Mike Vukovcan The Hopewell Track and Field team traveled to Shenango High School for the MAC Championship on Wednesday, and two Vikings made school history. Seniors Emma Palmieri and Connor Progar took advantage of beautiful weather and broke school records.
Connor broke his own record that he set last year in the pole vault, clearing 13’10”. He also had 2 very close attempts at the next height (14’4″) indicating that he could improve on this record a few more times this season. He finished 2nd on the day in a jump-off with Mohawk’s Joe Whippo, who also set his school’s record.
Emma’s record came in the 200m dash, when she ran 25.65, besting Lauryn Speicher’s time of 25.77 from just 2 years ago. This is Emma’s second school record- she also has the 4x100m relay record along with Speicher, Aubryanna Snyder, and Maya Richburg.
She has her sights set next on Elise Farris’ 400m record (57.64) that has stood since 2010. She recently signed with Mercyhurst University, where she will be part of their new track program competing at the Division 1 level.
Emma also made the podium with both the 4x100m and 4x400m relay teams. She, along with Maya Richburg, Avery Boyd, and Nevaeh Persi-Jones earned a 4th place finish with their best time of the season (50.44). The 4×400 team of Palmieri, Richburg, Reese Murray a, and Madi Inderelst placed 6th. Both teams are traveling to Philadelphia to compete in the historic Penn Relays on Friday.
The javelin throwers had a big day for themselves. Vinny Boris made the podium, placing 6th with his personal best throw of 137’4″. Mike DiNardo also threw a PB of 129’6″. Marlee Page inched closer to the century mark with her best effort of 99’9″.
Zach Kovell ran his best times of the season in the 200m (22.68) and 400m (51.03), placing 3rd and 4th, respectively. After a few rough meets earlier in April, he is back on track for his goal of adding another school record or two to his resume before continuing his career at Westminster College.
Zach Lucas continued his strong senior campaign. The Geneva College commit placed 5th in the 110m hurdles with a 15.99 run in the finals. Senior Reese Murray improved her 300m hurdle PB to 51.01, by dominating her heat.
In the jumps, Nick Adams placed 6th in the triple jump with 40’8″. Senior Sam Milligan jumped a new personal record of 10’4″ in the pole vault. Senior Mia Blakeslee reached new heights in the high jump as well, clearing 4’8.5″. Avery Boyd had a season best 31’11” triple jump.
Several freshman athletes had big days. Avery Bokor placed 4th in the high jump with 5’8.5″ clearance.
Harley Hample cleared a new PB in high jump, matching Mia Blakeslee at 4’8.5″. Tessa Burgess made remarkable progress in her 100m hurdles, maintaining her 3-step rhythm for the entire race on her way to a new PB time of 17.80. Tre Cameron ran the anchor leg on the boys 4×100 relay that ran 44.84. Brody Rock threw a huge PB of 117’7″ with the discus. Jack Biega had a monster day on the track, dropping a PB of 2:05.98 in the 800m and splitting 52.9 as the anchor of the boys 4×400 team that matched their best time of the season with 3:39.
The Vikings have a lot of action up this weekend. The girls relays will run at the Penn Relays in Philadelphia on Friday, and the rest of the team will compete in the City of Hermitage Invitational on Saturday at Hickory High School.
