Track and field is not a contact sport. There’s no hitting, tackling or blocking. But fans can be sadistic when they watch a steeplechase. They’ll cluster along the fence near the water jump and cheer for every splash. The colder the day, the better the spectators like it.
And it was cold for the Green Dragon Relays on April 9 — so cold that it was hard to recognize coaches with their winter coats and ear flaps.
Despite the threat of snow and near freezing temperatures, 25 teams showed up for the annual meet on the Cornwall campus. The Dragons avoided the steeplechase, and did well in the dryer events. They finished first in:
-The varsity girls 3200-meter relay
-The varsity girls high jump
-The frosh-soph hurdles (boys)
-The frosh-soph 400 relay (boys)
In the field events, athletes competed as two-person teams, and their combined height or distance determined where they finished. Some noteworthy individual performances included Katie Murphy first in high jump, Kassidy Murtagh personal best in triple jump, Matt Shaw fourth in discus and Hadonel Desgraviers sixth in shot put.
In team scoring, the girls from Cornwall and Monroe were tied for second with 70 points. North Rockland finished first.
Cornwall has been hosting the relays since 1996. The event is a major fund-raiser for the team, along with the annual basketball game with the Harlem Wizards. On April 9, parents and students volunteered at the concession stands and at the track.
GIRLS — Shuttle hurdles — Murphy, Murtagh, Henry (2) 51.53. 1600 relay: Morgan, Nicosia, Henry, Fanning (2) 4:14.98. 3200 relay: Nicosia, Caroli, Munterich, Mellino (1) 10:20.21. Distance medley: Mellino, Morgan, Fanning, Caroli (3) 12;52.85. Discus: Manderson-Dorcinville (2) 174-9. High jump: Murphy-Henry (1) 9-8. Triple jump: Murphy-Murtagh (2) 64-7.5. Girls finished second.
BOYS — 3200 relay: Vega, Scileppi, Rivera, St. Germain (3) 8:42.44. Distance medley: Vega, Wallace, Scileppi, St. Germain (3) 11:15.54.
F/S GIRLS — 3200 relay: Decker, Hickman, Flores, Cameron (1) 10:59. Discus: Canausa-Musico (3) 105-6.5..
F/S BOYS — Shuttle hurdles: Olavarria, Civil, Lindsell (1) 57.75. 400 relay: Olavarria, Tricomi, Denning, Goitia (1) 47.72. 1600 relay: Olavarria, Denning, Tricomi, Goitia (2) 3:45.40. Discus: Brisman-King (3) 181-6.5.
