Strong starts
Local athletes shine with wins in early Dunkirk Invitational
- Dunkirk’s Johnee Thomas receives the baton from teammate Javier Battle during the 400-meter relay at the Dunkirk Invitational track and field meet on Friday. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
- The Dunkirk 400-meter relay team, from left to right, Johnee Thomas, Isiah Durling and Liam McQuiggan took third place at the Dunkirk Invitational on Friday. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
- Dunkirk’s Johnee Thomas wins the 400 meters. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
- Gowanda’s Chase Bolen wins the 1,600 meters. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
- Falconer/Cassadaga Valley’s Charles Sundquist takes third in shot put. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
- Frewsburg’s Cody Kent clears a barrier on his way to second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank

Dunkirk’s Johnee Thomas receives the baton from teammate Javier Battle during the 400-meter relay at the Dunkirk Invitational track and field meet on Friday. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
DUNKIRK — Several local athletes put forward winning performances while many others finished in the top three at the Dunkirk Invitational on Friday night.
Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association student-athletes finished 1-2-3 in a trio of events.
Southwestern senior Connor Young won the boys long jump at 21 feet, 5 inches, Dunkirk junior Yeriel Gutierrez was second (19-9) and Jamestown senior Ayden Samuelson was third (19-8).
Jamestown senior Emily Cardinale won the girls pole vault at 10 feet, 6 inches, Falconer/Cassadaga Valley junior Mary Lundmark was second (9-0) and Frewsburg senior Elayna Pitts was third (8-6).
Jamestown senior Myah Crossley won the long jump at 15 feet, 7 inches in a top-three sweep for Jamestown-area girls. Southwestern sophomore Katie Bishop was second (15-6.5) and Cardinale was third (15-5).

The Dunkirk 400-meter relay team, from left to right, Johnee Thomas, Isiah Durling and Liam McQuiggan took third place at the Dunkirk Invitational on Friday. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
Jamestown and Southwestern also won a pair of relays.
Jamestown’s boys won the 400-meter relay with a time of 43.79 seconds. The quartet was made up of Jarren Cotter, Cameron Burgess, Samuelson and Angel Martinez. Dunkirk’s Javier Battle, Isiah Durling, Liam McQuiggan and Johnee Thomas were third in 45.1 seconds.
Southwestern’s girls won the 1,600-meter relay with a time of 4:06.28. M’Kenzie Zavala, Tryniti Card, Emma Lewis and Marlana Cresanti made up the Trojans quartet.
Individual event winners on the boys side included: Jamestown senior Brighton Lumia in the 110-meter hurdles (15.86); Gowanda senior Chase Bolen in the 1,600 meters (4:38.18); Dunkirk senior Thomas in the 400-meter dash (50.3); Jamestown senior Cotter in the 200-meter dash (22.48) while Thomas was second (22.76); Jamestown junior Jorge Rivera Jr. in the high jump (5-10); Randolph senior Caden Inkley in the pole vault (13-9); and Frewsburg junior Henry Eckert in the discus (138-1) while Falconer/Cassadaga Valley senior Charles Sundquist was third (129-6).
For the girls, Southwestern sophomore Cresanti won the 400-meter dash (59.16) while Fredonia senior Delaney Kaiser was third (1:01.95); Southwestern junior Card in the 800 meters (2:24.32); and Southwestern junior Mikayla Johnson won the discus at 117 feet, 10 inches, nearly 20 feet farther than second-place Isabella Caparco of Hamburg. Southwestern senior Leigha Sischo was third (94-0).

