take first place. Dolgeville’s 4×400 meter relay team also put together a stellar show.
CSC 3 provided slightly closer competition, but West Canada Valley ended up escaping with first place (170 points). Remsen put together a strong effort to finish second with a 94.
The Nighthawks were led by an outstanding performance Hallie Fehlhaber. The senior placed first in the triple jump (35-0.75) and the pole vault (8-6). Senior Katie Gorinshek scored another 10 points for West Canada Valley in pitching (34-5).
Remsen was driven Riley Horn7.69 seconds in the 55 meter dash. The Rams also showed themselves in the 4×200 meter relay.
Waterville Sr Cadence Barton She demonstrated her versatility with first places in the 300 meters (42.49) and the long jump (17-1.50).
The boy side was significantly tougher for Clinton. The Comets went back and forth with a balanced Canastota team. Clinton managed to pull away with 190 points to avoid the Red Raiders (156).
“Competition breeds excellence,” Deep said. “You need that type of rivalry to focus and perform at your best. Canastota was neck-and-neck with us last season in outdoor track, they were neck-and-neck with us during the cross country season and neck-and-neck with us this season. They were hungry and we were hungry.”
Jason Leonard stood out for Clinton. The junior finished first in the pole vault (12-0) to tie Morrisville-Eaton’s Shane Stewart in the high jump (5-8). Clinton’s 4×400-meter relay team also scored 10 points.
Canastota’s valiant effort was led by a junior Tyler DiBenedetto and senior Otts wheels. DiBenedetto won both the 1,000 meters (2:55.52) and 1,600 meters (4:48.55), while Otts captured the long jump (22-5.75) and triple jump (40-9).
Herkimer’s boys team clinched CSC 2 with 167 points, defeating Sauquoit Valley (83) and Frankfort-Schuyler (82).
The Magicians’ quest for first place was strengthened by the junior Logan Marusic winning the 55-meter hurdles (8.29) and senior Russell Stapf in the weight throw (52-11).
For Morrisville-Eaton, in addition to the high jump, the aforementioned Stewart also secured the 300-meter dash with a time of 37.27 seconds. Dolgeville Jacob Moore first in the 55-meter dash and Sauquoit Valley’s Wyatt Kimball secured the shot put (48-11).
In the end, Remsen battled New York Mills for the CSC 3 title. Both teams scored points, but the Rams’ 185 points were able to overcome the Marauders’ 121.
Remsen dominated specifically in the relays. The Rams had the best overall result in both the 4×800 meter relay and the 4×200 meter relay.
The Hamiltons finished among the best overall Matthew Berry in the 3200 meters (10:34.34) and Waterville’s Danny Casatelli in the 600 meters (1:25.60).
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