Shaker’s Ronel Forde and Colonie’s Jake Johnson each won individual events at the Section 2 Group 1 Track and Field Championships Sunday, May 31, at Shenendehowa High School.
Forde finished first in the triple jump with a distance of 45 feet, 6.5 inches, while Johnson claimed the 800-meter race title with a time of 1:54.91.
Forde’s victory helped Shaker place fifth in the team standings with 46 points. Johnson’s victory was Colonie’s highlight, as the Garnet Raiders placed 11th with 15 points. Saratoga earned the Sectional team title with 131.5 points.
Besides Forde’s performance, Shaker received strong efforts from Keyshawn Gomes and Christopher Bouchard in the pentathlon. Gomes was second with 2,754 points, while Bouchard finished third with 2,683 points. Columbia’s Alex Escada won with 2,816 points.
Shaker’s Cole Nestler tied with Guilderland’s David Lennard for second place in the pole vault after they each cleared the bar at 12 feet.
On the girls’ side, Shaker finished seventh in the team standings with 18.5 points, while Colonie placed eighth with 16 points. Shenendehowa won the team title with 181 points.
Colonie’s 1,600-meter relay team of Marilyn O’Brien, Ronke Osipitan, Allyson Oertel and Mikeisha Kelly won their event with a time of 3:57.91. The Lady Raiders placed fifth in the 3,200-meter relay with a time of 10:08.89.
