Story and photos by CHRIS BROOKS, managing editor, wellsvillesports.com
WELLSVILLE — Right as you make the right hand turn down Williams Avenue going east on the Wellsville Arterial, you can see a line of parked cars elongated from the tippy-top of the track all the way down into the parking lots on the lower level, and then back out the main entrance of the athletic complex.
All, for the Wellsville track team’s first home meet of the campaign, as they welcomed Canisteo-Greenwood, Alfred-Almond, Genesee Valley/Belfast and Jasper-Troupsburg into town for battle on Thursday.
Not only was it their first in front of their home crowd, but it was a meet that saw quite a bit of history being made along the way.
In all, three school records for the Lions were all broken by two performers, both of which provided some of the most clamorous noise for the team last Spring by charting their course all the way to the State Meet in New York City.
On a Spring-esque evening with the sun beaming down from the sky, it was shining the brightest on both JJ Howard and Xavier Scott, as the two Lions rewrote the school’s track ledger with brand new records, with Howard smashing school records in both the high jump and the triple jump, while Scott carved his path back to States with an automatic qualification after he broke the 110 hurdles record, as the two competitors helped set the tone for the Wellsville boys and their complete sweep with victories against Canisteo-Greenwood (129-97), Alfred-Almond (173-37), Jasper-Troupsburg (171-40) and Genesee Valley/Belfast (156-68).
Right after setting his first new school record with a 44-8.5 distance from the sand pit in the triple jump, Howard was the last competitor standing in the high jump event, as he continued his chase towards more history, as he soared to a height of 6-6 in the high jump to set a brand new standard.
In addition to his two record-breaking performances, Howard also recorded a long jump victory (21-4.5) to complete the jumping sweep.
Scott’s lone victory that saw him work his way back into the school’s history books was one of epic caliber, as he galloped his high horse all the way to the finish line with a brand new time that will stand as one of, if not, the quickest time in the State for the 110 hurdles event, finishing with a time of 14.6.
The four combined victories from both seniors were part of a seven first-place finish display for the Lions, with Collin Perkins (1600 run) and Jack Davis (400 hurdles) adding the remaining individual triumphs to go with a winning 1600 relay event.
As for the Lady Lions, they followed suit with a clean sweep of their own, as they recorded six first place finishes to go with a plethora of secondary finishes to power up their three team wins over Canisteo-Greenwood (197-31), Alfred-Almond (173-66) and Genesee Valley/Belfast (150.5-96.5).
Leading the way was Kaylee Oswald from the throwing pit, as she continued to lead the field in both the shot put and discus events with her winning distances.
Along with two relay victories coming at the 400 and 3200 relays respectively, Talia O’Connor (400 hurdles), Brooklyn Dahlgren (high jump) and Kylie Phelps (triple jump) each rounded off the wins with one of their own. Maddie Muurisepp cruised to victory in the 100 hurdles in 18.4.
The Genesee Valley/Belfast boys and girls put together a strong performance with two victories of their own, with the boys defeating Alfred-Almond (117-62) and Jasper-Troupsburg (115-47) behind three first place finishes — two from Brayden Cooper on the track, as he rode his high horse all the way to the finish line with winning times in both the 100 and 200 dashes. Noah Miller chipped in with a win in the 3200 run along the way.
On the other side, a four-victory meet for Bayleigh Tallman set the stage for the ladies to capture wins over Alfred-Almond (125-87) and Canisteo-Greenwood (144-33).
Tallman garnered three of her four wins on the track, speeding towards glory with a win in the 100 and 200 dashes, and the 400 sprint. Her fourth came from the field where she picked up the winning distance in the sand pit, in the long jump. Sophie Zillgitt scored a first place height right alongside Wellsville’s Brooklyn Dahlgren, as she shared the top spot with a height of 4-9 to claim gold.
Genesee Valley/Belfast also recorded a victory from within the relay department, triumphing in the 1600 relay.
Both Allegany County squads will return to regular season action at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, with Wellsville playing host to both Cuba-Rushford and Fillmore, while Genesee Valley/Belfast joins Friendship/Scio in a trip to Bolivar-Richburg.
Boys Results
100 – 1. Brayden Cooper (GVB) 11.3, 2. Xavier Scott (WLSV), 3. Jonah Burns (C-G).
200 – 1. Brayden Cooper (GVB) 23.0, 2. Dakoda Farrand (J-T), 3. Xavier Scott (WLSV).
400 – 1. Jackson Jusianiec (A-A) 55.4, 2. Andrew Kristerofferson (WLSV), 3. Chase Reinbold (C-G).
