PORT ALLEGANY - The Sheffield boys were rolling toward a Northern Tier League championship.
Then - Port Allegany got in the way.
The Wolverines beat Cameron County, 120-20, and Northern Potter, 111-34, but lost to Port Allegany, 85-65, in a quad meet Thursday at Port Allegany High School.
Article Photos
Times Observer photo by Allen Seybert
Up and over
Youngsville’s Kyle Rafalski completes his turn in the boys high jump during a track & field meet with Warren Thursday at Youngsville High School. After a pair of lightning delays and with Warren well ahead in both the boys and girls competitions, Youngsville conceded the meet, giving the Dragons victories in both boys and girls actions. Because the meet was not completed in its entirety, no results were submitted.
The Sheffield girls also had a strong day, winning two of their three matchups. The Lady Wolverines topped Northern Potter, 75-34, and Cameron County, 86-42, but lost to host Port Allegany by a lopsided 106-34 count.
Despite the loss to the Gators, Sheffield gave its all with personal bests, district qualifications - and even a school record - in the performance.
"I couldn't be more proud of the guys," said Sheffield boys coach Bryan Gould. "We knew it would be a close meet and it was just a matter of a couple inches and a couple of seconds that kept us from winning. Kalil (Slaughter) broke his own school record in the 200 with a 21.4, Deonte (Clay) qualified for districts in the 100 and 200, Kwante (Johnson) had a personal best in the 200 and Marc (Nadal) qualified for districts in the 400. It's hard to be happy with a loss, but today I came as close as I ever have."
Slaughter did everything he could to help the Wolverines cause. The senior delivered three individual first-place finishers, including the school record in the 200. Slaughter also won the 100 with a run of 10.98 seconds and placed first in the long jump, leaping 20 feet, eight and one-quarter inches.
The only other Sheffield individual to place first in the overall standings was Marc Nadal in the 800. Nadal crossed the line with a run of 2:16.42.
The Wolverines did have two winning relay teams - the 4X100 and 4X400 team. The 400 relay squad finished in 45.46 and included Deonte Clay, Kwante Johnson, Kedshon Westery and Dylan Reynolds. The 1600 relay team of Reynolds, Johnson, Nadal and Keon VonHendricks was victorious in a blazing 3:37.92.
While Port Allegany dominanted the overall girls results by winning 16 of 17 events, the Sheffield girls had plenty to be proud of on Thursday.
Freshman Jen Isenberg finished second in three events, including the high jump, discus and javelin. Brandy Rockwell was second in the 400, Jade Moore was second in both the 200 and long jump and Morgan Leichtenberger recorded a second in the 100 hurdles, qualifying for districts in the process.
Leichtenberger was third in the 300 hurdles, Hannah Vile was third in the 100 and 200, Rockwell was third in the 800, Abby Labesky was third in the javelin, Julie Ely was third in the discus and Tierra Hansen was third in the shot.
"I'm very proud of the girls for winning two of the matches today," said Sheffield girls coach Janelle Johnson. "Against Cameron County and Northern Potter, I thought we came out and took it to them on the track. Jen (Isenberg) improves in at least one of her events every single day and Jade (Moore) cut two seconds off of her 200 time and was on two of our winning relay teams."
The Sheffield boys are scheduled to compete at the North East Invitational on Saturday. Both teams return to dual action Tuesday when the Wolverines welcome Otto-Eldred.
Port Allegany 85, Sheffield boys 65
Sheffield boys 111, Northern Potter 34
Sheffield boys 120. Cameron County 20
100: 1. Slaughter (S) 10.98, 2. Johnson (S), 3. Clay (S)
200: 1. Slaughter (S) 21.41, 2. Conway (P), 3. Johnson (S)
400: 1. Miller (P) 52.25, 2. VonHendricks (S), Nadal (S)
800: 1. Nadal (S) 2:16.42, 2. Wright (S), 3. Byron (N)
1600: 1. Kibbe (N) 4:50.53, 2. Shuey (N), 3. Byron (N)
3200: 1. Coxen (P) 11:43.28, 2. Kahle (P), 3. Geisler (S)
110 hurdles: 1. Conway (P) 14.8, 2. Bundel (P), 3. Dendy (S)
300 hurdles: 1. Conway (P) 39.17, 2. Dendy (S), 3. Bundy (P)
Long jump: 1. Slaughter (S) 20'8 1/2, 2. Neal (P), 3. Reynolds (S)
Triple jump: 1. Johnston (C) 37'8, 2. Neal (P), 3. Sprandle (S)
High jump: 1. Conway (P) 6'2, 2. Neal (P), 3. Slaughter (S)
Shot put: 1. Taylor (P) 46'4, 2. Walinski (N), 3. Cousins (S)
Discus: 1. Taylor (P) 119'10, 2. Windber (P), 3. Lehman (N)
Javelin: 1. Horning (C) 143'8, 2. Fitch (S), 3. Smith (P)
400 relay: 1. Sheffield (Clay, Johnson, Westery, Reynolds) 45.46
1600 relay: 1. Sheffield (Reynolds, Johnson, Nadal, VonHendricks) 3:37.92
3200 relay: 1. Port Allegany 9:08.51
Sheffield girls 75, Northern Potter 34
Sheffield girls 86, Cameron County 42
Port Allegany 106, Sheffield girls 34
100: 1. Bucheitz (P) 13.31, 2. Borro (P), 3. Vile (S)
200: 1. Bucheitz (P) 27.89, 2. Moore (S), 3. Vile (S)
400: 1. Miller (P) 1:04, 2. Rockwell (S), 3. Crocker (P)
800: 1. Miller (P) 2:37, 2. Sole (N) 3. Rockwell (S)
1600: 1. Woodruff (P) 6:00, 2. O'Brien (C)
3200: 1. Woodruff (P) 14:11, 2. O'Brien (C)
100 hurdles: 1. Delacor (P) 18.12, 2. Leichtenberger (S), 3. Kane (P)
300 hurdles: 1. Delacor (P) 52.43, 2. Edgel (P), 3. Leichtenberger (S)
Long jump: 1. Bucheitz (P) 14'6 1/2, 2. Moore (S), 3. Delacor (P)
Triple jump: 1. Kane (P) 31'4 1/2, 2. Miller (P), 3. Borro (P)
High jump: 1. Kane (P) 5'0, 2. Isenberg (S), 3. Borro (P)
Shot put: 1. Taylor (P) 34'2, 2. Morgan (C), 3. Hansen (S)
Discus: 1. Taylor (P) 94'6, 2. Isenberg (S), 3. Ely (S)
Javelin: 1. Knauer (N) 134'6, 2. Isenberg (S), 3. Labesky (S)
400 relay: 1. Port Allegany 53.28
1600 relay: 1. Port Allegany 5:10
3200 relay: 1. Port Allegany 13:03