(Editor’s note: This is the first of a two-part D-9 track preview. Today, the Class AA boys and girls qualifiers from the NTL. Tomorrow, Bradford and Class AAA).
BROOKVILLE — Fresh off of an undefeated regular season and a North Tier League championship, the Smethport boys are set up for plenty of success at Friday’s District 9 Track and Field Championships in Brookville.
The Hubbers lead the North Tier League with 11 boys qualified over 13 events — including all three relay teams — and have some of the top times and distances of Class AA schools entering the meet.
Leading Smethport in Brookville will be Darion Gregory, who placed second at Districts in the 3200 last year (10:00.73) and Christian Tanner, who won the 800-meter run in a burst of 1:58.74 in 2018.
Those two will combine to run in nine events, highlighted by Tanner’s top-seeded time of 2:02.44 in the 800 meter run and Gregory’s second-best run of 9:51.91 in the 3200.
“Tanner and Gregory, what can you say about them?” Smethport track coach Rick Woodring said. “They’ve been phenomenal. Our program is where it is because of those two boys in particular leading us for six years.”
The two seniors are also together for both the 4×400 and 4×800 relay teams. The 4×800 quartet finished second at Districts last season in 8:19.48 and will return Eric Szarowicz as well as newcomer Ethan Nannen this year.
Woodring also made sure to mention seniors Szarowicz, Dale Burdick and Brandon Peterson, each of whom qualified in at least two events. Peterson has the second-highest mark in D-9 of 6-3 in the high jump and sits as the seventh seed in javelin (147-8).
Burdick qualified in the high jump and discus and Szarowicz in the 400 dash.
“This group is experienced as far as they shouldn’t be wide-eyed down there in Brookville,” said Woording, who is in his 28th season at the helm of Smethport track.
“For those who haven’t, quite honestly we tell them that they deserve to be there. There are kids that are going to be better than you and then kids that aren’t as good.”
Woodring called Brookville, which has won the last two Class AA boys titles, the “hands-down favorites,” to grab a third straight championship.
Elsewhere on the boys side, Coudersport sends an impressive nine kids to Districts, highlighted by Dempsey Glover (200 dash, long jump, triple jump) qualifying in three events and Cale Ayers having the third (discus, 138-11) and fourth-ranked (shot put, 47-8) distances in his two events. Coudersport also qualified all three of its relays.
In addition to Coudy and Smethport the NTL qualifies Otto-Eldred and Cameron County for the 1600 relay.
On the girls side, it’s regular season NTL champion Coudersport which leads the pack with 11 district qualifiers.
Keying what should be a big day in Brookville for the Lady Falcons are: Rosalyn Page (second seed, discus – 106-1), Dana Dubots (fourth seed, 400 – 1:02.83) and Tianna Boswer (fourth, 800 – 2:29.59). Bowser and DuBots are also part of the fourth-ranked 1600 relay team.
The Northern Potter girls’ strong season in distance events paid off as Lady Panthers’ Amanda Ford (11:34.85) and Courtney Martin (12:35.55) are ranked first and second, respectively, in the 3200 meter run. Ford is also ranked second in D9 with a time of 5:31.48 in the 1600. They are also part of NoPo’s third-ranked 3200 relay team (10:54.91) — the highest place of any NTL girls school.
For Cameron County, Kamme Guisto qualified in all three jumps, including a third-seeded mark of 33-9 in the triple.
Smethport qualified just two girls, but they include runner Jenna Gregory. The Hubber freshman qualified in the 800, 1600 and 3200. Her runs in the 1600 (5:48.72) and the 3200 (12:48.54) were each ranked sixth in D-9.
“It’s very exciting as a freshman to qualify,” Woodring said. “It’s a reward for her hard work. She has put a ton of work into this as all distance runners have to do. She’s seen the big stage watching her brother (Christian) run in states in cross country and track last year. Hopefully she’ll be a little more relaxed as a first-timer going down there.”
Hubber teammate Marissa Jack qualified in the dicus (101-6). She is the current school record holder with a throw of 110-4.
The following is a complete list of District 9 qualifiers from the North Tier League. Listed next to each event are their qualifying times. Note: some relays have more than four athletes listed.
BOYS
Cameron County: John Heim (110 hurdles, 17.24), Caden Beldin (high jump, 5-8). Relay: 1600 (Beldin, Heim, Gannon Horning, Nick Peters – 3:52.38).
