The Herkimer Central School District boys track and field team won the Center State Conference Division II league championship for the third year in a row with a dominant 280-point performance on Wednesday, May 20, at Sherburne-Earlville High School.
Capturing three consecutive titles has been a thrill, Herkimer boys track and field coach Jason Richard said.
“It is truly an amazing experience for the athletes and the coaches,” Richard said. “It is a really fun ride when you see everyone aligned on a goal and deliver above expectations.”
The CSC Division II league championship for the Herkimer boys outdoor track and field team comes on the heels of the boys indoor track team winning its second of back-to-back sectional championships this school year. Sectionals are up next for the outdoor team.
As the indoor and outdoor teams have continued success, it puts the overall program on a positive path, but the seasons and challenges are approached individually.
“Each year, the team develops its own unique identity,” Richard said. “We take each meet or goal one step at a time. Based on the returning talent, recruiting and coaches dedicating extra time, the goal will be to keep this train rolling.”
At the league championship meet, the Magicians were led by multiple first-place finishers across the track and field events.
Herkimer’s first-place finishers:
- Braysen Richard – 110-meter hurdles (15.83), long jump (20-3.5), triple jump (42-5.25)
- Shane Maxon – 400-meter hurdles (1:01.21)
- Flint Davis – 400-meter dash (55.20)
- Liam Miller – 3,200-meter run (11:17)
- Nick Allen – 3,000-meter steeplechase (12:05)
- Taylor Lamphere – high jump (5-8)
- Gabriel Hardy – pole vault (10-0)
- Russell Stapf – shot put (44-1) and discus (136-6)
- 4×800 relay (William Larzelere, Lucas Brewer, Gage Bassett, Nick Allen) – 9:27.31
- 4×400 relay (Logan Marusic, William Larzelere, Flint Davis, Shane Maxon) – 3:52.25
“This team has been the most focused of them all,” Richard said. “Their work effort during practice is unmatched by any team. They are self-motivated and push each other hard. Some of these guys have been training seven months at this point. We are almost to the finish line.”
The Herkimer Central School District boys track and field team poses with the Center State Conference Division II league championship banner on Wednesday, May 20, at Sherburne-Earlville High School. This is the third year in a row the team has won the league championship.