Jon Dinan | Democrat Eldred’s Doug Leek pulls away in the 100 meters. He also won the 200 meters to help the Yellowjackets defeat Burke, though they lost to Tri-Valley.

Cold feat

Story by Jon Dinan
GRAHAMSVILLE — April 5, 2013 — To keep warm, athletes were huddled inside the vacant concession building at the Iatauro Sports Complex as Tri Valley hosted Eldred and Burke Wednesday for an early season track meet contested in excruciatingly cold temperatures.
“I couldn’t feel my feet,” said Tri-Valley runner Ali Reynolds after the 4x400m relay.
“It’s really tough on the body running long distance hurdles in the cold,” said Tri- Valley hurdler, Nate Bender, who won the 300 hurdles in a first-place tie with teammate Zach Nilsen.
Many runners and field athletes sported hats, gloves, long pants and sleeves while they competed. Just off the track, runners wrapped themselves in fleece blankets and heavy coats to keep their muscles limber.
“Normally we yell at them for uniform violations but today is an exception,” said Tri-Valley boys coach Joe Iatauro.
Despite the frigid conditions Joe and Missy Iatauro’s Tri-Valley squads looked well-prepared as they dominated their visiting opponents in both girls’ and boys’ competition, taking first place in 20 of 26 events.
Leading the way were multiple individual winners Mareena DiMilia (100 hurdles, long jump , shot put and discus); Sabrena Smith (300 hurdles and 200 meters) and Katlynn Greffrath (100 meters and high jump). Eldred’s Doug also won two events (100 and 200 meters).
Tri-Valley won all of the relay events in both boys’ and girls’ meets.
Monticello Tops O’Neill
The Monticello boys’ and girls track and field teams swept James I. O’Neill in the season-opening meet at Monticello. Double firsts by Shane Jackson (100 and 200 meters), Michael Rogers (110 high hurdles and pole vault) and Mistah Ali (long jump and triple jump) propelled the boys to a 91-50 victory.
For the girls, multiple wins by Laura Doherty (long jump, 400 IM and high jump); Camryn Johnson (1500 and 3,000 meters) and Cindy Fuentes (shot put and discus) led Monticello to an easy 100-32 victory.