Coudersport: Daniel Frame (1600 run, 4:46.34), Garrett Watson (800 run, 2:11.13), Dempsey Glover (200 dash, 23.84; long jump, 23-7.5; triple jump, 41-6.5), Dalton Keglovits (3200 run, 10:22.64; pole vault, 12-6), Thomas Wilson (pole vault, 11-0), Brandt Kightlinger (long jump, 19-11; triple jump, 39-6.5), Cale Ayers (shot put, 47-8; discus, 138-11), Preston Cobb (shot put, 42-0; discus, 124-9), Logan Rogers (javelin, 135-1). Relays: 3200 (Frame, Dylan Kelly, Watson, Keglovits – 8:54.49); 400 (Ethan Ross, Joey Brumbach, Wilson, Stephen Kelly, Dylan Kelly – 46.93); 1600 (Stephen Kelly, Brumbach, Hayden Keck, Glover, Keglovits, Watson – 3:45.55).
Oswayo Valley: Mike Vandergrift (shot put, 41-11.25; discus, 122-10).
Northern Potter: Holden Cowburn (1600 run, 4:46.50; 3200 run, 10:34.78), Sean Baker (1600 run, 4:54.50; 3200 run, 10:52.17), A.J. Lehman (400 dash, 54.96).
Otto-Eldred: Steven Langworthy (110 hurdles, 16.34; 300 hurdles, 43.77), Gage Aldrich (400 dash, 54.62), Ethan Smith (300 hurdles, 45.25), Ryan Love (long jump, 19-0; triple jump, 39-11). Relay: 1600 (Aldrich, Love, Brett Kreamer, Smith, Langworthy, Josh Schuessler – 3:51.49).
Port Allegany: A.J. Edgell (400 dash, 53.76).
Smethport: Christian Tanner (1600 run, 4:39.6; 400 dash, 51.34; 800 run, 2:02.44; pole vault, 12-0), Darion Gregory (1600 run, 4:39.16; 3200 run, 9:51.91), Eric Szarowicz (400 dash, 54.44), Ethan Nannen (800 run, 2:09.09; 3200 run, 10:53.73), Jordan Pavlock (800 run, 2:09.32), Justin Gallup (200 dash, 23.84), Brandon Peterson (high jump, 6-3; javelin, 147-8), Dale Burdick (high jump, 6-2; discus, 120-9), Ryli Burritt (triple jump, 40-10.5), Caleb Lutz (javelin, 135-7). Relays: 3200 (Nannen, Tanner, Szarowicz, Gregory – 8:23.28); 400 (Gallup, Burritt, Logan Christie, Burdick – 45.59); 1600 (Burritt, Szarowicz, Gregory, Tanner – 3:38.45).
GIRLS
Cameron County: Morgan Lorenzo (100 hurdles, 16.74; 300 hurdles, 52.24; triple jump, 32-4), Kamme Guisto (high jump, 4-9; long jump, 16-2; triple jump, 33-9), Reggie Goodrow (shot put, 31-11.5), Hailey Hilfiger (discus, 92-8), Taylor Lamont (javelin, 101-1). Relay: 1600 (Kaelee Bresslin, Cassie Frey, Taylor Lamont, Natalie Zucale, Lorenzo, Guisto – 4:51.62).
Coudersport: Dana Dubots (100 dash, 13.44; 400 dash, 1:02.64), Kylie Welsh (100 dash, 13.64), Lauren Stimaker (100 dash, 13.74), Elizabeth Frame (400 dash, 1:05.94), Tianna Bowser (800 run, 2:29.59; pole vault, 7-9), Mikayla Gunn (pole vault, 7-9), Kylie Welsh (long jump, 14-8), Sarah Chambers (long jump, 14-7.5, triple jump, 32-0.5), Rosalyn Page (shot put, 33-1; discus, 33-1), Hannah Elenchin (discus, 94-6), Paige Watson (javelin, 101-11). Relays: 400 (Stimaker, Gunn, Mikayla Kavounas, Dubots – 55.19); 1600 (Bowser, Stimaker, Frame, Dubots – 4:21.30).
Northern Potter: Amanda Ford (1600 run, 5:31.48; 800 run, 2:31.84; 3200 run, 11:34.85), Courtney Martin (1600 run, 5:49.60; 3200 run, 12:35.55; javelin, 103-2), Abigail Baker (3200 run, 13:30.34). Relay: 3200 (Abbie Cady, Baker, Martin, Ford – 10:54.91).
Oswayo Valley: Karina West (100 hurdles, 17.24; 300 hurdles, 52.24), Faith Coole (100 dash, 13.33; 200 dash, 27.79), Mikayla Bell (300 hurdles, 53.64). Relay: 400 (Coole, McKenzie Gross, Paris Siebert, West – 54.40).
Otto-Eldred: Veronica Benini (100 hurdles, 18.40), Reilly Raught (high jump, 4-10).
Port Allegany: Alliyah Pennick (100 hurdles, 17.86; 300 hurdles 52.43; pole vault, 8-0).
Smethport: Jenna Gregory (1600 run, 5:48.72; 800 run, 2:44.09; 3200 run, 12:48.54), Marissa Jack (discus, 101-6).