800 – 1. Dylan Depew-Cappadonia (C-G) 2:09.2, 2. Jackson Hayes (J-T), 3. Collin Perkins (WLSV).
1600 – 1. Collin Perkins (WLSV) 5:03.2, 2. Adam Ford (A-A), 3. Franklin Lewis (C-G).
3200 – 1. Noah Miller (GVB) 12:08.0, 2. Kam Dodge (WLSV).
110H – 1. Xavier Scott (WLSV) 14.6, 2. Jack Davis (WLSV), 3. Nathan Prete (C-G).
400H – 1. Jack Davis (WLSV) 58.9, 2. David Lamberson (WLSV), 3. Colden Caiazza (GVB).
400R – 1. Canisteo-Greenwood 46.6, 2. Genesee Valley/Belfast, 3. Jasper-Troupsburg.
1600R – 1. Wellsville 3:45.2, 2. Jasper-Troupsburg, 3. Alfred-Almond.
3200R – 1. Canisteo-Greenwood 9:38.7, 2. Wellsville, 3. Genesee Valley/Belfast.
Shot – 1. Kylan Burdick (C-G) 47-9, 2. Jon Foster (J-T), 3. Derek Coleman (WLSV).
Discus – 1. Kylan Burdick (C-G) 131-4, 2. Dezmond Gardner (C-G), 3. Derek Coleman (WLSV).
High Jump – 1. JJ Howard (WLSV) 6-6, 2. Callahan Tallman (GVB), 3. Nolan Palmer (A-A).
Long Jump – 1. JJ Howard (WLSV) 21-4.5, 2. Lucius Griggs (WLSV), 3. Wyatt Weaver (GVB).
Tri Jump – 1. JJ Howard (WLSV) 44-8.5, 2. Ryan Morling (C-G), 3. Lucius Griggs (WLSV).
Pole – 1. Will Hosmer (C-G) 12-0, 2. Mathias Sharp (C-G), 3. Jack Davis (WLSV).
Girls Results
100 – 1. Bayleigh Tallman (GVB) 13.5, 2. Madelynn Scott (GVB), 3. Andra Shultz (GVB).
200 – 1. Bayleigh Tallman (GVB) 28.2, 2. Caelyn Stevens (WLSV), 3. Addisyn Ely (GVB).
400 – 1. Bayleigh Tallman (GVB) 1:03.1, 2. Regina Dougherty (GVB), 3. Madelynn Scott (GVB).
800 – 1. Teagan Diestler (A-A) 2:57.3, 2. Layla Ford (A-A), 3. Ellasyn Cannon (A-A).
1500 – 1. Teagan Diestler (A-A) 6:00.8, 2. Layla Ford (A-A), 3. Ella Green (WLSV).
3000 – 1. Teagan Diestler (A-A) 14:21.1, 2. Ella Green (WLSV), 3. Christina McAuley (GVB).
100H – 1. Maddie Muurisepp (WLSV) 18.4, 2. Sophie Zillgitt (GVB), 3. Talia O’Connor (WLSV).
400H – 1. Talia O’Connor (WLSV) 1:16.9, 2. Allyson Hazelton (GVB), 3. Madeline Levey (A-A).
400R – 1. Wellsville 57.2, 2. Alfred-Almond, 3. Genesee Valley/Belfast.
1600R – 1. Genesee Valley/Belfast 4:31.0, 2. Wellsville, 3. Wellsville.
3200R – 1. Wellsville 12:00.8, 2. Wellsville, 3. Genesee Valley/Belfast.
Shot – 1. Kaylee Oswald (WLSV) 40-7.5, 2. Sarah Mattison (WLSV), 3. Faith White (GVB).
Discus – 1. Kaylee Oswald (WLSV) 101-0, 2. Sarah Mattison (WLSV), 3. Faith White (GVB).
High Jump – 1. Sophie Zillgitt (GVB)/Brooklyn Dahlgren (WLSV) 4-9, 3. Piper Metro (WLSV).
Long Jump – 1. Bayleigh Tallman (GVB) 14-3, 2. Pala Alsworth (WLSV), 3. Brooklyn Dahlgren (WLSV).
Tri Jump – 1. Kylie Phelps (WLSV) 30-0.5, 2. Isabel Jusianiec (A-A), 3. Brooklyn Dahlgren (WLSV).
Pole – 1. Matayah Sharp (C-G) 8-6, 2. Jaden Dunbar (WLSV), 3. Selah Ader (WLSV).
