Section 2 fares well at nationals
Shippee wins weight throw; Saratoga, Shen bring home 3rd place awards
NEW YORK CITY, N.Y. >> A week after winning her second state championship of the 2016-17 season, Saratoga Springs’ Kelsey Chmiel took third place at the New Balance Nationals Indoor held over the weekend at The Armory Track & Field Center.
It was one of the few races this year she hasn’t won — or set a course record.
Chmiel, a sophomore, finished the race in 10:12.94. Jessica Lawson, a senior from Corning was a half-second (.55) faster to take second and Brie Oakley, a senior from Grandview High in Colorado won the race in 9:56.06.
Jillian Shippee brought home a national championship to Clifton Park after a dominant performance in the weight throw. The Shenendehowa senior was the only competitor to top surpass 60-feet and her winning mark of 65-6 was nearly six feet further than her nearest rival. She could have won with her second longest throw, but topped it on the final of her six attempts.
Shippee also competed in the shot put event, but did not make it out of the preliminary stage.
The foursome of Jade Dennis, Olivia Lomascolo, Julia Zachgo and Hannah Reale of the Shenendehowa Track Club took third in the 4x800 meter relay. The Plainsmen students finished in 9:08.85 — about five seconds behind the second place squad from North Penn, Pennsylvania.
Three of the four Shen girls also placed third in the girls distance medley relay. Zachgo, Kelly Hamlin, Lomascolo and Reale finished in 11:54. North Rockland won the event in 11:41.04, followed by Ann Arbor Youth Track Club.
Reale also took home a third place award as an individual. The junior ran a 2:09.05 in the 800 to trail only Kaitlin Ryan of Bronx-
ville and Rachel McArthur of Bristow, Virginia.
Boys Championships
Saratoga Springs’ Nick Cavotta followed up his New York State long jump championship with a 14th place finish at the national competition. The senior couldn’t match his personal best set at the state meet a week ago, and bowed out after the first round with a top distance of 21-11.5 feet. Greenwich’s Colin Beasor also competed in the national championships, ultimately finishing 22nd in the boys 5,000 meter race with a time of 16:13.76.