By Frank Rizzo
GRAHAMSVILLE — May 25, 2001 – With the demise of the Western Sullivan League, one of the few remaining opportunities for track and field glory and medals for its former small schools is the Section IX — Class C-D meet.
Livingston Manor boys’ track coach Scott Branning checked out the competition and figured his team stood a good chance of winning the Class D championship for a second straight year.
His charges did not let him down, and got to make the celebratory lap around the track while holding up the championship plaque.
The meet was hosted Wednesday afternoon by Tri-Valley CS in Grahamsville.
Track is usually thought of as an individual sport, but Branning chose to emphasize the collective team effort which yielded the title on Wednesday.
“Everybody contributed,” Branning said after the meet. “They had to get together and overcome adversity.”
One of Branning’s best and most promising runners had to miss the meet for reasons the coach chose not to reveal, and the others had to make up the potential lost points.
“A couple of times we were in trouble today, but people pulled through,” Branning noted. “We were strong in the field events.”
Manor took 1-2-3 in the discus and 1-2-4 in the shot put.
The Wildcats got wins from John Schleiermacher (discus/pole vault), Anthony Martinez (100), Remington Parker (shot put), and Kris Schleiermacher (in his competitive 3000 steeplechase).
“We had somebody scoring in every event,” Branning said. “They all did something well today.”
Frank Schorling, the Eldred coach, had drawn a comparison of the sectionals to the much tougher Orange County Interscholastic Athletic League (OCIAA) meet the Saturday before, when the Sullivan County teams were relegated to the bottom by the big-school powers.
“Everybody got a medal today,” Schorling said, and despite the steady rain and slick conditions — which did not make it a day for record setting performances — he could point to a number of personal bests by his team.
Maria Seniw, who placed second in four events, set lifetime bests in the long jump (14-9) and 800 (2:39.8).
Christine Lizzi, known more for her basketball skills, also took home four second-place medals for the Yellow Jackets, who placed second in the girls’ division.


Class C Action
Tri-Valley coaches Joe and Missy Iatauro had “done the math,” and knew it would be difficult for their respective squads to overcome the “newest” power in Section IX — Millbrook (this is the Blazers’ third year in this section.)
Millbrook swept the C titles, beating Tri-Valley 208-172 in the boys’ division and 191-162 on the girls’ side.
“We couldn’t have done too many things differently,” noted Joe Iatauro. “Millbrook is the MHAL (Mid-Hudson Athletic League) champ and they showed it today with their impact players.”
Among the highlights for the Bears were Steve Creek winning an exciting 1600 over Millbrook’s Tyler Arnett (4:47.6 to 4:48.1).
T-V’s Zane Illing won the 800 and also helped anchor the 1600 relay to victory as T-V overcome a huge Millbrook lead on the first leg.
Millbrook boys took 11 of the 19 scoring events while the Lady Blazers won only four but were able to accumulate points with their depth.
“They just have more kids, and were getting three places in each event,” said Missy Iatauro of her team’s rival, one of the few to break the Lady Bears’ long monopoly of the Class C and D track crowns. “Most of my kids ran lifetime bests, so I can’t complain.”
Among the performances noted by Missy Iatauro were lifetime bests from Kelsi Lockhart in the 200 (27.9/1st) and 400 (63.4/2nd).
Missy and Joe’s daughter, Heather, easily won three events (1500, 3000, 2000 steeplechase) to lead the Lady Bears.
Missy Iatauro was also gratified that her charges took both the 400 and 1600 relays. The longer relay’s time was 4:22.8, five seconds better than the previous season best.
The veteran coach also praised “quiet” athletes such as Danielle Poley (anchored both winning relays) and Kristina Mootz (lifetime best 2:37.2 in the 800 for second) and Jamie Kenney (points in both the shot put and intermediate hurdles, which are normally not her events).
“She’s always the last one here in practice,” Missy Iatauro said of Kenney.

Boys Class C
Team Results: 1. Millbrook (M) 208; 2. Tri-Valley (TV) 172; 3. Pine Plains (P) 104; 4. Rhinebeck (R) 48; 5. Fallsburg (F) 28; 6. Webetuck (W) 8; 7. Spackenkill (S) 2.
