The Dunkirk Marauders celebrated the success of seven seniors during their final league meet of the season against the Gowanda Panthers, then celebrated their first wins of the season.

Before the meet began, seniors Andre Lockett, Jaden Ortiz, Devaun Farnham-Dejesus, Nate Ganey, Issiah Velez, Julia Fred, and Emilee Hanlon were recognized for their years on the track. The booster club then also had a special presentation for Hanlon. She was presented with her State Championship Banner that will be hung in the gym, recognizing her as the NYS High Jump Champion for Division II that she won last year.

GIRLS

The Lady Marauders beat Gowanda, 70-66. The 4×800 relay was won by Julia Fred, Sierra Jacques, Gabby Lobe, and Zoe Lobe in a time of 11:48.3. Next, Ashton Francsis from Gowanda won the 100 hurdles in 20.2 with her teammate Lindsey Gabel right behind in 22.2. In the 100 Dunkirk’s Jessica Beehler, and Octavia Proter went 1-2 in 13.4, and 13.7, respectively, and Gowanda’s Elise Forbs took third in 13.9.

The 1500 saw Gowanda’s Kayla Forthman win at the line in 5:48.2, with Dunkirk’s Gabby Hart battling her to the end to finish 5:49.1. Gowanda’s Kristine Twoguns took third in 6:02.5. Dunkirk’s 4×1 of Porter, Beehler, Jericha Petrella, and Hanlon won in 52.1. Petrella came back to win the 400 in 1:06.4 with her teammate Mia Tucker in second in 1:12.5 and Gowanda’s Tia Moppert taking third in 1:13.2. Gowanda swept the 400 hurdles with Twoguns, Francsis, and Kayla Farley going 1:33.9, 1:34.5, and 1:34.9.

The 800 saw Jacques and Fred go 1-2 in 2:47.4 and 2:47.7, and Forthman from Gowanda taking third in 2:50.4. Dunkirk claimed a sweep in the 200 with Hanlon (26.5), Petrella (27.7), and Beehler (29.3). Gowanda came back with a sweep in the 3000 with Twoguns (14:45.0), Forthman (14:54.8) and Megan Stang (18.59.7). Finally Jacques, Hart, Tucker, and Petrella won the 4×4 in 4:43.7.

In the field for the girls, Hanlon won the high jump with a 5-2, with Gowanda’s Abby Marks (4-2) and Riley Delpriore (3-10) in second and third. Moppert was the only pole vaulter clearing 7’6“. Triple jump was a sweep for Gowanda with Lindsey Gabel (27-1), Francis (26-10) and Twoguns (13-4) placing. Dunkirk’s Krystal Torres won the shot put with a throw of 23’2.75”, with Gowanda’s Serena Emery (23-1) and Trinity Vogtli(20′) right behind. Emery turned around to win the disc with a throw of 64’5“, with Torres taking 2nd (61-8.5) and Debbie Dewey from Gowanda in third(58-11). The long jump was won by Hanlon with a new school record leap of 17′ 5.5”, besting Kelly Fafinski’s 16’5.25″. Forbs from Gowanda took second with 14-3, and Julia Fred from Dunkirk took third with 12-7.

“I was very impressed with the girls,” Dunkirk coach Adam Woelfle said. We spread them out and put them in some different events to try and score some points and it worked. The two seniors really stepped up — Fred and Hanlon got points in every event they did. Those two girls have worked so hard for so many years, it was great to see them have a good final night on our track.”

BOYS

The final score was Dunkirk 76, Gowanda 63. Gowanda started with a victory in the 4×8 with the team of Christian Cook, Jacob Monat, Sam Chmielewski, and Nate Brawdy running at 8:57. Gowanda then swept the 110 hurdles with Austin Jankowski (16.5), Kiefer Austin (18.5) and Noah Vogtil (20.7).

Dunkirk returned with a sweep of its own in the 100 with Issiah Velez (11.5), Nelson Rosario (11.87) and Jonah Rosas (12.0). Anthony Ruiz then won the 1600 in 4:48.1, with Gowanda’s Brawdy in second (4:56.2) and Chemielewski in third (5:06). The 4×1 of Rosas, Devin Eddy, Rosario, and Velez took first in 45.4, and then Dunkirk had another sweep in the 400 with Nate Ganey (53.8) Miracle Berakah (55.5) and Devaun Farnham (56.3). Matt Hanlon won the 400 hurdles for Dunkirk in 1:06.41, with Gowanda’s Dominic Rodriguez (1:08.7) and Vogtil (1:11.2) in second and third. The 800 ssaw Brawdy get the victory in 2:16.8, and Dunkirk’s Ethand Yannie (2:23.7), and Efrain santiago (2:28.1) follow. Dunkirk then went 1-2 in the 200 with Ganey (24.0) and Rosario (24.6), Gowanda taking third with Ture Hassler (24.9). The 3200 saw Gowanda’s Chmielewski take first in 10:43, with Ruiz second in 10:52.3, and Gowanda’s Zac Nash in 13:44 for third. Finally the 4×4 from Dunkirk of Jonah Rosas, Andre Lockett, Farnham, and Ruiz won in 3:44.9.

In the field events, Farnham won the high jump with Gowanda’s Jankowski taking secnd. Pole vault saw Gowanda’s Rodriguez win. Dunkirk swept the triple jump, with Eddy in first (38-1), Velez second (33-9) and Angel Reyes in third(32-9). In the long jump, Eddy took first with 19’10”, Velez was second (19-1) and Gowanda’s Jankowski was third with 17-1. Shot put saw Gowanda go 1-2 with Andrew Musacchio throwing 40-7.5, and Hassler 38-4.75. Zac Cooper from Dunkirk took third with 31-8.5. The discus was a sweep for Gowanda with Musacchio (119′), Hassler (102-6), and Kurt Stitzel (96-1).

“Again, it was a hard battle from both sides and a good competitive meet. Kids stepped up where they needed to and I know they wanted that win, and they finally got it,” Woelfle said.

Some athletes will be preparing for the Super 8 meet this Friday in Gowanda. The county championship at Southwestern is set for May 25-26.