Harwood Union Middle School track and field girls’ and boys’ teams ended their season with exciting performances at the University of Vermont on Friday, May 30. Student athletes must qualify to compete in the state meet by time, height, distance, or a top 20 ranking in Vermont.
The Harwood girls’ team, who came into the final meet with two wins and one second-place finish, dominated the point total and took home the state championship. Harwood posted 60 points, with Colchester in second at 54 points, and Essex in third with 52.5. In the 100-meter dash, Gia Gendimenico placed third overall followed by Willow Thomas in fifth place. Campbell Skates placed second overall in the 100-meter hurdles. In the 200-meter dash, Gendimenico placed third while Liv Kielich placed eighth. Kielich also placed fourth in the 400-meter, with Rebecca Frank in 17th after coming back from an injury earlier in the season. In the 800-meter, Frank, Victoria Grace, and Fionna Wanner all posted personal best times, with Grace also posting a personal best time in the 1500 meter.
The girls 4x100-meter and 4x400-meter relays were the highlights of the meet, with both relays posting wins. Leading off the 4x100-meter relay team was Skates followed by Thomas, Olivia Brooks, and Gendimenico. On the 4 x 400-meter relay team was Kielich, Frank, Grace, and Skates.
During the girls’ races, four Harwood Middle School track records were broken. Campbell Skates 100 meter hurdle time of 18.67 was 2.4 seconds faster than the previous record. Liv Kielich ran the 400m in a blistering 63.8 seconds, 1.9 seconds faster than the 19-year-old record. The girls 4x100-meter team ran the race in 54.89 seconds, 1.2 seconds faster than the previous record set in 2016. Finally, the girls 4x400 meter ran in a time of 4:29, besting another record from 2016 by 10 seconds.
BOYS’ TEAM
From the boys’ team, Grayson Eley and Wyatt Whutten competed in the sprint events along with Mason Pockoski, and Sava Leitner in the 4 x 100-meter relay. Leitner, a seventh grader who qualified in both the 400 and 800 meter, put up a 10th-place finish with a personal best time of 60.82 seconds in the 400 meter. The boys 4x400-meter team, which consisted of Trey Isham, Beckett McElroy, Sam Rost and Ryan Campell, closed out the meet with a season best time of 4:39.
“Four school records were broken in a single meet. The girls 4x400-meter race was truly one of the most exciting I have ever watched. The drive and commitment of this entire middle school crew has been phenomenal all season, and their hard work truly paid off. The entire team should all be proud of how much they have improved over the season and how well they have done. The middle school will be retaining some current seventh graders who I’m certain will be able to step up and lead their team next year. The high school team will be gaining a wonderful group of soon-to-be freshmen who challenge and support each other and are a real pleasure to coach,” said co-coach Matt Casari.
"The entire HU track and field team, including student athletes who were not at the state meet, are a huge reason for the success of this season. They show up and work hard every practice and motivate each other through the challenges. Track and field is a tough sport and the mental and physical focus that these student athletes have and encouragement they show each other all season, from the first snowy practice to the very last grueling workout and race, is so inspiring. They are absolutely wonderful to coach. Several school records were broken and top 10 performances put on the record book this season, and I am beyond excited for years to come with this team. Their track and field adventures are just beginning, and they should be so proud of what they've accomplished this season," says Ali Thomas HUMS co-coach.
