By JOHN ANDERSON
There was a podium for winning states.
There was a victory fire truck ride on the streets of Wellsville on Saturday.
But for Wellsville sophomore Kaylee Oswald, none of it happens if she doesn’t show the poise and competitiveness of a senior during the state qualifiers.
Her shot put at the last regular season meet of the season was 35 feet, 6.25 inches. In the Section V finals, she won with 37-2.5
To get to states, she threw 37-6.75 to win and advance.
And in the discus, the drama mounted even more.
With just one throw left, Oswald was sitting on the outside of the top eight scores. You finish in the top eight, you get three more throws. Her throw was so good she advanced. In the final eight with states on the line, two of Oswald’s throws blew away the competition and her winning throw of 116’-7” put her in the state championship meet on Friday.
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The improvement was incredible as she threw 101-3 to win the Section V Class B2 and B3 championships. She finished 14th at states, but her throw in qualifiers would have placed her in the top five.
Here are the final results from the state championships:
1 Kaylee Oswald, sophomore, Wellsville 37-10.00
2 Panayiota Anastos, junior, Maine-Endwell 37-09.25
3 Amelia Geck, senior, Pembroke 37-06.00
4 Loretta White, senior, Depew 37-04.00
5 Desiree Jean-Pierr, sophomore, Saranac 35-05.50
6 Aisling King, sophomore, Chenango Valley 35-04.25
7 Kiersten Alling, senior, Greenwich 35-01.50
8 Nyla Wilson-Epps, sophomore, Tapestry 33-05.75
9 Karli Martin, senior, Hen Hud 33-03.00
10 Kayla Tretola, junior, Island Trees 32-03.25
11 Gabrielle Holder, senior, Marymount 31-01.25
12 Hannah Roggie, freshman, Beaver River 31-00.50
13 Kassia Bono, junior, Mount Sinai 30-08.75
14 Juliana Juras, junior, Marlboro-2 30-04.75
15 Lola Buckley, junior, Potsdam 29-02.75
16 Ruby Nowak, sophomore, St. Mary’s Lan 27-01.25
During the Federation tournament after states, the winners in all classes, New York City, Long Island and private schools get together for a competition. Oswald threw a personal best 39’3 1/2 the shot put to finish fourth.
While Dean Giopulos has been a boys’ track and field coach, he has paid close attention to the girls’ program and is impressed with how Oswald handled herself this season.
“She has a world to grow yet, she is an extraordinary talent. She has set the bar high for herself, she has great ambition, wants to work hard and she’s very motivated,” Giopulos said. “Look at what she did in the Federation finals. Her last shot was her best throw by a foot and a half.
The girls’ program is coached by Jamie Bump.
“Kaylee taking fourth place in the shot put at the federation meet with a personal record? What a way to end an amazing season!” said Bump.
