Valley Sports ReportMIDDLETOWN, N.Y. — Tioga junior Dominic Palmer finished 12th in the Pentathlon this weekend at the New York State Class C Track & Field Championships in just his third attempt at the event.
Palmer won an IAC gold in his first crack at the Pentathlon, and finished second, but hit the state standard, last week at the Section IV. Championships.
"I'm really happy for him and he has come a long way in a short time," said Tioga coach Eric Gutierrez. "I know he wasn't to pleased with his performance at the start of the meet, but it is only his third time competing in three of these events — at one of the largest and most-competitive track and field invitationals he has ever competed in, while in his first year of track.
"The other guys we had at States have several years under their belts with a bit more experience with large meets, and yet Dominic did well for himself.
"We are looking forward what's to come in the future, he's a really talented athlete," added Gutierrez.
After three events Friday, Palmer was in 11th with 1,564 points, well off his total of 1,848 points after three events at the Section IV Championships.
On Saturday, Palmer was 12th in the long jump at 16-feet, 5 3/4-inches.
He finished off the weekend with a ninth-place finish in the 1,500-meter run in a time of 4:57.98.
Palmer finished 12th with 2,521 points -- well off his school-record tally of 2,944 points at the Section IV Championships.
Oneonta junior Beckett Holmes claimed Class C state gold with 3,301 points, while Silver Creek's Nathan Mays was second with 3,260 points, and Bern-Knox-Westerlo's Arlan Wright was third with 3,142 points
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PHOTOS BY KIRK LUVISON.
