By: Kristy Booher Angelo, Associate Athletic Director
For More Info: booherk@gilmour.org
It was another successful week for the varsity track & field program. The Lancers had two athletes selected as News-Herald Players of the Week for May 9 - girls sprinter Karah Henderson '22 (pictured on the right) and boys distance runner Tyler Clark '19 (pictured on the left). Both individuals have continuously performed well throughout the season, but the weekly honor was bestowed upon them specifically for their efforts at the North Coast League (NCL) Championship. At the NCL Meet, Henderson won the 100 hurdles, 100, 300 and ran on the winning 4x400 relay to earn league MVP honors. Clark ran a 1:58 split to lead off the White Division-winning 4x800, then won the 1600 in an area-best 4:24.59, was second in the 800 and won the 3200 with a 10:09.23.
Also this past week, the Lancers competed in the Jason Manse Crusader Relays. The boys finished fourth out of eight teams and the girls were third out of six teams.
Field events started with great leaps in the long jump by Annika Corcoran '19 at 16'2 ½" and CJ Charleston '19 at 21'2 ¾". The discus team of Mackenzie Palinski '21 and Brigit Terry '21 won the the two-person relay and placed second in shot.CJ Johnson '22 had strong throws in both the shot and the discus, where he earned fourth place by himself. Corcoran combined with Sophia Kless '21 to finish third in the high jump relay.
As for running highlights, the boys started off in the 4x1600 with outstanding sub-five minute runs by Cole Durdella '20, Bryson Simpson '20 and Connor Gerspacher '19. Alex Figurella '22 tied but couldn't hold on to the lead to finish third. Garrett Tomasek '20continued his outstanding hurdling season by capturing the boys 200m hurdles and placing second in the 110H hurdles. The sprint team of Charleston, Andre Rodgers '21, Craig Wilson '20 and Sean Hodges '22 ran a respectable 44.7 to place second in the 4x100. The distance crew of Simpson, Tim Diemer '19, Gerspacher and Durdella won the 4x800. Clark then ran away from the field in the 1500. The boys wrapped up the day by winning the 4x400 with a solid performance from Diemer, Tomasek, Wilson and Rodgers.
On the girls running side, the sprint team of Leilani Zeller '20, Kaleigh McNamara '22, Sophia Giancola '20 and Corcoran earned first in the 4x100 and second in the 4x200. Mary Lombardo '22won the 1500. Kai Logan '22 placed fourth in the 100 hurdles and third in the 200 hurdles. Bella Lasecki '22 earned fourth in the open 100 before teaming with Logan, Zeller and Kless to earn second in the sprint medley relay. The 4x800 team of Sophia Garofalo '21, Lombardo, Nina Padanilam '22and Alannah Barton '19 placed third to wrap up the meet.
Next up for the Lancers is the postseason. They begin the journey at the OHSAA Division III District Championship at Cuyahoga Heights on May 15 and 17.
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