WYALUSING — The Athens boys and girls both posted convincing season-opening wins over Wyalusing here on a chilly Monday afternoon in NTL Large School track & field action.
The Athens boys, led by quad-winner sophomore Graham Wanck, topped Wyalusing, 109-41, while the Lady Wildcats won 97-53
Boys coach Mike Panek was pleased with his team's performance.
"Our athletes have really put in the effort to prepare for today’s meet, and it shows in their performances,” he said. "Many athletes set personal records today, and we’re incredibly proud of their progress and commitment.
"With impressive wins in almost every event, the Athens Area Wildcat Boys track team has certainly set the bar high for the remainder of the season," he added. "With their talent, teamwork, and determination, they will undoubtedly continue to be a force to reckon with as the season progresses."
Girls coach Mike Bronson
"I think this was a really good start for us," he said. "We've had three solid weeks of practice heading into today, so it was good to see what the girls can do in a meet.
"Our veterans did a nice job of getting back into competing and we had a lot of new girls competing in their first meet who did a great job," noted Bronson.
"This meet gives us a good starting point and shows us where we are, we have a lot of work still to do between now and the championship part of the season," added Bronson. "Overall, I'm really happy with how the girls competed tonight."
BOYS
Athens 109, Wyalusing 41
Wanck was joined on the top step of the podium by six teammates who were double-winners in a 109-41 win over Wyalusing.
Senior Jase Babcock, juniors Brenden Comstock and Alex Thompson, seniors Lucius Mickley and Peter Jones, and sophomore Jacob Shore were double-winners for the Wildcats.
Wanck led a sweep in the 1,600-meter run in a time of 4:52.76, while sophomore Matt Rossettie was second in 5:19.45, and Shores was third in 5:21.15.
Wanck also won the 800-meter run in a time of 2:12.96, while sophomore Lucas Persun was second in 2:23.39, and Rossettie was third in 2:23.79.
Wanck teamed with senior Brayden Onofre, freshman Patrick Umber, and Thompson to win the 1,600-meter relay in a time of 3:49.95.
Wanck teamed with Rossettie, Shores, and Persun to win the 3,200-meter relay in a time of 9:13.6.
Senior Jase Babcock won the long jump with a leap of 20-feet, 5 3/4-inches. He also won the high jump, clearing the bar at 6-feet, 4-inches.
BMickley teamed with Onofre, senior Peter Jones, and freshman Patrick Umber to win the 400-meter relay in a time of 47.97 seconds.
Mickley led a sweep in the 100-meter dash in a time of 11.98 seconds, with Onofre second in 12.08 seconds, and junior Ryan Cook was third 12.1 seconds.
Thompson won the 400-meter dash in 56.05 seconds, and junior Sean Peters was second in 57.44 seconds.
Shores led a sweep in the 3,200-meter run in a time of 11:56.14, while Persun was second in 11:56.25, and sophomore Alex Acres was third in 11:56.31.
Comstock won the shot put with a heave of 40-feet, 2-inches, and senior Caleb Nason was third in 34-feet, 4-inches.
Comstock won the discus with a toss of 119-feet, 10-inches, and sophomore Hayden Barlow was third at 91-feet, 11-inches.
Jones led a sweep in the 200-meter dash, clocking in at 24.39 seconds, with Cook placing second in 24.63 seconds, and sophomore Ryder Morley was third in 25.07 seconds.
Ingram won the pole vault with an effort of 8-feet, 6-inches, while Mickley was second at 8-feet, and Peters was third at 7-feet, 6-inches.
Ankam won the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 44.39 seconds.
Ankam finished second in the 110-meter hurdles in a time of 17.55 seconds, and Ingram was third in 19.23 seconds.
Jones finished third in the triple jump with an effort of 36-feet, 1 1/4-inches.
GIRLS
Athens 97, Wyalusing 53
Senior Sara Bronson, junior Lizzie Gorsline, and freshman Alissa Vough were triple-winners to lead Athens in a 97-53 win over Wyalusing.
Senior Gretchen Schmieg was a double-winner for the Wildcats.
Bronson won the 1,600-meter run in a time of 5:40.38, while Vough was second in 5:53.18, and junior Ava Hughes was third in 6:11.34.
Bronson also won the 400-meter dash in a time of 1:06.34, while freshman Marlene Rolle was second in 1:11.66, and freshman Tatyana Nasser was third in 1:12.9.
Bronson teamed with Vough, Hughes, and sophomore Haylie Horton to win the 3,200-meter relay in a time of 11:28.84.
Gorsline led a sweep in the 100-meter hurdles, clocking in at 17.72 seconds. Senior Addy Wheeler was second in 18.95 seconds, and sophomore Hannah Parrish was third in 19.32 seconds.
Gorsline won the 300-meter hurdles in a time of 53.6 seconds, and Wheeler was second in 55.98 seconds.
Gorsline teamed with Wheeler, Schmieg, and senior Emma Renninger to win the 400-meter relay in a time of 4:41.56.
Vough led a sweep in the 800-meter run in a time of 2:43.03, while Hughes was second in 2:50.81, and Roelle was third in 3:05.32.
Vough also led a sweep in the 3,200-meter run in a time of 14:48.3, while Hughes was second in 14:48.34, and Bronson was third in 14:48.37.
Schmieg won the 100-meter dash in a time of 13.87 seconds. She was was second in the 200-meter dash in 29.71 seconds.
Junior Evelyn Panek won the high jump, clearing the bar at 4-feet, 10-inches, and junior Elizabeth Denlinger was second at 4-feet, 6-inches.
Denlinger won the pole vault with an effort of 7-feet, 6-inches, and Renninger was second at 6-feet, 6-inches.
Sophomore Abby Wagner was second in the shot put with a heave of 24-feet, 5 1/2-inches, and senior Hannah Earls was second in the discus with a toss of 80-feet, 1-inch.
Sophomore Kaitlyn Leonard finished second in the long jump with a leap of 13-feet, 2-inches.
Junior Alivia Learn finished third in the javelin with a throw of 65-feet, 7-inches.
Athens will be back in action at the Windsor Invite on April 5.
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IN PHOTO 1: Athens sophomore Graham Wanck. IN TOP PHOTO: From left, Athens sophomore Alissa Vough, junior Ava Hughes, and senior Sara Bronson. ... PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING.