IAC TRACK & FIELD: GROWING PROGRAM KEEPS S-VE HOPEFUL (2024-03-28)

Tioga County Sports Report
SPENCER — The Spencer-Van Etten track & field program continues to grow, giving Spencer-Van Etten hope for additional success in the IAC and Section IV Division 2.

“Our program has been steadily growing over the past few years both with participation and skills,” coach Kyle Holmes said. “Our varsity program currently has 50 kids in it while our modified program has over 20 athletes involved.

“We still have a lot of areas we can improve in, mainly in our field events, but we’re looking forward to seeing how each athlete performs and grows over the course of the season.”

One area the Panthers already fare pretty well at, but continue to seek higher accolades in, is the distances.

John Garrison, an IAC runner-up in the 1600- and 3200-meter runs, the senior was a top-10 state placer and an all-state honoree in cross country this past fall. Last spring he earned a top-10 finish at the state qualifier in the 3200, placing in the top five in D2. A couple of runners who finished ahead of him have since graduated.

Garrison is not the only returnee who should be competitive. Demi Mouillesseaux placed in the top 10 in the IAC in the triple jump and 200

“We have a lot of returning athletes and many of them are young which is great for the longevity of the program,” Holmes said. “Some of our older, more experienced athletes like John Garrison, Lucy Secondo, Brian Belanger, and Demi Mouillesseaux have been great role models for the program with their work ethic and attitude at practices.”

“Ultimately, we want to be competitive within our division and the overall IAC and hopefully get a handful of athletes to the state qualifier meet in UE.

Coming back this season to join Garrison and Mouillesseaux are Brian Belanger, Edward Rixford, Lucy Secondo, Kaylee Kastenhuber.

The Panthers are also hoping that newcomers Alden Salvato, Zach Paucke, Madelyn Ellison and Kendall Gentile will be key contributors.

S-VE will need to replace grads Pavel Jofre and Olivia Secondo. Jafre competed in the heptathlon at the state qualifier last spring.

“Ultimately, we are hoping to send a few athletes to the state qualifier meet in Union-Endicott and to place well within the division and overall IAC,” Holmes said.

The Panthers open the season today at the Rotary Relays at Chenango Forks.

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IN PHOTO 1: S-VE’s John Garrison. ... TCSR STOCK PHOTO.