Dunkirk’s Johnee Thomas wins the 400 meters. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
Local second-place finishers were: Maple Grove’s boys 1,600-meter relay (Ty Kraft, Ty Oste, Rider Carlson, Ethan Verbosky; 3:34.54); Southwestern sophomore Lewis in the 2,000-meter steeplechase (6:58.42); Frewsburg senior Cody Kent in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:54.78); Frewsburg senior Grace Lennon in the 100-meter dash (12.95); Silver Creek/Forestville freshman Leah Mays in the 1,500 meters (5:12.97); Silver Creek/Forestville sophomore Molly Shaw in the 400-meter hurdles (1:11.31); Jamestown’s Lumia in the 400-meter hurdles (57.19); Maple Grove junior Verbosky in the 800 meters (1:58.15); Lennon in the 200-meter dash (26.51); and Lumia in the triple jump (40-5).
In third place were: Jamestown junior Lucas Arnone in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (10:59.3); Randolph senior Domanik Clark in the 400-meter hurdles (59.66); Southwestern senior Donavin Brown in the 800 meters (2:00.24); and Southwestern’s Young in the triple jump (40-0).
Girls 2,000m steeplechase: Lillie Bogdan (Fro), Emma Lewis (S), Evelyn Hoak (EA), Hanan Mohamad Narvaez (D), Isabella Czekanski (Fred), Grace Gilevski (Frew), Hana Khan (I), Christianna Willett (Lo). T–6:54.40
Boys 3,000m steeplechase: Jonah Seybolt (EA), Cody Kent (Frew), Lucas Arnone (J), Paul Hulme (EA), Tate James (S), Owen Farner (G), Sam Zittel (E/NC), Evan Young (H). T–10:37.17
Girls 3,200m relay: East Aurora (Emilia O’Leary, Catherine Schoeneman, Kailyn Houghton, Reiley Pierce), Frontier, Hamburg, Iroquois, Lockport, Southwestern, Eden/North Collins, City Honors. T–9:57.87

Gowanda’s Chase Bolen wins the 1,600 meters. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
Boys 3,200m relay: East Aurora (Max Fraser, Shane Fraser, Gus Hoak, Ryan DeFries), St. Francis, Lockport, Maple Grove, Falconer/Cassadaga Valley, Iroquois, City Honors, Frontier. T–8:36.98
Girls 100m hurdles: Addie Miller (EA), Braeann Stender (LS), Natalie Farrell (H), Emily Cardinale (J), M’Kenzie Zavala (S), Elliott Tillou (H), Carly Schweizer (Fro), Sydney Simmons (MG). T–15.9
Boys 110m hurdles: Brighton Lumia (J), Dominic Davis (SF), Thomas Smaldino (LS), Nathan Powers (SF), Aidan Pope (H), Ethan Strong (I), Nathan Keefe (Fred), Ben Mauer (LS). T–15.86
Girls 100m: Gianna Conti (Fro), Grace Lennon (Frew), Ava Drabik (I), Marlana Cresanti (So), Sofia Prey (H), Mary Lundmark (F/CV), Rhianna Woods (G), Delaney Kaiser (Fred). T–12.75
Boys 100m: Felix Melendez (Fro), Amadeo Bhattacharjee (CH), Dawan Smith (La), Tray Thompson (Lo), Dante Williams (H), Jake Buczynski (LS), Angel Martinez (J), McHale Connors (LS). T–11.4

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley’s Charles Sundquist takes third in shot put. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
Girls 1,500m: Catherine Schoeneman (EA), Leah Mays (SC/F), Marin Connor (Lo), Nolah Hamilton (J), Teghan Trocki (Frew), Giuliana Fodor (E/NC), Genevieve Benoit (I), Isabella Czekanski (Fred). T–5:12.69
