Bourne/UCT Boys’ Spring Track Preview

By: Dan Crowley
Published: 03/19/10

Seven seniors are expected to lead the Bourne/UCT track team this spring, with a promising group of veteran underclassmen rounding out the squad.

“Every year it is exciting to greet old and new athletes to the track,” Coach Gerry Czarnetzki said. “This is a promising group of young men, and I hope to see them succeed and improve throughout the season. Every time an athlete starts and finishes a race he is preparing for greater races and challenges of life. The results we look for on the track are the effort to run through the finish line and be able to say that we did our best.”

Senior Dylan Arsenault is returning for his fourth season.

“His strengths are in the 100 (11.6), the 200 (24.3), the shot put (40-1.75) and the relays—the 4x100 (10.4) and the 4x400 (57.5),” the coach pointed out. “Dylan was the winter track Sportsmanship Award winner and was named an SCC All-Star.”

Senior Brandon Higgins is back for his fourth season.

“Brandon finished 10th in the high jump at the National Scholastic meet and was second in the All State meet, both with leaps of 6-5,” Czarnetzki said. “He runs strong 50-yard hurdles in 6.9 seconds, and hopes to improve his time in the 110 high hurdles this spring by besting the time of 16.5 as well as improve on his long jump distance of 19-0. Brandon runs in the 4x400 relay with a split of 57.4. This winter he was awarded Unsung Hero Award for the indoor team.”

Senior Matt White is in his third year of running spring track.

“He comes to us from winter track, switching over from basketball this year and showed great promise in the 800 with a time of 2:02.3, as well as running the 400 meter in 54 seconds,” the coach noted. “Matt high-jumped 5-7 this winter and ran on the relay teams.”

Senior Nick Gerstenkorn also returns and will primarily compete in the shot put; his best throw is 31-9.

“We look for Nick to also compete in the discus and perhaps the javelin,” Czarnetzki added.

Three members of the Bourne/UCT football team will compete mostly in field events for the Canalmen this spring.

“Senior John Kilfoil is showing great promise in the shot put (40-3), javelin (131-4), and is a fine runner, doing the 110 high hurdles in 18.3 seconds. He has thrown the discus 103-8,” the coach said. “He could also help give depth to our sprint relay team.”

Football players Billy Lynch and Rob Collett will also be on the field this spring.

“Billy will be trying his hand at throwing the shot put, discus, or javelin,” Czarnetzki said. “Rob is also expected to try his hand throwing the same three events.”

Eight juniors will bring additional talent and experience to the team. Max Griggs ran the 100 (12.2), the 200 (26.0), the 400 (58.2), competed in the triple jump (36-7), and ran in the 4x100 relay with a split of 11.1 last spring. Ryan Sweeney threw the javelin a distance of 133-10, and ran the 100 meter in a time of 11.9 seconds, and a 200 in 24.6, and posted a split time in the 4x100 of 10.9. Joe Throckmorton is expected to once again throw the discus and javelin.

John Page played football and basketball for the Canalmen this year.

“John has shown wonderful speed in the sprint workouts and will be helping us in the 100 (12.5), 200 (23.5), and possibly the 400 (55.6),” Coach Czarnetzki said. “He can high jump 5-10, as well as run the 110 high hurdles in 19.2 seconds.”

Casey Brammer ran the 50-meter dash (6.5) and the 300 (44.8) during the indoor season. This is his first spring with the outdoor team. Erik Smith played basketball for BHS this winter. Last spring he ran the 400 in 53.8 seconds, the 800 in 2:10.6 and ran on the 4x400 relay team with a split time of 52.5. Connor Gomes ran winter track and specialized in the 300 (46.7). He will be training most likely to run in the 200 and 400 meter. Greg Roche ran cross-country last fall and was one of the top runners on the team. Roche will be running the distance events this spring.

Sophomore Peter Balkam begins his third season of spring track. His strengths are in the 400 (64.2), the one-mile (5:57.4), and the two-mile (13:19). He also ran in the 4x800 with a split time of 2:45. Sophomore Joe Epps just finished a season of winter track, showing great promise running in the 300 in 39.5 seconds, and running in the 4x400 relay in a split time of 54.9. He also competed in the 4x100 relay.

Sophomore Alex Longo ran cross-country as well as winter track. He ran the 600 meter this winter with a personal best of 1:47.4.

“We hope to see Alex run in the 800 meter and possibly the mile this spring,” Coach Czarnetzki added.

Sophomore Ryan McKenna ran cross-country in the fall and this winter ran in the mile with a time of 5:27.

“He also ran the two-mile in a time of 12:18, as well as running a split time of 2:40 in the 4x800,” the coach pointed out. “We look forward to his continued improvement this spring.”

Sophomore Luke Roy ran winter track this past season showing great promise in the 600 and 1000 meters, with personal bests of 1:39.9 and 3:01.6, respectively.

“Last spring Luke ran the 400 meter in 70.3 and the 800 in 2:21.6 while running a split of 64.2 on the 4x400 relay team,” Czarnetzki said. “He was awarded the “Most Improved” athlete after the winter season for his performance in the 1000-meter run. He went from 3:21 down to 3:01.”

Sophomore Nigel Jackson is a veteran of both the winter and spring track programs. “Nigel has shown great improvement in the high hurdles, both indoors and outdoors, and in the 50 highs he ran a season best of 7.5,” Czarnetzki explained. “Outdoors in the 400 intermediate hurdles he ran a 67.3. Nigel has good speed in the 200 with a time of 25.9 and in the relay 4x200 his split time of 24.7.”

Sophomore Damon Blankenship ran some of the sprints during the indoor track season. He ran in the 50 with a time of 6.2 seconds.

Sophomore Edwin Dayton ran last spring. He ran 62.5 seconds in the 400, and the one-mile in 5:57.4, and had a split of 63.6 in the 4x400 relay.

Four freshmen bring some recent experience to the track squad this spring.

Tyler White threw the shot put in winter track a distance of 38-3 and will throw again this spring. Ron Goodrich ran during the indoor season. His main events were the 50 and the 300; his times were 6.3 and 42.9, respectively. Sean Mahony was a thrower this winter. His event was the shot put.

“During the season Sean improved from 20 feet up to 28-3,” the coach said. “He also ran in the 50 and his best time was 6.3, as well as running in the 300 with a time of 49.5.”

Connor McAnaugh ran cross-country last fall and is expected to compete in the distance events.

With additional young talent expected on the track this spring the Canalmen are looking forward to a successful season.

Coach Czarnetzki will be assisted by volunteer coaches Art Svensen, Phil Riposo, and Bob Pierce.

“These men are greatly appreciated by the team and me,” Czarnetzki added. “It is their devotion and time that will help to make the difference.”

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