Submitted Photo At right, Gowanda shot put thrower Andrew Musacchio poses for a photo with former Gowanda High School record holder Dick Utley after Musacchio set a new school record on Tuesday against Dunkirk.

OBSERVER Staff Report

GOWANDA — The Dunkirk boys and girls track and field teams traveled to Gowanda to compete against the host Panthers on Tuesday in their last league meet of the season. In the girls matchup, Gowanda came out on top over Dunkirk, 70-67.

“I give these girls credit for running some hard races,” said Dunkirk coach Adam Woelfle.

Dunkirk started out with the team of Siera Jacques, Gabi Loeb, Gabby Hart and Siera Porpiglia winning the 4×800 relay. Amisiday Cedeno took third in the 100 hurdles. In the 100m, Jericha Petrella took first, with teammate Octavia Porter in second. In the 1500m, Hart took first while teammate Yuribeth Castro took third. Porter came back to win the 400m and Cedeno took second in the 400 hurdles. Dunkirk had a clean sweep in the 800 with Petrella, Jacques and Porpiglia. Then, Porter and Alexis Davis went first and second in the 200. The final race on the track saw the Dunkirk girls 4×400 relay of Hart, Loeb, Porpiglia and Jacques win, as well.

“Although we have some holes in the field, the girls still found a way to fight for some points,” said Woelfle.

Dunkirk’s Solmariel Rosado took second in the shot put, Hart won the long jump, and Jessica Vasquez, Olivia Surma, and Loeb went first through third in the pole vault.

“I’m happy and proud of these girls for their season. They fought hard each meet and always put good races on the track,” said Woelfle.

A select few will compete at Super 8’s and the Pent/Steeple meet this week before the team comes back next weekend for the County Championships.

The Dunkirk boys, however, made sure to not go winless as they beat Gowanda 83-56.

Dunkirk started off with a win in the 4×800 with Anthony Ruiz, Edwin Sanchez, Ethan Yannie and Efrain Santiago. Matt Hanlon and Josiah Cox then went first and second in the 110 hurdles, and Devin Eddy and Jonah Rosas went first and second in the 100. Ruiz came back to win the mile, with Yannie taking third. The boys 4×100 team of Rosas, Eddy, Nelson Rosario and Hanlon won, leaving Dunkirk undefeated in league meets. Cox came back to take third in the 400, with Hanlon then winning the 400 hurdles. Ruiz and Yannie again ran the 800, going first and second. In the 200, Hanlon led with Rosas right behind for another first and second finish. In the 3,200m, Santiago and Sanchez came in second and third, and finally, the 4×400 relay of Ruiz, Coz, Yannie and Santiago was also victorious for the Marauders.

In the field, the highlight of the meet was Gowanda’s shot put thrower Andrew Musacchio breaking the school record by throwing 48-feet-10.5-inches. The previous record was set back in 1953 by Dick Utley, at 46-feet-8-inches. His throw won the shot put, but Dunkirk stepped up with Zac Cooper taking second and Alex Navarro taking third. Cooper then won the discus, with Devin Land taking third. Eddy won both the long and triple jump for Dunkirk.

“I was very excited for these boys. It has been a tough season and we have a bunch of seniors who have put years into this program. Happy to finally seem them get a victory, despite all the injuries and battles,” said Woelfle.

Same as the girls, a few Dunkirk boys will be going to Super 8s and Pent/Steeple before the County Championship next weekend.