Story and photos from Chris Brooks, Editor of WellsvilleSports.com
WELLSVILLE — Before Sectionals on the track and out in the field takes not only the surrounding local area, but Section V in its entirety by storm, there was one more piece of business to attend to before the regular season could officially close its final chapter in the book — a chance to earn some ribbons and the right to be the best of the best in the County.
The Allegany County Championship meet. The hunt was officially on, as all five track teams converged together at the John J. Rigas Track and Field Complex in Wellsville to decide it all.
When all the times, distances and heights were recorded and finalized at the end of the night, the Fillmore boys and the Genesee Valley/Belfast girls were on top of the county, as they became champions with the Eagles placing 165 first place points, and 126 first place points propelling the Genesee Valley/Belfast girls towards their final piece of hardware before they take Section V’s biggest stage next week.
Genesee Valley/Belfast’s Championship-clinching performance was secured behind Sophie Zillgitt and Angel Jimerson, as each recorded a pair of victories out of the team’s seven individually, with Zillgitt recording top finishes in the 100 hurdles and long jump, while Jimerson provided a complete sweep in both throwing events with winning distances in the shot put and discus. Sophia Gambino and Allyson Hazelton added the team’s final pair of individual wins, with Gambino claiming first in the 400 sprint, while Hazelton hurdled her way to the finish line in the 400 hurdles.
Genesee Valley/Belfast would also add one relay victory in the 1600 relay as the event’s lone competitor.
On the boys side, four first place ribbons and a slew of secondary finishes were garnered with Hayden Burnell and Thayne Cobb leading the charge, as the two recorded first place wins in the 400 hurdles and triple jump, pairing them with two relay victories stemming from the 400 and 1600 relay events.
The Eagles of Fillmore claimed top honors for their boys team behind five first place finishes individually, two from Henry Sardina who raced his way towards triumph in the 400 and 800 sprints. Ernie Lipscomb and Eli Strickland each followed behind with wins in the 1600 and 3200 runs, respectively to tag alongside the team’s 3200 relay victory.
As for the Lady Eagles, they would finish with 38 points behind a trio of secondary finishes from Tenlee Miller (400 hurdles), Alex Thur (shot put) and Sophia Pastorius (discus).
Cuba-Rushford would witness both boys and girls teams record third place finishes to follow up behind Genesee Valley/Belfast and Fillmore. The Rebels saw just three individual victories and multiple secondary finishes come into ultimate fruition, two of them coming off a complete sweep in the throwing events by Tristan Clayson, as he recorded wins in the shot put and discus. Ethan Coleman followed with his winning height in the pole vault.
The Lady Rebels followed suit with four victories of their own, three of them individually from Libby Drum (3000 run), Karleigh Truax (triple jump) and Lily Tompkins (pole vault) to pair alongside their lone win across the relay department, grabbing the ribbon in the 400 relay event.
The top remaining results from the Allegany County Championship meet are posted below for your viewing.
All five teams, as well as host Wellsville, now gear up to begin their Sectional journey, which will now get set to take place next week.
