Saratoga Springs sprinter Madalayne Smith warmed up for the New York State Track and Field Championships by dominating the state meet qualifier last Thursday and Friday in Johnstown.
Smith won three individual events and ran the third leg on the Blue Streaks’ winning 400-meter relay team. Smith claimed titles in the 100-meter dash (12.1 seconds), the 100-meter high hurdles (14.1 seconds) and the long jump (17 feet, 11.75 inches). The relay team of Smith, Melinda Boyce, Hannah Reeves and Kelly Fredette finished with a winning time of 49.0 seconds.
Saratoga’s success wasn’t limited to Smith, though. Brianne Bellon won the 800-meter race in a time of 2:16.1, and teammate Keelin Hollowood finished first in the 1,500-meter race with a time of 4:36.0. Haley Franco added a victory in the discus with a throw of 117 feet, 1 inch.
Shenendehowa’s Michelle Quimby was the only other multiple-event winner in the girls Division I (large schools) meet. Quimby cleared 11 feet, 3 inches to win the pole vault and took first place in the high jump by clearing 5 feet, 4 inches.
Shen also had success in the distance relays. The 1,600-meter relay team of Sam Crisafulli, Kathleen Klein, Kelly Preston and Anna Suriano won with a time of 3:58.7, and the 3,200-meter relay team of Danika Simonson, Alex Burtnick, Cara Janeczko and Lizzie Predmore finished first with a time of 9:04.3.
Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake had three individual champions. Sam Roecker won the 3,000-meter race with a time of 9:49.1, Meaghan Gregory claimed the 2,000-meter steeplechase title with a time of 7:02.9 and Kendra Adams finished first in the 400-meter intermediate hurdles with a time of 1:03.7.
On the boys’ side, Shen’s Alex Leuchanka set a Section II record in the 3,200-meter race, and Evan Palmer swept the shot put and discus titles.
Leuchanka pulled away from the field to win the 3,200-meter race in a time of 9:06.3, while Palmer threw the shot put 54 feet, 6.5 inches and the discus 159 feet, 1 inch to claim both titles.
Brian Campoli added a victory in the 400-meter dash with a time of 49.4 seconds for Shen, which was coming off a close second-place finish to Shaker at the Section II, Class A meet one week earlier.
Saratoga’s Alex King also earned an individual title. King finished first in the long jump with a distance of 22 feet, 10.75 inches.
BH-BL’s 3,200-meter relay team of Chris Fernandez, Kent Harlow, Scott Maughan and Otis Ubriaco won the Section II championship with a time of 7:51.7.
The top performers from last week’s state meet qualifier will compete Friday and Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse.`
