By Rob Potter
WARWICK — May 22, 2007 — Outstanding athletes from around Sullivan, Orange and Ulster counties gathered at Warwick High School last Friday and Saturday for the annual Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association (OCIAA) track and field championships.
The event began on Friday with several running events and the boys’ and girls’ javelin and pole vault competitions.
Despite a bit of rainy weather on Saturday, the competition was completed as the remainder of running and field events were contested.
Midway through Saturday’s competition, OCIAA track and field officials took the time to honor athletes and coaches for their accomplishments this season and in past years.
Monticello Central School Athletic Director Ken Garry, who will be retiring next month after 35 years of service to the district as a coach, teacher and AD, was one of those honorees. Garry received awards from Southern Catskill Certified Track and Field Officials Association President Mary Onken and Warwick Athletic Director John Russo for his decades of service to the sport of track and field in the OCIAA and Section IX.
Results of individual events in which a Sullivan County athlete placed among the top six finishers are as follows:
Girls’ 2,000-meter Steeplechase
6. Courtney Roosa, Tri-Valley, 7 minutes, 43.4 seconds.
Boys’ 3,000-meter Steeplechase
4. Colin Seidl, SW, 9:53.4
Boys’ 110 High Hurdles
4. Sean Messenger, T-V, 15.4 seconds
Girls’ 100 Meters
5, Christina Watts, Eldred, 13.0 seconds
Boys’ 400 Intermediate Hurdles
3. Sean Messenger, T-V, 57.3 seconds
Boys’ Long Jump
5. Kienan Garn, SW, 20 feet, 4 1/2 inches
Boys’ Discus
1. Alan Ackermann, SW, 165 feet, 2 inches
3. Garrett Gray, T-V, 141-9
4. Tanzeel Kahn, T-V, 132-0
5. Matt Moore, Fallsburg, 125-5
Boys’ High Jump
4. (tied) Donald Cooper, SW, 5 feet, 10 inches
6. Jeff Simpson, Liberty, 5-8
Boys’ Shot put
2. Alan Ackermann, SW, 48 feet, 3 inches
3. Matt Moore, Fallsburg, 44-11 3/4
6. Garrett Gray, T-V, 44- 3 1/2
Boys’ Pentathlon
5. Brendan Ference, Monticello, 2,608 points
3,200 Seeded Boys
3. Brendan Devine, Monticello, 9:32:2
Girls’ Javelin
5. Tiffany Costello, Fallsburg, 76 feet, 1 inch
6. Theresa Allen, Fallsburg, 72-6
Boys’ Javelin
1. Garret Gray, T-V, 152 feet, 8 inches
2. Tanzeel Kahn, T-V, 145-7
Boys’ Pole Vault
4. Max Gunther, Eldred, 12-0
5. Jeff Simpson, Liberty, 11-6.