T-V Thinclad Contingent
Leads Sullivan County

By Frank Rizzo
SYRACUSE — March 10, 2000 -- Seven county athletes qualified to compete at last Saturday’s New York State track and field championship meet, held at the Carrier Dome in Syracuse.
The state qualifier was held on Friday, February 25 at West Point.
H Heather Iatauro of Tri-Valley was 14th out of 28 in the 1500, clocking 5:01.26. At the qualifier, she set a school eighth grade record in winning the 1500 with a 4:51.7. Kate Landau held the previous record, 4:51.8.
Heather also competed in the 3000, taking 18th out of 27 with a 10:50.98. Jennifer Donovan of Half Hollow Hills (Long Island) won with a 10:02.09.
At the qualifier, Heather clocked 10:55.9 to take second behind Michelle Wale of Pine Bush (10:18.4). Heather’s best time in the event this year was 10:33.2.
H Mike Kowalik of Tri-Valley continued to dominate the Section IX shot put as he set a school record with a 49-6 to place 12th out of 28. Dave Bedore of Tupper Lake was the state champ with a 56-3. Kowalik qualified with a 48-111¦2 effort.
H Joe Iatauro of Tri-Valley was fourth in the 1600 with a 4:23.75, behind champ Jason Jabaout of Seton Catholic (4:16.84). The senior placed ninth in the 3200 with a 9:40.41. Charles Millioen of Saint Anthony’s (L.I.) won with a 9:29.02.
Iatauro’s best respective performances in the events this winter were 4:21.72 (school record) and 9:31.0.
H Zane Illing of Tri-Valley anchored the Section IX intersectional relay to a fourth place finish of 9:15.62. Illing ran the mile leg in 4:39.8. In the state qualifier he was third in the 1600 with a 4:35.3.
H Kandace Michelin of Monticello was 12th in the 1500 racewalk with a time of 7:46.70 (her season/career best: 7:26). Andrea Albergo of Penfield won with a 6:54.15.
H Monticello’s Allison Benson placed 11th in the pole vault with an 8-6 (season best: 9-0). Amy Linnen of Mount Sinai was the state champ with an 11-0.
H Liberty’s Chad Washington took 11th in the triple jump with a 43-1. Godwin Okolie of Half Hollow Hills (L.I.) was the winner with a 46-73¦4. Washington had won the triple jump at the qualifier with a 43-101¦2. His Section IX best this season was 44-91¦4.
Also at the qualifier, the Tri-Valley 3200 relay placed second to Warwick and did not advance. Members were Travis Salomon (2:09.8), Illing (2:06.7), Iatauro (2:01.9), and Kevin Kenney (2:09./7).
The Bears clocked 8:28.1 to finish 10 seconds behind the Class A track power.
Eastern States
Heather Iatauro set a New York State eighth grade record in the mile run on Tuesday, February 29 when she clocked 5:11.77 to place third at the Eastern States track and field meet at the 168th St. Armory in Manhattan.
Monica Ruiz of PS 204 in Queens held the standard of 5:13.9. which she set in 1984.
Joe Iatauro ran a season-best 2:00.98 in the 800 to place 20th out of 42 at the same meet.