ITraceresults

(Click on Competition for Team Results/Summary/Outstanding Performances as they become available)

Cool, wet weather greeted the Wildcats for their first dual meet of the 2005 season at Henninger. A solid team effort and opening win was the result. The distance, sprint, hurdle and field event squads all out-performed their Henninger counterparts, with several surprise first-place efforts. The distance squad dominated but were nearly matched by the efforts of the Wildcat field event athletes.

It was a rare early April day in upstate N.Y. Clear, comfortable and relatively calm conditions allowed some good track efforts by the Wildcats. This was the first chance for the athletes to step into a highly competitive venue and get tested. The 'cats' came away with six top-6 efforts: 4x1600R-5th/4x800-2nd/DMR-2nd/SMR-6th/Triple Jump-6th/Pole Vault-5th. Although missing several key runners to a music trip, the team fared well in the surprisingly large field.

The skies were clear, but winds and cool temperatures greeted the Wildcats on Oswego's impressive new track facility at Oswego Middle School. West Genesee presented a balanced team effort, winning events in all areas and dominating in the distance events. The 'cats had three individual double winners: Sarah Kibby(100hh/400IH), Elizabeth McMahon(800m/1500m) and Kristen Bentley(100m/LJ). Kristen was particularly impressive as she was coming off injury and recorded one of the section's best long jumps of the young season. Erin Hennigan(3000m), Danielle Scott(PV) and Janet Jackson(SP) were also event winners. Many other athletes enjoyed personal record performances.

The Wildcats knew going in that this meet would be close and that it would be decided by critical 2nd and 3rd places in the field, sprint and weight events. That is exactly what happened, with the Wildcats leading 69-67 and needing the final 4x400 relay to win. RFA was unable to challenge that final event and the 'cats charged to victory, remaining undefeated halfway through the dual meet season. A number of excellent performances and personal records highlighted the day, including a 1-2-3 sweep of the 400 intermediate hurdles despite the absence of the team's top hurdler. The road grows distinctively rougher for the girls in the second half of the season, with league-leaders Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool to be encountered before a tough last home meet with Baldwinsville.

In what turned out to be a fortuitous decision, a contingent of Wildcats hopped right back into competition the day following an important Thursday dual-meet victory at RFA. Rather than attend a Saturday invitational and risk running stiff and sore, these 'cats staved off post-meet fatigue with select events at the ESM Invitational. The weather was a progressive spiral downward from mild and breezy at 3:00pm to cold, windy and wet at meet's end about 7:00 pm. Athletes encountered totally different conditions depending on their event schedule. Despite the variability, some solid performances were recorded. Highlights for West Genesee included a 4th by the young 4x100m Relay of Olja Kuljanin, Andrea Perkins, Kristen Bentley and Jenny Evertz, which is now ranked #7 in the section and improving. Elizabeth McMahon continued her return to full form following winter knee surgery with an excellent 3rd place in the 800m which featured the section's 1st and 3rd fastest times. Elizabeth's 2:23.60 was her 2nd-best all-time and is 4th on the sectional leaderboard. The 1500m was run in raw, windy conditions and turned into a strategic race with a slow 1st 800. Katie Rothenberg locked up with two previous state qualifiers and briefly led into the 3rd lap before finishing third. Close behind was Erin Hennigan in 4th. With McMahon out of the steeplechase for this season, neophyte steeplers Stephanie McGrath and E.J. Reedy took over the chores and enjoyed successful initial outings, finishing 5th and 9th respectively. And in one of the more remarkable performances of the day, 8th grader Kayla Murphy ran virtually alone start-to-finish in taking the JV 1500m. These Wildcats now enjoy a much needed and well-deserved weekend off before next week's double-dual meet matchup with league powerhouses Cicero-North Syracuse and Liverpool.

After racing out to a 3-0 dual meet start, West Genesee simply failed to show up as a team for this double-dual meet. CNS handed the Wildcats their most lopsided loss in a decade and demonstrated with their depth and talent why they are the most dominate team in Section III. West Genny had little to cheer about at Liverpool also clobbered them. Several PR's were achieved, with Danielle Scott tying her PV school record with a 2nd place jump. The 'cats will have to achieve some quick re-adjustments before next week's dual-meet finale against Baldwinsville at home.

The weather in this meet went from bad to worse as the day progressed, with heavy rains and cool temperatures prompting many teams to simply leave early, some following the first few events. West Genesee likewise cancelled several late-meet entries due to the awful weather and the condition of athletes. Add to that the total malfunction of the FAT scoring system of Finishright.com and the meet became an exercise in attrition or futility--or both. The best events came early in the day when athletes were not yet cold, soaked and/or sore. This one will go down in the books and provided an apt conclusion to a tough week for the Wildcats.

