Shaker and Shenendehowa Dominate Section 2 Indoor Track Meet

The indoor track and field season kicked off with impressive performances at the Section 2 meet held at Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) on March 9, 2024. Shaker High School and Shenendehowa High School emerged as the standout teams, showcasing their strength across various events.

Shaker’s girls’ team dominated the competition, amassing a total of 122 points to secure first place. Shenendehowa followed closely with 105 points, but Shaker’s depth in jumps and sprints proved critical to their success. Junior Ruby Miracle shone in the pole vault, clearing a height of 10 feet 6 inches for a convincing victory. Meanwhile, Shaker’s Ella Majeran earned two podium finishes, placing third in both the long jump with a distance of 15 feet 4.25 inches and the high jump at 4 feet 3 inches.

Senior Meaghan Lynch from Schuylerville made a notable impact, winning both the long jump with a leap of 16 feet 1.5 inches and the triple jump at 35 feet 9.25 inches. Shenendehowa also had strong contributions, with senior Jordan Schidzick finishing second in the long jump at 15 feet 9.5 inches. Younger athletes like Leah Menton and Olivia Johnson added essential points for their team.

In the boys’ competition, Shenendehowa clinched first place with 94 points, edging out Shaker, which scored 79 points. Albany High School and Amsterdam High School tied for third, both finishing with 47 points. The distance events highlighted the athletes’ endurance and tactical prowess. William Brooks from Ballston Spa completed the 1600-meter run in 4 minutes 52 seconds, while LaSalle Institute’s Holden McLean set a strong pace in the 3200-meter run with a time of 11 minutes 30.6 seconds.

Shenendehowa’s Leo Christopher excelled in the 1000-meter, finishing in 2 minutes 56.4 seconds, while teammate Jonas Vinciquerra took first in the 600-meter with a time of 1 minute 33.3 seconds. The sprints and relays showcased Shaker’s strengths, with Gerardo Lopez winning the 300-meter dash in 38.5 seconds. The Shaker 4×200 relay team also excelled, finishing with a time of 1 minute 39.5 seconds and demonstrating seamless baton exchanges.

Field events showcased remarkable performances, with Amsterdam’s Bryce Greco dominating the horizontal jumps, winning the triple jump with a distance of 44 feet 0.75 inches and securing second place in the long jump at 19 feet 10.75 inches. Albany High’s Nasief Smith took the long jump title, posting a mark of 20 feet 4.75 inches. Cobleskill-Richmondville’s Damian Roennpagel electrified the crowd by clearing 11 feet in the pole vault, the highest mark recorded in the boys’ meet.

As the competition concluded, the team standings reflected the strength and versatility of the top squads.

Final Team Standings

Girls Team Standings:
1. Shaker – 122 points
2. Shenendehowa – 105 points
3. Ballston Spa – 42 points
4. Albany High – 31 points

Boys Team Standings:
1. Shenendehowa – 94 points
2. Shaker – 79 points
3. Albany High – 47 points
4. Amsterdam – 47 points

The indoor track and field season promises to be an exciting one, with many athletes and teams already making their marks early on.