SECTION IV TRACK & FIELD: WAVERLY BOYS 400 RELAY BREAKS SECTION IV RECORD, AND BECHY BREAKS 100-METER SCHOOL RECORD; WOLVERINES WILL TAKE FOUR INDIVIDUALS, TWO RELAYS TO STATES (24 PHOTOS) (2023-06-01)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportENDICOTT - Senior Kayleb Bechy not only became the fastest young man in school history Thursday, but was part of a 400-meter relay that became the fastest foursome in Section IV history here at Track & Field State Qualifier at Union-Endicott High School.
Bechy and junior Ralph Johnson finished 1-2 in the 100-meter dash, and will both run at the New York State Championships next week in Middletown.
Johnson and senior Jerrell Sackett will run in the 200-meter dash at the State meet, and the Wolverine 400- and 1,600-meter relays will also vie for state hardware.
"It was a good day. We’re very satisfied with how it played out," said Waverly coach David Hogan.
The foursome of Bechy, Johnson, Sackett, and junior Micah Chandler clocked in a 42.30 seconds in the 400-meter relay, to eclipse the prior Section IV record of 42.31 seconds.
It’s quite a feat considering Bechy and Sackett never ran track until last season, and Johnson hasn’t run a full season of track since 7th-grade due to injuries.
"I look at all those guys, and they are just natural talents," said Hogan. "I can’t take much credit for what they’ve done.
"We have chopped down their times to get them to where they are, but they put in the work," he added. "I’m just like a cheerleader on the sideline."
"It’s really rare to have four of us who are that fast on the same team," said Bechy. "It’s been a lot of fun to run with these guys.
"We ran a PR (Wednesday), and we were looking to PR again in the finals, and possibly break the (Section IV) record," added Bechy with a smile.
"Coming into (the 400 relay), it was about staying focused," said Johnson. "We ran a good time (Wednesday), and when we run good times in the trials, I think it always sets us up for a good performance in the finals.
"We still have some work to do … specifically my exchange with Micah (Chandler) isn’t great," noted Johnson. "We can work on that, and shave a couple milli-seconds off for sure.
"We got really lucky to have the guys we have all here at Waverly," added Johnson.
Bechy ran a school-record time of 10.79 seconds to win the 100-meter dash, and Johnson was second with a personal-best time of 10.85 seconds. Bechy broke the record of 10.81 seconds held by Glenn Fassett (1998), and Al Umber (1995).
The top seed, Johnson City’s Dayzin Legare, finished eighth after jogging the majority of the 100 meters, his trip to States already assured by having hit the "Super Standard" earlier in the season. Bechy and Johnson also hit the super standard earlier in the season.
Bechy was hoping to get Legare’s best in the finals.
"I knew I was already in, and didn’t have to run a great time," said Bechy. "I just wanted to come out and compete.
"I wanted (Legare) to go all out because I wanted to beat him running all out," he added. "It wasn’t the greatest win … if he had tried, it would have been a lot better."
Hogan disagrees with his star sprinter on the significance of the first-place finish.
"I don’t buy it. It was (Kayleb’s) race to win, and he did it. We don’t cater to other teams … I told him to run his race; that school record isn’t broken if he doesn’t run his race.
"We have to capture moments, and he did," said Hogan.
Johnson also finished second in the 200-meter dash in a time of 22.03 seconds. Legare won with a time of 21.52 seconds, the fastest time recorded in New York State this season. Sackett finished sixth for the Wolverines in 22.7 seconds.
Johnson was pleased with his haul of hardware — a gold and two silver medals.
"It was a pretty good day. I was hoping for some PRs because we had a decent tail wind, but I was close, so I’m happy at the end of the day.
"I’m just happy I’ve had the opportunity to participate this year," he noted. "It’s been such a long time … my last healthy outdoor season was when I was in 7th-grade.
"It feels amazing to be out here," Johnson added.
Chandler and Sackett teamed with senior Treyton Moore, and junior Charlie Larrabee to place second in the 1,600-meter relay in a time of 3:26.27.
All of Waverly’s events headed to States had already qualified (by hitting the Super Standard) prior to Thursday’s races, and only needed to compete in order to head to States. That, however, had no impact on Waverly’s efforts today.
"We looked at the order of events about a week ago, and we thought it was pretty well spaced out," said Hogan. "Luckily in our favor, to where we could give our best efforts in every single event.
"There was going to be no holding back," he added.
The Lady Wolverines foursome of seniors Abigail Knolles and Natalie Garrity, and sophomores Ally Barrett and Kiley Stillman shaved their time from 52.32 in Wednesday’s prelims, to 51.71 seconds in the finals to finish fourth.
"Not to take away from what our other kids have done here, but our sprinters dominated the day," said Hogan. "It was a good moment. We try to live in the moment, and be happy."
Sophomore Harper Minaker placed fourth in the 2,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 8:04.71.
"We can’t overlook Harper taking fourth in the steeplechase," said Hogan. "I think it is getting overshadowed, but she deserves a lot of credit for that."
Eighth-grader Makenzie Olmsted finished seventh in the 1,500-meter run in a time of 5:13.15 — missing the podium by less than three seconds.
"As an 8th-grader, I’m just blown away by Mackenzie’s talent, her success, and how far she’s come this season," said Hogan.
Freshman Mira Kittle finished eighth in the pole vault at 8-feet, and sophomore Addison Westbrook was ninth with a personal-best of 8-feet.
Knolles, Garrity, senior Kelsey Ward, and Westbrook teamed to finish ninth in the 1,600-meter relay in a time of 4:23.39.
Senior Ryan Clark finished 11th in the pentathlon with 1,851 points.. On Wednesday, Clark placed fourth in the shot put at 10.37 meters, was ninth in the high jump at 1.46 meters, and was 11th in the 110-meter hurdles in 20.69 seconds.
On Thursday, Clark finished ninth in the long jump with a leap of 4.86 meters, and was 11th in the 1,500-meter run in a time of 5:44.65.
Junior Jake Benjamin finished 15th in the shot put with a heave of 39-feet, 2 1/2-inches, and junior Josh Courtney finished 15th in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 12:42.94.
"Jacob Benjamin had a good day throwing the shot today … he hit 39-feet, and he’s only been there three times this season," said Hogan. "He did a great job."
The Waverly boys finished fifth out of 28 teams scoring points with 45 points. Corning won the overall team title with 118 points, and Norwich, which was fourth overall, won the Division 2 title with 48 points.
The Lady Wolverines finished 19th out of 37 teams scoring points with eight points. Corning won the overall title with 77 points, and Unadilla Valley, which was fourth overall, won the Division 2 title with 32 points.
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IN PHOTO 1: Waverly’s Jerrell Sackett reaches to take the baton from Kayleb Bechy in the 400-meter relay. … PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY and TIM TAYLOR.
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