Track and field is off and running

The Beacon and Mariner Middle boys and girls competed twice this past week, as meets were held March 25 and March 27. The high school Vikings took on Sussex Central March 25 and hosted Indian River March 28. With so many results to report, I thought I would highlight the meets by team.

Mariner girls and boys

The Mariner boys and girls defeated Seaford March 27. The Vikings boys got individual wins from Jakob Hayes in the 1,600 meters (5:35) and 800 meters (2:28), Bryan Ramirez-Montano in the discus (84-feet-3-inches) and high jump (4-feet-8-inches), Trey Leggins in the 400 meters (1:01.9), and Darrell Trotter in the shot put (31-feet-10-inches). On the girls' side, Ali Stevenson captured the 1,600 meters (6:15) and 800 meters (2:48), while Mackinzie Brown swept the shot put (29-feet-3-inches) and discus (59-feet-1-inch). Desiree Robinson sprinted to victory in the 55-meter hurdles (10.3), and Olivia Burkentine won the high jump (4-feet-2-inches).

Beacon girls

The girls of Beacon outscored all four teams March 25 by more than 50 points, as they kicked off the season 4-0 against Mariner, Millsboro, Milford and Georgetown. Beacon won seven of the 13 events, led by Kaycie Gibbons with 17.5 points. Gibbons won the 55-meter hurdles, triple jump, and led off the 4-by-100 relay team that had a come-from-behind thanks to an impressive anchor by Montana Jones. Jones also won the 100 meters, Janya Currie won the 400 meters, Lainey Shockro won the 800 meters, and Haley Archambault won the discus. 

The Beacon girls raised their record to 6-0 with a double win over Georgetown and Millsboro March 27, beating Millsboro 84-25 and Georgetown 100-9. Shockro was the meet’s high scorer, winning the 400 meters in 1:10.5; then she doubled right back to win the 800 meters in 2:39, and long jumped 15-7 for 15 points on the day. Archambault won the shot put and discus, while Gibbons won the hurdles and triple jump for the second straight meet. Other event winners were Jones in the 100 meters in 13.6, sixth-grader Lindsey Fernandez in the 1,600 meters, and Maggie Browne in the high jump.

Beacon boys 

The boys of Beacon finished second in the five-team meet March 25, only three points down from Millsboro 79-76. Breaking the meets into dual action, the Beacon boys went 4-0. It was the first 4-0 start for the boys since the undefeated 2013 team. Beacon won three events, as Liam O’Donnell won the 1,600 meters in 5:38, Justin Friscia won the 800 meters in a tough early-season time of 2:23, and Deshaun Lewis won the high jump at 4-6. Adam Bowman was the high scorer for Beacon with 14 points, as he was second in the hurdles, second in the long jump, and fourth in the 1,600 meters.

The Beacon boys came back March 27 with a great effort in the tri-meet with Georgetown and Millsboro. Beacon won the meet but lost to Millsboro 57-52 in the dual-meet score. Beacon currently has a 5-1 record. Bowman led the way with 13 points by winning the 55-meter hurdles and long jump, and finishing second in the 1,600 meters. O’Donnell scored nine points by winning the 1,600 meters and taking second in the 800 meters. Friscia ran another runaway 800 meters for the win and has not been challenged yet this season, while Deshaun Lewis won the high jump, and first-year thrower Ryan Betins won the discus. 

Cape girls

The Cape girls topped Sussex Central 104-41 to open the season. The Vikings were led by Olivia Brozefsky, who won the 1,600 meters in 5:59.9 and the pole vault at 8-0.  Arianna Dabney won the 400 meters in 1:12.7, while Taylor Johnson won the 300 hurdles in 54.9. Hadley Rhue won the 800 meters in 2:56.8, while Ce’yra Middleton won the shot at 36-1. Mac Parker won the discus at 82-0, while Tia Jarvis won the long jump at 15-1. Timesha Cannon won the triple at 31-10, while Aya Daisey won the high jump at 4-10. The Cape girls hosted Indian River on Thursday, March 28.

Cape boys

The boys’ squad kicked off the season with a 94-52 loss to a much-improved Sussex Central team coached by Derek Shockro and Jen Cawthern. 

Sam Epstein won the 3,200 in sit-and-kick fashion in 11:19, while Josiah Miller won the shot at 40-9 and discus at 122-9. John Small won the triple jump at 35-11. The Cape boys hosted Indian River on Thursday, March 28.

Pumped 4 Pets 15K, 10K, 5K

A great early-season run will be held on Sunday, March 31, as the annual Pumped for Pets 15K, 10K, and 5K will take off from Stevensville, Md. A fun, flat and fast early-season race for a great cause. The Kent Island Cross Island trail is a beautiful, fun location for this growing and always popular race. A band, finisher medals, craft beer and the coolest age-group winner prizes ever. Go to www.getpumpedforpets.org for more information and to get registered.