Stanton Hosts Season Opener for Track
Grace Larson|March 8, 2023 | sports
On Feb. 17, Stanton College Preparatory School hosted its third annual track invitational with participants from Christ’s Church Academy, Paxon School For Advanced Studies, Raines, Ribault, Sandalwood, Terry Parker, West Nassau, and Wolfson School For Advanced Studies. Excited to watch athletes perform, fans gathered outside on the school’s bleachers to watch the events. Not long into the meet, competitors were faced with heavy rain and strong winds. In an attempt to stay dry, fans ran under the bleachers; however, they were not deterred. Despite this difficult development, most individuals stayed until the end of the meet, marveling in the athletic endeavors made during this time.
Athletes can often feel reluctant to perform outdoors when the weather takes a dark turn, but with no lightning in sight, the event was set to carry on. The sudden rain gave the audience a greater sense of appreciation for the sport, as competitors persevered through the harsh conditions. In the face of challenging weather, they were able to hold strong and perform well throughout the season opener.
“[The runners] rose to the challenge of the rough weather,” said Mrs. Norah Betancourt, Stanton’s track coach. “They did not let the rain and incoming cold temperatures bother them at all.”
This ability granted the team favorable results, as they were able to score valuable points that determined their team’s overall placement. The Stanton boys team won third place overall, earning a total of 78 points, and the girls team placed fifth, winning 49 total points. Big strides were made by junior John Syla, captain of the boys distance team, who earned the first place title in the men’s 1600-meter run with a time of 4 minutes 45.3 seconds. He would later go on to run 2:07.78 in the 800, earning him a second place title.
“I ran the [1600] strategically and was able to pull [off] the win without too much effort,” said Syla. “Races are not about who can run the fastest, but who can take the most amount of pain.”
This strategic thinking allowed him to score 18 points for his team. This number would also be earned by junior Abdul Musa, who won first place in the 100 and second place in the 400, running 11.51 seconds and 51.58 respectively.
The girls team mirrored these skills, earning 10 points and a first place title in the 800-meter relay. The four-person team, consisting of juniors Quanté Février and Maria Egorova, sophomore Andrea Lundahl, and freshman Elle Wight, was the only group to compete in the women’s event, but they managed to do so in 11:37.29. Similar to those individuals, sophomore Rebecca Abram was able to score pivotal points for the girls team. Earning second place in javelin and eight points for her team, Abram threw to 65 feet, 5 inches. Another notable win came from freshman Adriana Chakarova, who placed third in the 3200 with an overall time of 14:45.93. Her efforts would help the girls score six points, bringing them to fifth place.
The athletes managed to persevere through the season opener’s rough weather to earn points for their team. Spectators sat eagerly through heavy rain, watching the athletes endure the various environmental factors. In spite of these unexpected challenges, Stanton’s track team was able to score enough points to earn spots in the top five overall teams for each gender. Their performance during the season opener showcased their strength going forward in the season.
Photograph by Sarah Bernardo