LOCK HAVEN –– There’s the old saying that nothing in life is assured except death and taxes.
When looking at the Bradford High track season this spring, it might not be too far of a stretch to add in Mitch Vleminckx turning in top performances to the list of assurances.
The senior won the 200 dash (22.85), took third in the long jump (20-11.50) and 100 dash (11.31) and finished fifth in the 400 dash (51.85). His 24 points accounted for more than a third of the Owls’ total (60) as Bradford High finished second overall in the team standings behind Williamsport (91 points).
“Mitch is our team leader and he leads by example,” Bradford High head coach Tom Tessena said, “and his example is work hard every day and go all out against competition even if you are tired.”
Vleminckx’s 682 career points are 11th best in program history.
Jaron Ambrose also turned in a solid day on the track. The sophomore “had his best day as a hurdler,” according to Tessena. Ambrose took second in the 300 hurdles (41.60) and fourth in the 110 hurdles (15.93), both personal-best times, while adding a leg on the Owls’ 1600 relay.
“Jaron is getting stronger each week,” Tessena said.
Ambrose now has 119 points on the season.
Other place-winners for the Owls were thrower John Eakin, distance runner Logan Caruso, Matt Stafford, the 400 relay team, pole vaulter Jack Kellam and javelin thrower Ryan Whittemore.
Eakin took third in the shot put (52-01) and seventh in the discus (136-06). He also ran the 100 dash for the first time all outdoor season in 11.86.
“John is getting better in all of his events and should be ready to do well at districts,” Tessena said.
Caruso took fourth in the 1600 (4:34.60), which is the 11th-fastest time in school history, while also running the 3200 in 10:03.71.
“Logan Caruso ran some impressive times against outstanding competition in the 1600 and 3200 races,” Tessena said. “That is a great day for him.”
Caruso, who is already fourth on the all-time 3200 list with a time from his freshman year, ran the equivalent to the eighth-fastest time in that event in Bradford High history.
“That time is very good for someone who is working his way back from injuries,” Tessena said.
Individually, Stafford was eighth in the 110 hurdles (16.16) with his best time of the year, while also running the 300 hurdles (43.92) and 200 dash (24.14). He teamed up with Mike Bosworth, Andy Pantuso and Donny Pattison on the 400 relay to run a season-best time of 45.29 for third.
“They were ranked seventh or eighth, so this was a big effort on their part,” Tessena said of the relay. “We have some room to improve here and that is exciting.”
Kellam jumped 12-00 in the pole vault for eighth place, while Whittemore was also eighth in the javelin (129-03).
Vinnie Bizzarro, in the 800 meters, narrowly missed medaling with ninth-place run of 2:05, while also running admirable splits in the 3200 (2:07) and 1600 relays (52.9).
Elsewhere on the track, Pattison turned in times of 11.74 in the 100 dash and 21.38 in the 200 dash, while freshman Andrew Kraft had his best time ever in the 3200 (10:48.50). Daemone Patterson turned in personal-bests in the 300 hurdles (45.77) and triple jump (38-09.75).
Dylan Phillips had a personal-best in the 110 hurdles (17.03), while Dawson Ambrose had his best time in the 1600 meters (4:53.21). Billy Naglik ran the 2000-meter steeplechase in 8:01.92.
The Owls’ 3200 relay team of Nathan Blauser, Tyler Kraft, Issac Paterniti and Bizzarro ran an 8:41.87, while the 1600 relay team of Blauser, Jaron Ambrose, Tyler Kraft and Bizzarro ran 3:41.87 despite Tyler Kraft falling and “getting skinned up pretty good.”
“He got back up and still ran 57 seconds,” Tessena said. “That was impressive.”
In the field, Derek Sunafrank jumped 11-00 in the pole vault and Steve Kellam hit a personal-best of 10-06. Pantuso jumped 19-06.25 in the long jump and 38-09 in the triple jump. Nathan Gehm threw the javelin 145-06, a personal-best, and threw the shot put 42-06.25.
“Overall, it was good to place second, but we had some areas we should have scored more in,” Tessena said. “We need to get better in the two longer relays if we are going to beat Punxsutawney at districts in two-and-a-half weeks. We were a little off in some other areas as well. We need to be more consistent and some changes need to be made to get our best performances when it counts.”
The Owl host Elk Catholic in the team’s final home meet of the year. Senior track members will be recognized, then the Owls travel to Altoona on Friday.
