Track teams fight, scramble, scratch to 3rd for girls, 4th for guys at Virginia Catholics

: Junior Nicole Bond out of the blocks enroute to a win in the 100 meter dash Saturday.

Between illnesses, injuries, and absences, the shorthanded Cardinals juggled lineups and improvised to finish in the top 4 teams on both boys and girls side of the ledgers at the 2012 Virginia State Catholic Track and Field championships at the Abbey of Benedictine High School. Coach Rita Williams, herself under the weather, was impressed by the team, many who gave personal best performances on a day when the Cardinals needed them most.

Moses Webb was quickly sidelined early in the meet with an injury in the 100 meters and Liam O’Connor was slowed by injury but managed to earn a 4th place finish in the 1600 meters. Nonetheless, the setbacks left Bishop Ireton with only 11 healthy boys for the balance of the day. A cobbled together 4×800 relay team of John-Paul Ryan, Stephen Washington, Daniel Burns, and Conor Pearson earned desperately needed points and Tavon Smith, fighting “a bug” still held on for a 4th place finish. Justin Paige, BJ Townley, Andrew Baerhe, and Brandon Price-Williams snared a second in the 4×100.

Baehre had a great day for the redbirds, placing in the 110 meter hurdles, the 300 meters hurdles, and the triple jump. Williams singled him out for an exceptional effort Saturday. “Andrew is the example of a true team player; today it meant giving up the opportunity to place higher in his best event, he took on the events where we needed him today. There was never a question or objection from him.”

Versatile BJ Townley took the team on his shoulders and delivered one of his best efforts in his Ireton career. After a third place finish in the high jump and long jump, he came back to win 110 meter high hurdles, turned right around and won the 400 meters, then skipped his signature 300 hurdle event to replace the injured Webb on the 4×100 relay. Finally, with Ireton desperate for team points, Townley entered the last try in the triple jump event. With a personal best 41’8″ in his resume, he would need a 42′ jump to win the event on his last attempt. Ever the competitor, Townley secured the meet’s boys’ MVP, and a first place in the event, with a School record leap of 43′ 5.75″.

Ireton’s girls earned a third place finish with a mix of great performances from their youngest, least experienced runners as well as their best runners. The 4×800 relay team of Cammille Merai, Karen Gusmer, Grace Hamilton, and Megan Reilly gained a 4th place, the 4×100 team of Amanda Callabero, Lizzie Spooner, Madeline Fortier, Christina Grant, earned a 5th place finish. London Duckett tossed the discus for a 6th place finish while Gusmer had a 6ht place in the 800 meters. Senior Anna Wissler looked to be returning to form with a 5th in the 800 while Reilly was 4th in the 1600. Kaitlyn McNutt finished 5th in the 300 meter hurdles and 6th in the 100 hurdles.

Junior Nicole Bond, a workhorse sprinter, didn’t disappoint either with a win in the 100 meter dash, a second in the 400, and third in the 200. Sophomore Ricca Graham won both the 200 and 400 meter dashes as well as a 4th place finish in the long jump.

The Cardinals hope to heal quickly as their most challenging meet of the season looms this weekend with the WCAC championships at Good Counsel High School on Friday and Saturday.