Guilderland’s Brian Rhodes-Devey will lead the Albany County contingent heading to this weekend’s New York State Outdoor Track and Field Championships in Kingston.
Rhodes-Devey ran two strong times at last week’s state qualifier in Johnstown. The senior won the large school 800-meter race in a time of 1:54.07 and finished first in the 1,600 with a time of 4:11.23 less than two seconds off Miles Irish’s Section II record.
Rhodes-Devey is joined by Guilderland teammate Mark Domaracki, who won the 400 dash with a time of 49.19 seconds.
Colonie is sending three individuals and two relay teams to states. Tyler Johnson won the 200 dash in a time of 22.61 seconds, Jim Kehrer took first place in the 110 high hurdles with a time of 14.90 seconds and Steve Crouse finished first in the triple jump with a distance of 47 feet, 4.5 inches.
Colonie’s 400 relay team of Crouse, Kehrer, Johnson and Heath Furbeck won the Section II title with a time of 43.24 seconds. Kehrer and Furbeck also teamed up with Drew Rivera and Derrick Ingleston to place third in the 1,600 relay with a qualifying time of 3:22.99.
Bethlehem and Shaker are each sending one individual to states in the boys’ division. Mike McManus claimed the high jump title for Bethlehem by clearing a height of 6 feet, while Shaker’s Matt Bogdan placed second in the 3,000 steeplechase with a qualifying time of 9:55.79.
On the girls’ side, Colonie and Bethlehem are each sending two individuals to states. Colonie’s Najla Singleton-McKinnon won the 400 dash in a time of 57.61 seconds, while Bethlehem’s Alyssa Knaak placed second in a qualifying time of 59.01 seconds. Colonie’s Shannon Finnegan (1,500) and Bethlehem’s Lauren Lochinski-Mills (100 dash) also won their events to qualify.
Colonie’s 1,600 relay team of Marisa Poleto, Nanditha Badami, Alicia Williams and Laura Bolognino added a victory for the Lady Raiders. The quartet finished with a time of 3:55.78.
Loudonville’s Claire Hardwick, a student at Academy of the Holy Names, is headed to states in the small school division. Hardwick won the 3,000 in a time of 10:34.79 and was part of Holy Names’ first-place 3,200 relay team.
The state track and field meet begins Friday at Dietz Stadium with the public school championships. Federation races take place Saturday.`