On Saturday April 27, the boys and girls track and field teams competed at the Gator Invitational held at Reservoir High School in Columbia, MD. Despite the windy and chilly weather conditions, the boys team managed to place second in the meet with 50 points, coming right behind Huntingtown High School with 58 points.

After their second indoor state championship title this past winter, the boys team continues to prove their strength on the outdoor track, especially in the distance events. Will Cioffi placed first in the 800 meter run with a time of 2:00.53 and third in the 1600 meter run with 4:31.06. Michael Belmaggio also gained crucial points for the team by placing first in the 3200 meter run with a time of 9:47.96.

The boys team also placed in two relays, the 4×400 and the 4×200. The 4×400 relay team, consisting of Cioffi, Allejah Seraton, Bryce Witmer, and Benjamin Dill, placed sixth overall with a time of 3:34.92. The 4×200 relay team, consisting of Carter Holsinger, Silas Nickerson, Colby Bannon, and Adam Liston, placed eighth in the meet with a time of 1:35.81.

After having ran the 100 meter dash and the 4×200 relay, Liston said, “The weather was very challenging to run in due to how windy it was, yet all of our athletes managed to perform well and help the team to the top three placement.” Liston also said that, “Placing second in a meet like that is a very difficult to do.”

As expected, the boys team excelled in both the high jump and pole vault. Holsinger placed first overall in pole vault with a height of 13 feet 6 inches. Bannon also contributed many crucial points to the team by placing first in the high jump with a height of 6 feet 4 inches.

While the wind was difficult for most jumpers to overcome, Bannon did not let it stop him from contributing the most amount of points possible for his team. Bannon said, “Luckily I had my high jump coach, Mo, there to help me jump. I moved my normal steps back farther than normal and jumped as high up as I could, and I happened to clear it.”

The girls team also had a successful meet, placing sixteenth out of 43 teams. Freshman, Mikayla Moxley, placed third in the 400 meter with a time of 1:00.10. This race is without a doubt Moxley’s forte as she ran this race at the New Balance Nationals meet this past March. The girls team also obtained many points from their vaulters, Sarah Moravansky and Myah Davies. Marovansky placed second with a new personal record of 10 feet, while Davies placed 7th with a height of 9 feet.

The 4×200 team consisting of, Moravansky, Savannah Sitler, Payton Armeson, and Melanie Barger also contributed points by placing seventh with a time of 1:50.44. Being comprised of mostly underclassmen, the girls team continues to improve with each meet they compete in.

The end of the Gator Invitational now marks the beginning of championship season for the boys and girls track teams. On Wednesday May 1 they will be competing in the CMC Championships at Oakdale High School. Their next meet, the Frederick County Championship, will be held at Frederick High School on Monday May 6.