By Eli Ruiz and Jeanne Sager
LAGRANGEVILLE — August 2, 2005 – Several Sullivan County track and field stars participated in the 28th annual Empire State Games held Thursday, July 28, through Sunday, July 31, in LaGrangeville.
Representing the Tri-Valley School in track was eleventh grader Ryan Loughney of Woodbourne who placed second in the 12-pound hammer toss. With a distance of 170.5 feet, Loughney set a school record and registered his career best throw.
Tri-Valley ninth grader Rachel Sanborn competed in the 10,000 meter run and managed a seventh place finish with a time of 45:08.88.
A Tri-Valley alum and SUNY Delhi freshman, Adam Wilson took second place in the open men’s 400 meter hurdles.
This was a lifetime best for Wilson who this past season won the Division III National Junior College 400 meter hurdles.
Hankins resident and 2005 Sullivan West graduate Mike Vanwagenen captured silver, placing second in the scholastic men’s 3000 steeplechase with a time of 10:03.6.
His schoolmate Alan Ackermann of Cochecton was fifth in the scholastic men’s discus with a throw of 41.81 meters.
Jamie Schombs of nearby Glen Spey threw the javelin 23.89 meters to finish seventh in the scholastic women’s javelin competition.
Livingston Manor’s Jacob Schwartz also fared well, earning a sixth place finish in the men’s pole vault for his 3.50-meter jump.
The multi-sport games, patterned after the Olympics, are open to amateur athletes who reside in New York.