By Rob Potter
JEFFERSONVILLE — On Wednesday afternoon, track and field teams from several Sullivan County school districts made their way to the Jeffersonville-Youngsville campus of the Sullivan West Central School District to participate in the 2011 Donna Deppa Meet of Champions.
Previously known as the Sullivan County Meet of Champions, the event honors Donna Deppa, who passed away on Jan. 25. Her daughter, Rachel Deppa, is a member of the Sullivan West girls’ track and field team.
In addition to host SW, the other teams participating included Eldred, Fallsburg, Liberty, Livingston Manor, Monticello and Tri-Valley.
Soon after the meet began, rain began falling and intensified as the meet continued. The wet conditions forced officials to cancel five events: steeplechase, 400-meter hurdles, 4X100 meter relay, 4X400 meter relay and 4X800 meter relay.
The majority of events were held, however.
Seven SW athletes won their respective events. Eric Haberli took first place in the boys’ 3,200-meter run in a time of 11 minutes, 10.9 seconds. Rianne Erlwein won the girls’ 800-meter run in 2:38. Hannah Feinman won the girls’ long jump with a leap of 14 feet, 1 1/2 inches. Rosa Martinez won the girls’ 400-meter run in 67.5 seconds. Dani Myers set a personal record time of 11:11.4 while finishing first in the girls’ 3,000-meter run. Katie Sumfleth won the girls’ high jump (4-6). Brittney Milk won the girls’ discus (67-3).
The winners of the other events were as follows:
Boys: 100: Otto Banghart, Eldred, 11.4 seconds; 200: Tino Taylor, Monticello, 23.6 seconds; 800: Alex Campanella, Eldred, 2:08; 1,600: Hunter Proscia, Eldred, 4:51.2; 110 hurdles: Adrian Krzysztofowicz, Eldred 16.3; High Jump: Austin Colon, Monticello, 5-6; Long Jump: Mistah Alli, Monticello, 18-6 1/2; Triple Jump: Mistah Alli, Monticello, 37-9 1/2; Shot Put: Brian Edwards, T-V, 48-1 3/4; Discus: Brian Edwards, T-V, 132-10; Pole Vault: Sean Mack, Livingston Manor, 7-0
Girls: 100: Jessica Dunnigan, Liberty, 12.9 seconds; 200: Jayco Krebs, Liberty, 29.8; 1,500: Erica Concors, Monticello, 5:40; 100 hurdles: Rebeccah Harman, Liberty, 16.5 seconds; Triple Jump: Rebeccah Harman, Liberty, 31-4 3/4; Shot Put: Dominique Darby, 33-7 1/2; Pole Vault: Vicky Tingley, T-V, 6-0.
“It was a good turnout considering the weather conditions,” SW Girls’ Track and Field Coach George Shakelton said. “A lot of volunteers stayed here in the rain and helped us with this meet.”
Prior to the beginning of the meet, 37 third-, fourth- and fifth-grade SW students competed in the Elementary Mile. All of them received a medal after finishing the race.
At the conclusion of the meet, the seven SW seniors and their parents were honored. Those seniors are Angelo Bibbo, Rianne Erlwein, Robert Feeney, Kyle Flynn, Andy Kinch, Erik Lovgren and Brandon Wagner.