Though the underdog due to comparative showings in league action, the Wildcats rebounded from poor meets against Liverpool and CNS with a upset victory for their final dual contest. The exciting win secured a 4-2 record, the reverse of only the year before, and it earned the 'cats 3rd place in the league for the 2005 season. Though competing without its top high jumper and triple jumper, West Genesee jumped off to a quick start with strong hurdle and sprint performances that complimented the predicted distance dominance. Wildcat's distance runners, in fact, captured 31 of 32 possible distance event points by sweeping the 1500 and 800 meter events and winning the 4x800 handily. Distance runners also went 1-2 in both the 400IH and the 400m. Not to be outdone, pole vaulters Danielle Scott and Nichia Horvath created their own 1-2 finish in that event. But it was a number of excellent and critical 2nd and 3rd place efforts elsewhere that cemented the victory for West Genesee. Expected to possibly sweep the 100 and 200 meter sprints with their state champion Lareea Chisholm, Baldwinsville instead gave up two 2nds and a third to the 'cats. The Bees did their damage by sweeping the triple jump and shot put events, but an exciting 2nd in the discus by new thrower Kristen Bentley kept WG afloat while another important 2nd, this by Brittany Jones in the high jump, prevented Bville from pulling even in the late going. All that was left was for the 4x400 relay, again comprised of distance runners, to speed away from the Bee's and nail down the victory.

The 'cats now turn their sights on a final invitational this Saturday at Rome and the championship season beginning next week.

Focusing on individual performances at this afternoon 'SAT meet,' the Wildcats saw some good performances as athletes geared up for the coming championship meets in May. Katie Hall set a 2nd consecutive PR in her high hurdle event. Janet Jackson also threw a PR in the discus. A PR also came Brittany Jones' way in the triple jump. Joining the PR group was Maggie Nealer and Kayla Murphy, both running their best 1500's. Stephanie McGrath's 4th place in the open 800 was also a personal best as she continues her steady improvements. Her teammate in that event, Elizabeth McMahon took another step downward as she lowered her 800 PR to 2:20.6 in an exciting sprint finish as she outlegged New Hartford's exciting 8th grader, Amy Sleeper. Elizabeth's time is one of the section's best. But it was Kristen Bentley that scored a trifecta by setting personal records in the 100m, the discus(6th place) and the Long Jump(2nd place).

The Wildcats endured their annual conflict with a school music concert by sending a smaller and altered roster to the OHSL Championships. At Rome Free Academy, they encountered a 'pleasant' November-like day of clear skies and 45^o temperatures. Fortunately no high winds or cold rain. Despite the challenges, they came home late with a number of good performances and some top-6 finishes. Highlights included a smart tactical race by E.J. Reedy in the Varsity II 1500m--which she won with a homestretch sprint--and a disappointing but gutsy stick-with-it 100hh race by senior Katie Hall. Jenny Evertz also clocked a nifty personal best in the 200m.

Injuries and illness involving several key athletes put a significant dent in the Wildcats scoring punch. They gave it a go, however, exiting the team season with some excellent performances, top-six finishes and personal records. Elizabeth McMahon grabbed one of those PR's in the 800 meter as she placed 3rd, then returned for a 2nd place in the 1500. Katie Rothenberg also raced to a personal best in the 800 before taking 4th in the 1500 meter. Erin Hennigan closed out a stellar Wildcat running career with a 5th place in the 3000 meter. 6th in the steeplechase went to Stephanie McGrath. Off the track, senior Danielle Scott tied her school record in vaulting to 2nd place. Teammate Nichia Horvath also equaled her personal record in grabbing the 4th spot. The 4x800 and 4x400 relays also took 4th and 5th place spots.

Four of the five individual Wildcats qualifiers traveled to East Syracuse-Minoa High School for the Section III Open Qualifier Meet(not really an 'open qualifier' because all athletes meeting the state qualifying standard do not necessarily qualify for the State Championship). No Wildcats managed to advance but all gave good efforts. Danielle Scott, who placed 11th with an 8-0 vault, ended her 'Wildcats career' as the Indoor/Outdoor pole vault record-holder and will be attending LeMoyne College this fall. Kristen Bentley, who fought and scrapped her way through a challenging season, placed 5th in the Long Jump with a solid 15-9.0 leap and marks herself as a contender for the 05/06 track seasons. Elizabeth McMahon's 're-hab season' following December knee surgery came to a conclusion with a PR 2:19.30 4th place effort in the 800m. Elizabeth can use the XC season to return to top form and resume her favorite steeplechase event next spring. And the season continues for Katie Rothenberg following a good 7th place showing in the 1500 meter. Katie begins preparations for her appearance in the 6/18 National Championship Freshman Mile race in Greensboro, North Carolina where she will join top freshman milers from across the country.

