OBSERVER Staff Report

HOUGHTON — Both Dunkirk and Fredonia began the indoor track season with impressive results at Houghton College on Saturday, including many school records, sectional qualifiers and personal bests.

For Dunkirk, Jericha Petrella ran the 600m in 1:42.08, good for second overall among all 33 teams at the meet. She also took seventh in the 300m in 44.01. Both times were good enough to qualify her for sectionals already, in her first meet of the year. Petrella also ran in the 4×8 relay team — along with Sierra Jacques, Juliana Flick and Julia Kennedy — that took fourth in 11:09.31. Jacques also finished seventh in the 1500m with a time of 5:26.44, while Flick took sixth in the 1000m in 3:27.88.

The Dunkirk boys featured Anthony Ruiz in the 3200m, with a time of 10:11.92, taking second at the meet and qualifying for sectionals, as well.

Devin Eddy took to the jumping pit and went 19’8.5″ in the long jump, earning himself a fourth place finish and a sectional spot. Nelson Rosario also qualified for sectionals already, with a time of 38.78 in the 300m, good for seventh place on Saturday.

“It’s very early in the season and there are a lot of expectations after this meet,” said Dunkirk coach Adam Woelfle. “There were a lot of good performances and also a lot of youth on the team. I’m very excited to see what this season has in store.”

For Fredonia, Jack Carlson took fourth in the 1600m with a school record 4:42.60. Josh Johnson set the previous record last season. In the Pole Vault, Hessen Bahgat tied for second place with a school record 12’0″, which broke Brandt Rouse’s school record from 2007. Emily Brown also set a school record on Saturday in the 3000m, with a time of 10:55.74, good for second at the meet. Brown’s time broke the school record set by Lauren Reyda in 2011.

Other standouts for Fredonia include Ashlyn Ambrose’s 1000m personal best time of 3:29.59, good for eighth place, and freshman Kelly Lucas’ sixth place finish in the High Jump, at 4’6″, in her first time competing.

“Emily, Hessen and Jack all had great performances today, but the rest of the team also came through with many personal bests and great efforts,” said Fredonia coach Tom Stokes.

Dunkirk and Fredonia will both be back in action next Saturday afternoon.