Track records continue to fall

Grand Island Dispatch, January 18, 2008

The Grand Island Indoor Track Team is having a record-breaking season and it’s only approaching the midpoint.

The team traveled to the Southern Tier Invite at Cornell and had a great showing. The top finish was by the boys 4-by-800 relay, running a season best and school record effort of 8:34. The old record was 9:15. The quartet of Chris Carter, Jordan Gibson, Ryan Hagen and Evan Tsembelis came in an impressive second place.

Tsembelis placed fourth in the 1,600 with a school record of 4:31.34 with teammate Chris Carter ever improving to his personal best of 4:39, taking ninth. Senior Tim Boorady and junior Bobby Rutland had their best shot throws with 44-feet, 3.75 inches and 36-9.5 efforts.

Caitlyn Driscoll also had a record day with her 3:24.5 effort to break the 1,000 record and add to her school’s records. Earlier in the year, she broke the 1,500 record with a 5:28.1 effort. The girls 4-by-400 relay set a new school record with a 4:32.8 effort in placing fifth in their section. Driscoll, Maritina Tsembelis, Ellen Betterson and Kelsey Mash shattered the old record of 4:38 set last season. Rahsanica Ford broke her own shot put record with a 27.1 effort. Mash won her heat of the 3,000, while freshman Pat Gallagher ran a mere 2.7 seconds from the record set last year by Tim Fargino in the event. Jordan Gibson and Chris Stessing had their best times of the season in the 600 with 1:33.52 and 1:36.29 respectively. Maritina Tsembelis and Amber Spiesz both ran their best times in the 1,500 with marks of 5:32.93 and 5:40.85. Joe Connors ran his best time of 42.29 in the 300 while Matt Klock had his best time in the triple jump with a 35-1 leap. Freshman Derek Stacey had his best time of 11:22.49 in the 3,200.