By Rob Potter
GRAHAMSVILLE — May 7, 2002 – Local athletes set meet records Saturday at the Ron Francisco Memorial Relays at Tri-Valley Central School.
Tri-Valley’s Heather Iatauro set a record in the 2000 Steeplechase and the Liberty girls set a record in the hammer throw. Iatauro’s time was 7:27.2 and the Lady Indians’ throw was 213 ft., 10 inches.
Iatauro was also part of three winning relay teams.
The 1,600 relay team of Jen Gorman, Candice Carroll, Iatauro and Melissa Fancher won that event in a time of 4:27.5. The Sprint Medley Relay team of Gorman, Colleen Carey, Danielle Ruhren and Iatauro captured that race with a time of 4:32.8. And the T-V Distance Medley Relay team of Iatuaro, Carroll, Tracy Taylor and Melynda O’Neill took first place in 13:38.5.
Two other Lady Bear relay teams captured first place in the 3,200 medley relay and the freshman/sophomore 800 relay. The 3,200 medley team of Tara Taylor, O’Neill, Fancher and Tracy Taylor finished in 10:50. The freshman/sophomore 800 relay team won its event in a time of 1:58.3.
Monticello’s Katy Schlichtman was named the girls’ outstanding track athlete at the meet. She won the 100 meter dash in a time of 12.7 seconds.
Teammate Tiffany Washington finished second in the 100 with a time of 12.8. T-V’s Carey was third in the event, finishing in 13.3.
Eldred’s Maria Seniw scored 1,711 points to finish second in the pentathlon.
As a team, Liberty took first place in the hammer throw, second place in the long jump, third place in the javelin, third in shot put and third in discus.
In the girls’ team standings, Monticello was ninth among the Class A and B schools. The Lady Panthers totaled 22 points.
Tri-Valley placed first among the Class C and D schools, scoring 111 points. Liberty was third with 58 points, Sullivan West (SW) finished fourth (30 points) and Eldred was fifth (17).
Winners on the boys’ side included Liberty’s Matt Manzi. He was first in the 1,600 meters with a time of 4:33.1.
SW’s Kevin McCarthy placed third in the 1,600. He finished in 4:48.52.
Jason Kean of Livingston Manor took third place in the shot put. He had a throw of 85-9.
As a team, Manor took third in the discus, hammer throw and triple jump events.
Liberty was third in the pole vault and second in the sprint medley relay.
In the boys’ team standings, Monticello placed ninth among the Class A and B schools. Sullivan West (46 points) placed third in the Class C and D competition, followed closely by Manor (42), Liberty (31), T-V (11) and Eldred (6).