Submitted photo Emily Brown, Oliver Madariaga, and Hessen Baghatt at the State Championship meet at Ocean Breeze on Staten Island.

OBSERVER Staff Report

Fredonia High School junior Oliver Madariaga broke his own school record in the 300 meter dash event at the New York State high school indoor track & field championship meet in Ocean Breeze, Staten Island on Saturday, March 7. His new school record time of 36.19 was run in the semifinals in which Madariaga took first place. Oliver came back in the finals and placed 11th overall in New York State that also included athletes from private schools.

“Oliver’s ascension to 11th overall in New York State has been rapid” noted Fredonia coach Mark Benton. “He was ranked 6th going into the sectionals and placed 2nd and 27th before the New York State meet began and finished 11th.”

The junior peeked at the right time of the season and broke his own school record in each of the last four meets that he participated in.

Hessen Bahgat was the second boy from this year’s Fredonia indoor team to participate (pole vault) at the New York State championship meet. However, after breaking his own school record numerous times throughout the indoor season that now stands at 13′ 9“, Bahgat had an off day and went out of the competition with the bar at 12′ 6”.

“There are so many factors that go into pole vaulting and if one phase is off, the athlete will not be successful” Benton said after the meet. “Hessen had a fabulous indoor season and was the second ranked pole vaulter in Western New York. Unfortunately, he was out of sync today.”

Furthering the frustration was the fact that Coach Benton and Hessen were not allowed to confer after each attempt or view video to make the proper adjustments as they were permitted to do during the previous meets. At the New York State meet, coaches are not allowed in the infield after the warmup session.

It was, however, a very successful indoor season for the Hillbillies as five boys qualified for the Section VI meet covering six different events. And besides the school records set by Hessen Bahgat and Oliver Madariaga, senior Kyle Mikula now holds the indoor shot put record of 42′ 4″.

On the girls side, Fredonia senior Emily Brown made her 10th trip to state competition Saturday. Brown competed in the 1500m run and finished 15th overall in a time of 4:51.27

“Emily has had a remarkable senior indoor season,” said Fredonia coach Tom Stokes. “She dropped her personal best time and school record by nearly 8 seconds this season and was dominant in section 6. She has worked incredibly hard and has continued to improve her times and her ability to race.”

Brown will be competing next Saturday in the New Balance National meet at the Armory in NYC. She will be running in the Emerging Elite Division of the women’s mile.