Boys 1,600m: Chase Bolen (G), Luke Wright (EA), Anthony Czekanski (EA), Wyatt Olmstead (J), Finn Caswell (J), Sullivan Cook (H), Jacob Lewis (MG), Noah Moran (Lo). T–4:38.18
Girls 400m relay: Lockport (Leah Gaskill, Arden Anterline, Mahkaya Beverly, Icess Britton), Hamburg, Iroquois, Falconer/Cassadaga Valley, Dunkirk, Frewsburg, Southwestern, Maple Grove. T–51.23
Boys 400m relay: Jamestown (Jarren Cotter, Cameron Burgess, Ayden Samuelson, Angel Martinez), Frontier, Dunkirk, Hamburg, Lockport, Southwestern, St. Francis, Iroquois. T–43.79
Girls 400m: Marlana Cresanti (S), Ivanna Effa (Fro), Delaney Kaiser (Fred), Natalie Farrell (H), Candice Newman (Fro), Chase Chudoba (H), Arden Anterline (Lo), Lena Musial (I). T–59.16

Frewsburg’s Cody Kent clears a barrier on his way to second in the 3,000-meter steeplechase. OBSERVER Photo by Tim Frank
Boys 400m: Johnee Thomas (D), Kenneth Wolcott (Fro), Dalton Pelow (SF), Ryan DeFries (EA), Dawan Smith (La), Logan Stanczewski (I), McHale Connors (LS), Dempsey McDonald (R). T–50.3
Girls 400m hurdles: Amelia Jones (EA), Molly Shaw (SC/F), Erin Zagrobelny (EA), Hannah Madonia (F/CV), Elliott Tillou (H), Olivia Hallenbeck (Frew), Mariella Russo (Fred), Lena Anderson (H). T–1:09.45
Boys 400m hurdles: Dominic Davis (SF), Brighton Lumia (J), Domanik Clark (R), Ty Kraft (MG), Ethan Strong (I), Beckett Lumia (J), Noah Erickson (Frew), Jackson Mancuso (H). T–56.79
Girls 800m: Tryniti Card (S), Reiley Pierce (EA), Aubrey Conti (Fro), Kailyn Houghton (EA), Leah Mays (SC/F), Leah Gaskill (Lo), Maya DeMario (Fro), Evalyn Fessel (MG). T–2:24.32
Boys 800m: Michael Stadler (SF), Ethan Verbosky (MG), Donavin Brown (S), Alan Whittemore (H), Henry Peterson (CH), Tanner Gurnett (Lo), Brayden Mahoney (SF), Gus Hoak (EA). T–1:57.49
Girls 200m: Gianna Conti (Fro), Grace Lennon (Frew), Sofia Prey (H), Ava Drabik (I), Kylie Kress (MG), Daiya Kowalski (LS), Delaney Kaiser (Fred), Rhianna Woods (G). T–25.61
Boys 200m: Jarren Cotter (J), Johnee Thomas (D), Felix Melendez (Fro), Ryan Ohl (S), Amadeo Bhattacharjee (CH), Dante Williams (H), Dawan Smith (La), Tray Thompson (Lo). T–22.48
Girls 3,000m: Lillie Bogdan (Fro), Emilia O’Leary (EA), Payton Fisher (Fro), Kaylee Booker (I), Emma Martino (EA), London Hamilton (J), Hadley Wert (CH), Claire Smaldino (LS). T–10:19
Boys 3,200m: Felix Hatton (CH), Shane Fraser (EA), Max Fraser (EA), Spencer Frangou (SF), Chase Bolen (G), Brennan Muecke (MG), Noah Moran (Lo), Jacob Mason (H). T–9:49.76
Girls 1,600m relay: Southwestern (M’Kenzie Zavala, Tryniti Card, Emma Lewis, Marlana Cresanti), Frontier, East Aurora, Lockport, Fredonia, Falconer/Cassadaga Valley, Hamburg, Silver Creek/Forestille. T–4:06.28
Boys 1,600m relay: St. Francis (Dalton Pelow, Dominic Davis, Brayden Mahoney, Michael Stadler), Maple Grove, Hamburg, Randolph, Southwestern, Frewsburg, Iroquois, Frontier. T–3:28.36
Boys long jump: Connor Young (S), Yeriel Gutierrez (D), Ayden Samuelson (J), Nathan Mays (SC/F), Jackson Mancuso (H), Jaylen McMichael (D), Maximus Philarom (Fro), Jorge Rivera Jr. (J). D–21-5