Individual Results: 110 Hurdles — 1. A.J. Soto (M) 16.2; 2. Bill Gorman (TV) 17.6; 5. Wells (F) 20.3. 3200 — 1. Kane (R) 10:07.9; 3. Steve Creek (TV) 10:18.4; 6. Travis Wolfe (TV) 11:28.0. Discus — 1. Trevor Shaw (M) 132-11; 2. Josh Moore (F) 122-7; 4. Matt Cook (TV) 111-10; 5. Trevor Bertholf (TV) 104-10. 400 — 1. Brett Burkowski (M) 52.1; 2. Bill Gorman (TV) 53.7; 3. Ryan Milk (TV) 56.3; 6. Momodou Ceesay (F) 58.6. 100 — 1. Owens (M) 11.7; 2. Durk Pearston (TV) 11.8. 800 — 1. Zane Illing (TV) 2:04.0; 3. Seth Hodge (TV) 2:09.3; 4. Todd Goldstein (TV) 2:10.0. Triple Jump — 1. Dave Eckert (M) 40-1. 3000 Steeplechase — 1. Bryce Wilk (M) 10:43.3; 2. Adrien Hobbs (TV) 10:50.6; 5. Adam Wilson (TV) 12:48.8. 400 Hurdles — 1. Dave Eckert (M) 59.3; 2. Zane Illing (TV) 60.5; 6. Scott Wells (F) 1:12.9. Shot Put — 1. Josh Moore (F) 45-9; 2. J.P. Coombe (TV) 42-2; 4. Matt Cook (TV) 41-7; 6. Rocco Meyers (TV) 36-7. High Jump — 1. Quinn Shaw (M) 5-10; 2. Durk Pearston (TV) 5-9; 4. Brent Smith (TV) 5-4. Pole Vault — 1. Stephen Bingenheimer (P) 10-0; 3. Adam Wilson (TV) 8-0. 1600 — 1. Steve Creek (TV) 4:47.6; 4. Adrien Hobbs (TV) 4:57.3. 200 — 1. Brett Burkowski (M) 23.0; 2. Durk Pearston (TV) 23.1. Javelin (non-scoring event) — 1. Cary (P) 115-9; 2. Josh Moore (F) 111-6; 3. Matt Cook (TV) 99-9. Hammer (non-scoring event) — 1. Josh Moore (F) 108-4; 2. Matt Cook (TV) 106-8; 3. J.P. Coombe (T) 102-11. 6. Sean Lewis (TV) 56-7. 3200 Relay — 1. Tri-Valley (Goldstein, Smith, Hodge, Illing) 8:46.6; 2. Rhinebeck 8:59.5. 400 Relay —1. Millbrook (Soto, T. Shaw, Q. Shaw, Perry) 47.2; 2. Tri-Valley 48.0. Long Jump — 1. Dave Eckert (M) 19-10; 3. Momodou Ceesay (F) distance unavailable; 4. Bill Gorman (TV) distance unavailable; 6. Dave Felder (TV) 16-6. 1600 Relay — 1. Tri-Valley (Hobbs, Milk, Creek, Illing) 3:44.6; 2. Millbrook 3:49.1. Pentathlon — 1. Josh McClinton (P) 2,039; 4. Jeremiah Salomon (TV) 1,725; 6. Dave Felder (TV) 1,464.
Boys Class D
Team Results: 1. Livingston Manor (LM) 192; 2. John A. Coleman Catholic (JAC) 148; 3. Chapel Field (CF) 133; 4. Eldred (E) 39.
