Pinkerton Academy’s boys’ and girls’ outdoor track and field squads both got their 2016 seasons started in fine style on their own turf last Friday, April 8 by taking care of business against the visiting Souhegan High Sabers from Amherst.
Coach Carol Quarles’ Astro males had no significant trouble with the Sabers, thumping the opponent by a decisive 89-47 tally. Lady Astros’ mentor Ed Vaitones’ didn’t see his charges best the Souhegan girls by such a wide margin, but the 65-58 victory was a significant success nonetheless.
BOYS
The academy males won eight events and had senior star T.J. Urbanik make an impressive return to official competition from a knee injury that cost him both his football season and the indoor track campaign.
Urbanik won the shot put with a toss of 40 feet, 9 inches to help his Astros to the day’s lopsided success.
Other wins were claimed by Kevin Johnson in the 400 meters (53.50 seconds), Stryker Coyle in the 1,600-meter run (4 minutes, 56.50 seconds), Nico Sevilla in the 3,200 (9:49.50), Chris Palmer in the triple jump (36’6″), and Trevor Hajj in the 300-meter hurdles (45.40).
Pinkerton also snared victories in the 4×100, thanks to the performances of Evan Rodgers, Kaycee Scheibert, Jayden Ruimwijk, and Nico Buccieri (44.40), and in the 4×400, thanks to Ruimwijk, Mark Iannazzi, Sam Lanternier, and Johnson (3:42.40).
Quite impressively, the hosts swept the three scoring places in the 400, the 1,600, and the 3,200.
GIRLS
The Lady Astros got wins in six different events, swept the triple jump, and took two of the three scoring spots in six events.
Wins were bagged by Nicole Alves in the 100-meter dash (12.80), Madi Smith in the 400 (1:04.90), Maria Virga in the 100 hurdles (16.50) and the 300 hurdles (54.10), Hannah Rogers in the triple jump (34’5 1/2″), and the 4×400 relay quartet of Veronica Sullivan, Ciara April, Morgan Sansing, and Bella Fast (4:37.90).
Second places were notched by Alves in the 200, Fast in the 400, Taylor Lacey in the 800, April in the 1600, Maison D’Amelio in the 3200, Alexandra Kirker in the 100 hurdles, Rogers in the long jump, Amelia Graves in the triple jump, and Sydney Shandell in the shot put.
Thirds came from Fast in the 100, Sarah Muller in the 800, Sullivan in the 300 hurdles, Nicole Kubec in the long jump, Smith in the triple jump, and Marryn Dennis in the discus.