For three weeks after the season had ended for all other team members, Katie Rothenberg endured 'the loneliness of the long distance' runner in preparing for the Nike Nationals Freshman Mile for which she had run a qualifying time during Indoor Track. Considering that physical and mental fatigue following long XC and Indoor seasons had left her contemplating a pass on the outdoor season, this display of perseverance was special. Race officials, however, mistakenly placed Katie in the faster of two heats. Though a wonderful opportunity to toe the start line with the nation's best freshman milers, it also forced her to race faster than planned in the opening 800 meters and exacted a price in the third lap when she fell out of touch with her closest competitor. Game to end, though, she closed with one of her best final laps of the year and left with the satisfaction of an all-out effort on a national stage. Her running future looks bright.

2005 Athletes-of-the-Week

April 3-9

Sarah Kibby - With the graduation of former hurdler Lindsey McConnelee, the team did not know who their go-to hurdler might be this spring. At the opening dual meet with Henninger, Sarah answered that question. In her first 100hh and 400IH events, she won them both. She followed this with two solid 800m runs at the CNS Relays.

Stephanie McGrath - Stephie was pressed in 400IH service to help the team and learn the hurdles for steeplechasing. She performed terrifically, placing a close 2nd to teammate Sarah Kibby. At the CNS Relays, Stephie ran the team's best 800m in the 4x800 Relay, then ran the team's best 400m in the SMR.

April 10-16

Kristen Bentley - At one point, she thought her season was over before it began because of chronic ankle problems. But Kristen decided to hang it. Her first meet back at Oswego, she won the 100m and leaped 15-7 in the Long Jump, the 5th best jump to date in Section III.

April 17-23

Elizabeth McMahon - The road back from winter knee surgery to fix a old and annoying knee weakness has been long, required a missed indoor season and meant re-adjustments in event priorities for the spring. Following yeoman duty in winning the 800 and 400 meter events and providing a leg in the critical 4x400 relay at the RFA dual meet, Elizabeth stepped onto the ESM Invitational track with a cold and facing both the section's leading 800m runner and and a talented ESM rival. She ran her second fastest 800m time and the 4th best sectional time to date with a negative split that demonstrated her 'return' is proceeding nicely.

Kayla Murphy - 8th grader Kayla 'Big Money' Murphy took to the RFA track for the 3000m event, needing to provide a critical 3rd place behind teammates Erin Hennigan and Katie Rothenberg. She responded with a Personal Record and the place needed. The following day, in windy, raw conditions, she jumped out from the start of the JV 1500m event and never looked back, leading start-to-finish and winning with yet another Personal Record.

April 24-30

Erin Hennigan - Athlete-of-the-Week selections are typically characterized by hard-won PR's or event performances in critical meet situations. Neither is the case here. This athlete made a different 'statement' with two race-week efforts. Tuesday, the day after returning from illness, Erin "took one for the team" by running the 3000 in the CNS/Liverpool dual meet after being given the option to opt out. At Saturday's 'Monsoon Invitational' in Liverpool, she joked about the horrible race conditions before stepping on the track and running the 3000 again, this time only a few seconds off her PR for an 8th place. Tough is as tough does....

May 1- 7

Elizabeth McMahon - Two individual victories(400/800), a 2nd place in the 1500 and a leg on the winning 4x400 Relay by Elizabeth sparked the Wildcats to an upset dual meet victory over Baldwinsville that earned them a 4-2 mark and third place in the League's A-1 Colonial Division. Elizabeth continued her personal improvement with an exciting 1st place finish in the 800 meter at the Rome Invitational. She had to come from behind in the final 100 meters to win and clock a personal best and one of the section's better times.

May 8-14

Katie Hall - Following a switch over to indoor/outdoor track & field her junior year, no one has worked more diligently at her events than Katie, who graduates this June. Her 100hh event at the OHSL Championships was likely to be her final race as a Wildcat, and, following an excellent start, it looked like she would go out with the PR she planned. Only two hurdles into the race, however, a competitor next to her fell into Katie's lane, forcing her out and around a hurdle--dashing any hopes of an official good time. Refusing to quit, she completed her heat, then declined a re-start that would have delayed the meet. She finished her Wildcat running career with no PR but certainly as a class act.

May 15-21

Danielle Scott - Hard work and perseverance have been constants with Danielle throughout indoor and outdoor seasons. The fruits of that labor is her best-ever 2nd place sectional finish and advancement to the Open Qualifier meet. She will certainly be pushing for even greater heights in that meet.