Individual Results: 110 Hurdles — 1. Dan Reyman (JAC) 18.1; 2. Mike Swope (E) 18.2; 3. Jason Guzman (LM) 20.0; 5. Jordan DuMond (LM) 22.1. 3200 — 1. Matturo (JAC) 11:55; 2. Bobby Roser (LM) 13:03.1. Long Jump — 1. Dorian Mullings (CF) 18-10; 2. Jason Kean (LM) 18-9; 3. Anthony Martinez (LM) 18-2; 4. Mike Swope (E) 17-7; 6. Patrick Branning (LM) 15-4. 400 — 1. Kris Massa (CF) 54.7; 5. Patrick Branning (LM) 63.0. Discus — 1. John Schleiermacher (LM) 105-10; 2. Remington Parker (LM) 90-6; 3. George Thomas (LM) 71-10. 100 — 1. Anthony Martinez (LM) 12.0;2. Dorian Mullings (CF) 12.2; 6. Ron Milton (LM) 13.3. 800 — 1. John Kennedy (JAC) 2:16.4; 4. Jon Anthony (E) 2:27.3; 5. Kris Schleiermacher (LM) 2:39.6. 3000 Steeplechase — 1. Kris Schleiermacher (LM) 13:08.7; 2. Bailey (CF) 13:12.3. 400 Hurdles — 1. Kris Massa (JAC) 66.8; 2. Jason Guzman (LM) 1:11.3; 3. Jon Anthony (E) 1:14.0; 4. Jordan DuMond (LM) 78.3. Triple Jump — 1. Dorian Mullings (CF) 39-10; 2. Jason Kean (LM) 39-9; 3. Mike Swope (E) 37-10; 5. Patrick Branning (LM) 35-2. Shot Put — 1. Remington Parker (LM) 40-7; 2. Jason Kean (LM) 37-4; 4. George Thomas (LM) 30-11. Pole Vault — 1. John Schleiermacher (LM) 9-6; 2. Ward (CF) 6-0. High Jump — 1. Dan Reyman (JAC) 5-0; 2. Jason Guzman (LM) 4-8. 200 — 1. Kris Massa (JAC) 23.8; 3. Anthony Martinez (LM) 24.6; 4. John Schleiermacher (LM) 24.8; 6. Alois Renggli (E) 26.9. 1600 — 1. John Kennedy (JAC) 5:15.1; 3. Kris Schleiermacher (LM) 5:55.5; 5. Bobby Roser (LM 6:34.8. Javelin (non-scoring event) — 1. Alois Renggli (E) 127-4. 3200 Relay — 1. John A. Coleman Catholic (Matturro, Kennedy, Dillon, Trepanier) 10:43.7; 2. Livingston Manor 11:37.4. 400 Relay — 1. Livingston Manor (Martinez, J. Schleiermacher, Milton, Kean) 49.9; 2. Eldred 51.9. 1600 Relay — 1. John A. Coleman Catholic (Massa, Pittner, Nilsen, Kennedy) 4:01.9; 3. Livingston Manor 4:27.5. Pentathlon — 1. Steve Mood (JAC) 1,803; 2. Mike Williams (LM) 904.
Girls Class C
Team Results: 1. Millbrook (M) 191 points; 2. Tri-Valley (TV) 162; 3. Pine Plains (PP) 91; 4. Spackenkill (S) 55; 5. Rhinebeck (RR) 31; 6. Webutuck (W) 27; 7. Fallsburg (F) 17.
Individual Results: 3000 — 1. Heather Iatauro (TV) 11:05.5; 2. Dewitt (R) 11:15.0. Long Jump — 1. Sue Finley (PP) 15-1; 3. Colleen Carey (TV) 13-7; 5. Knox (TV) 12-1. Pole Vault — 1. Corinna Hengen (PP) 7-0; 5. Rebecca Cosentino (TV) 5-0; 6. Tracy Taylor (TV) 5-0. Shot Put — 1. Larna Chodan (W) 30-0; 4. Shannon Horace (F) 26-1; 6. Jamie Kenney (TV) 23-8. 400 — 1. Loren Donohue (M) 62.8; 2. Kelsi Lockhart (TV) 63.4; 4. Jen Gorman (TV) 65.8. 100 Hurdles — 1. Lina Orfino (M) 17.8; 3. Jamie Kenney (TV) 18.5; 5. Shannon Horace (F) 19.2. 100 — 1. Vayshenki (S) 14.0; 2. Colleen Carey (TV) 14.1. 800 — 1. Erica Angell (S) 2:27.0; 2. Kristina Mootz (TV) 2:37.2; 4. Vanessa Houghtaling (TV) 2:39.3; 5. Randall (PP) 2:43.3; 6. Larison (TV) 2:46.5. 2000 Steeplechase — 1. Heather Iatauro (TV) 7:22.2; 4. Tracy Taylor (TV) 8:47.6. High Jump — 1. Jen Orlowski (F) 4-8; 3. Colleen Carey (TV) 4-4. Triple Jump — 1. Finley (PP) 33-8; 4. Jill Knox (TV) 26-10. 400 Hurdles — 1. Finley (PP) 1:11.3; 2. Jen Gorman (TV) 1:12.4; 4. Jamie Kenney (TV) 78.5; 6. Tara Zanetti (TV) 1:24.5. Discus — 1. Larina Chodan (W) 90-1; 4. Katje O’Sullivan (TV) 79-10; 6. Felicia Strauss (F) 70-2. 1500 — 1. Heather Iatauro (TV) 5:04.7; 2. Donohue (M) 5:18.1; 4. Vanessa Houghtaling (TV) 5:41.3. 200 — 1. Kelsi Lockhart (TV) 27.9; 2. Buah (S) 28.3. 3200 Relay — 1. Spackenkill 10:48.3; 2. Tri-Valley 11:18.2; 3. Millbrook 11:42.8; 4. Pine Plains 11:54.6. Hammer (non-scoring) — 1. Jenna DePutron (PP) 60-4; 2. Nicole Wolcott (TV) 52-11. Javelin (non-scoring) — 1. Karen Anderson (M) 78-1; 5. Mizrahi (TV) 42-2. 400 Relay — 1. Tri-Valley (Lockhart, Carey, Gorman, Poley) 54.9; 2. Millbrook 56.4;. 1600 Relay — 1. Tri-Valley (Lockhart, Iatauro, Gorman, Poley) 4:22.8; 2. Millbrook 4:32.2; 3. Pine Plains 4:50.7. Pentathlon — 1. Steph Weichsel (RR) 1,651 ; 2. Binder (M) 1,565; 3. Sarah Alexander (TV) 1,375; 5. Alyssa Skidmore (TV) 1,126.
