Flaitz and Delany continue to dominate
The 57th annual Hornell Invitational is this Friday, over 800 athletes expected to compete
Photo by Steve Harrison
The Hornell Lady Raiders defeated the Livonia Bulldogs 72-62 in LCAA Track and Field action on a cold, wet, and windy day.
Elaina Flaitz won three events (100m Hurdles, 400m Hurdles, and the High jump, while also anchoring the winning 400m Relay. The senior standout continues her undefeated streak in dual meet competitions in each of her open events. Selena Maldonado won the 100m, 200m, and the Triple Jump. Sophia Carretto took first in the 400m and the 800m, while Riley Harwood (Long Jump), Ella White (200m), and Makayla Kriner (Shot Put) each grabbed a first-place finish. And the 400m Relay of Harwood, Maldonado, White, and Flaitz finished in the top spot. Hornell took first place in 11 of 17 events in their most dominant performance of the season.
“It wasn’t a day for personal bests, but the less-than-ideal conditions tested the young team’s mettle. They battled the elements, their opponents, and their mental toughness and came out on top. It was their first LCAA win of the season after a couple of close defeats,” Michael V. DeGaetano on the win.
For the Boy’s team, Brennan Delany won four events (110m Hurdles, Pole Vault, Triple Jump, and High Jump). Brenna, too, is undefeated in dual meet competition this season. Jacob Phillips won the 400m Hurdles, Evan Clair took first in the Shot Put, and Austyn Gollinitz leaped to the top spot in the Long Jump. Gollnitz added a second place in the High Jump, Dominic Lockwood placed second in the Discus, and Spencer Hopper added two second-place finishes in the 200m and the 400m.
The Red Raiders came away with significant points in 12 of the 17 events while winning seven of them, but the Bulldogs swept the 800m and 1600m run, as well as scoring an upset in the 400m Relay and closing out the meet with a win in the 1600m Relay and a 79-60 victory.
Coach Michael V. DeGaetano was proud of the boys performance:
“You cede that many points and it’s difficult to come away with a win. But the boys hung tough and never quit, fighting down to the very last leg of the last relay.”
DeGaetano was equally impressed with the coaching team and the improving results:
“Girls Head Coach, Angla Delany, and coaches Welch, Newman, and Clifford are doing a great job of working with the athletes this Spring, especially in the field events. The jumpers and throwers are doing more and more of the ‘little things’ correctly that make a big difference in performance, and when they don’t, they acknowledge the mistake before we begin to address it. We are at the point in the season where the conditioning, training, and repetitions begin to pay off. Hopefully, as the weather improves, the already great performances will too.”
The weather forecast for Friday night’s 57th Annual Hornell Invitational is heating up. And so will the competition. We are hosting 25 teams from Sections IV, V, and VI-including many local teams. Almost 800 athletes will face off in 19 different track and field events in a battle of champions. Personal, school, and meet records will fall as the best competition brings out the best in our area’s athletes under the lights at Maple City Park on Friday.