Girls long jump: Myah Crossley (J), Katie Bishop (S), Emily Cardinale (J), Anelia Pitts (Frew), Kaleigha Kosek (I), Icess Britton (Lo), Megan Murray (Fro), Hannah Kocsis (Fro). D–15-7
Girls high jump: Addie Miller (EA) Natalie Farrell (H), Kaleigha Kosek (I), Marlana Cresanti (S), Chase Chudoba (H), Emelianna Giroux (Lo), Molly Shaw (SC/F), Elizabeth Saunders (Fred). H–5-4
Boys high jump: Jorge Rivera Jr. (J), Jake Buczynski (LS), Kelly Huff (La), Maximus Philarom (Fro), Max Parmentier (F/CV), Nathan Mays (SC/F), Vincent Vaillancourt (I) and Jericho Thagard (J) and Liam Rankin (S). H–5-10
Girls pole vault: Emily Cardinale (J), Mary Lundmark (F/CV), Elayna Pitts (Frew), Ellie Pearson (S), Catherine Kearney (Lo), Avianna Hunt (Lo), Teagan Masterson (H), Leona Crane (D). H–10-6
Boys pole vault: Caden Inkley (R), Noah Snyder (H), Maximus Philarom (Fro), Tyler Tellez (J), Mitchell Preishcel (E), Max Parmentier (F/CV), Jack McGough (Fro) and Nathan Couturier (Lo). H–13-9
Girls triple jump: Adelaide Miller (EA), Georgia Skare (I), Hannah Kocsis (Fro), Kaleigha Kosek (I), Megan Murray (Fro), Katie Bishop (S), Arden Anterline (Lo), Michaela Neudeck (H). D–34-5
Boys triple jump: Jackson Mancuso (H), Brighton Lumia (J), Connor Young (S), Maximus Philarom (Fro), Tristan Dickson (I), Chase Hartnett (S), Jaylen McMichael (D), Luke Guishard (Fro). D–40-5
Girls discus: Mikayla Johnson (S), Isabella Caparco (H), Leigha Sischo (S), Brooke Reding (R), Morgan Osborne (Fro), Leona Henhawk (G), Susannah Winfield (EA), Abbey Gawron (SC/F). D–117-10
Boys discus: Henry Eckert (Frew), Colton Warner (SF), Charles Sundquist (F/CV), Riley Smith Mallon (D), Timothy Domino (I), Leo Kavic (S), Tyler McIntyre (S), Ehren Pettapiece (Lo). D–138-1
Girls shot put: Mikayla Johnson (S), Isabella Caparco (H), Leigha Sischo (S), Abbey Gawron (SC/F), Brooke Reding (R), Susannah Winfield (EA), Avaia Green (Lo), Brea Rubrecht (Frew). D–37-8.5
Boys shot put: Leo Kavic (S), Jaykwon Torres (La), Zachary Markham (F/CV), Riley Smith Mallon (D), Charles Sundquist (F/CV), Izaias Dowdy (R), Ehren Pettapiece (Lo), Andrew Parker (H). D–47-4
GATOR RELAYS
COLE SHINES FOR EAGLES
ALLEGANY — Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton’s Jada Cole was a triple-winner at the Gator Relays, helping the Eagles girls to second place.
Cole won the 100-meter dash with a time of 12.99, then in the field she claimed the high jump at a height of 5 feet, 4 inches and in the triple jump she won with a leap of 32 feet, 5.5 inches.
Salamanca took third with Ryanna Brady winning the 1,500 meters at 5:12.84 and Paloma Haas won the discus with a throw of 86 feet, 3 inches.
The girls meet was won by the hosts with a score of 101.
In the boys competition, Chautauqua Lake/Westfield/Brocton received wins from Nick Jacobson in the 100 meters at 11.58 and Walter Lukasiak claimed the discus with a throw of 133 feet, 6 inches.
The Eagles finished in fifth with a score of 44, while Pioneer won the boys meet at 127.