Girls Class D
Team Results: 1. John A. Coleman (C) 230 points; 2. Eldred (E) 116; 3. Livingston Manor (LM) 67; 4. Chapel Field (CF) 51.
Individual Results: 100 Hurdles — 1. Corinne Albrecht (C) 18.0; 2. Christine Lizzi (E) 19.6; 4. Tammy Greynolds (LM) 21.8. 3000 — 1. Meghan Young (C) 11:26.2; 2. Lindsay Fisk (LM) 13:14.5; Charlene 4. French (E) 13:36.3. 400 — 1. Renee Darmstadt (C) 67.4; 4. Jen Irwin (LM) 1:19.2; 6. Erin Donnelly (E) 1:24.5. 100 — 1. Jill Reyman (C) 14.2; 2. Christine Lizzi (E) 15.2; 4. Arielle Parker (LM) 15.2. Long Jump — 1. Yuri Mickler (C) 15-2; 2. Maria Seniw (E) 14-9; 3. 5. Arielle Parker (LM) 12-0. 800 — 1. Alex Hoefinger (C) 2:39.7; 2. Maria Seniw (E) 2:40.0; 3. Lin Wagner (LM) 2:53.1; 6. Rachel Dyer (E) 3:20.3. 2000 Steeplechase — 1. Young (C) 7:46.6. High Jump — 1. Albrecht (C) 4-4; 2. Tammy Greynolds (LM) 4-0; 4. (tie) Erin Donnelly (E) and Lucash (CF), 3-8. 400 Hurdles — 1. C. Albrecht (C) 1:12.1; 2. Christine Lizzi (E) 1:16.0; 5. Kelly Brodmerkel (E) 94.8. Shot Put — 1. Jessica Albrecht (C) 28-8; 2. Rachel Dyer (E) 23-7; 3. Becky Dyer (E) 21-5; 5. Krista Bressler (LM) 19-8. Discus — 1. J. Albrecht (C) 73-1; 2. Krista Bressler (LM) 69-9; 3. Becky Dyer (E) 62-5; 5. Rachel Dyer (E) 58-8. Triple Jump — 1. Yuri Mickler (C) 31-9; 2. Maria Seniw (E) 30-3; 3. Kelly Brodmerkel (E) 25-2; 4. Lin Wagner (LM) 25-2. 1500 — 1. Hoefinger (C) 5:45.3; 3. Lindsay Fisk (LM) 6:08.4; 4. Charlene French (E) 6:24.8. 200 — 1. Reyman (C) 29.9; 2. Maria Seniw (E) 29.9; 6. Arielle Parker (LM) 32.5. 3200 Relay — 1. John A. Coleman (Mahurro, Shanahan, Zucco, Masterson) 12:20.7. 400 Relay — 1. Livingston Manor (Wagner, Fisk, Parker, Irwin) 63.6; 2. Eldred 64.9. 1600 Relay — 1. John A. Coleman (Shanahan, Hoefinger, Young, Reyman) 4:51.8; 2. Eldred 4:52.4. Pentathlon — 1. Catherine Gutierrez (C) 1,632.