May 08, 2008 11:12 am
—
By ERIC AHLQVIST
Cooperstown Crier
When the Cooperstown Invitational
was formed nearly 20 years
ago, this was the kind of day organizers
dreamed about.
Saturday’s 19th annual Cooperstown
Invitational, now known as
the Cooperstown Don Howard Invitational,
had it all — great teams,
great athletes and great times.
``This was one of the better ones
we’ve had in a long time,’’ agreed
current CCS boys track coach Joe
Kennedy, who guided the Redskins
to a second place finish behind
Oneonta. ``I know Don wanted this
meet to be a showcase for area talent,
and that’s exactly what this
meet was. We had a 42-foot triple
jump, a 20-foot long jump, and just
some great relay times.’’
Kennedy said last week his
team’s balance would be the key to
victory, and it nearly was as they
racked up 75 points to finish second
behind Oneonta, despite just one
first place finish, from Ryan Huggins
in the 400 hurdles.
Terrell Silvera took second in
the discus and third in the shot put
for Cooperstown, and Peter Edmonds
took 17 seconds off his previous
best in the 1,600 to take second
place and 30 seconds off his
previous best in the 3,200 to place
third.
``I’m sure his times will raise
some eyebrows in the rest of our
league,’’ Kennedy said. ``Peter really
responded to the challenge, and
this might be just the beginning for
him.’’
The Cherry Valley-Springfield
boys took fourth place buoyed by a
strong performance from Brian
Sutton, who was a part of three
school records.
Sutton ran the anchor leg of the
winning 4x400 team, which shattered
the old school record by three
seconds with a time of 3:32.2; ran
the third leg of the 400 relay team,
which placed third and also set a
school record of 46.9; and set an individual
school record in the 200
meter dash with a time of 23.6 in
the semifinals.
Sutton placed fourth in the 200,
and was nipped at the finish line in
the 400 by Bainbridge-Guilford-Afton’s
Dustin Ross.
Both had official times of 51.2,
but Sutton placed second by tenths
of a second.
``Brian had a great day and we
had a great day as a team against
some very tough competition,’’ said
CV-S boys track coach Jordan
Jaquay. ``We were the top team
from our league (Tri-Valley) which
is also a good accomplishment.’’
``Cherry Valley hasn’t been at
this meet in a while, and I thought
having them here really raised the
level of competition,’’ Kennedy added.
The toughest performance of the
day was likely turned in by CV-S
senior Jesse Miller, who cut his
hand on his own spike during the
triple jump, and went to Bassett
Hospital to get 10 stitches in his
hand. But he returned later in the
day to take sixth place in the high
jump.
CV-S will hold its own annual
Invitational this Saturday, beginning
at 2 p.m.
Coop girls place fourth
The Cooperstown girls team finished
in a fourth place tie with
Oneonta, a result head coach Connie
Herzig was happy with.
``We don’t have some of the big
names like B-G-A and Sidney, but
we have a group of girls who work
hard and are proud of their accomplishments,’’
Herzig said. ``I think
we’re really starting to come together
as a team.’’
Junior Anna Weber had a big
day for CCS, finishing second in
the 400 hurdles and 100 meter
dash, and third in the 100 hurdles,
as well as competing in two relay
races.
``I don’t know what else we could
have asked from her, she was superb,’’
Herzig said.
Sidney won the meet, followed
by B-G-A and Cobleskill-Richmondville.
Cherry Valley-Springfield finished
sixth, helped by Laura
Kroon’s second place finish in the
high jump (4-10) and third place in
the triple jump (31-3).
``There were some fabulous
times and a number of records set,’’
Herzig said. ``This meet could not
be held each year without the help
of the community volunteers, and I
want to thank everyone who helped
make the meet a success.’’
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