Seahawks tangle with Golden Knights in Polar Bear Classic

Taking advantage of one of the warmer December days in the Cape Region, Sussex Central winter track hosted the Polar Bear Classic on its outdoor track against Sussex Academy Dec. 17.

“It's definitely better; indoor, it feels a little stuffy and it gets a little hot,” Seahawks senior Bri Sordi said. “The 400-meter track definitely feels faster than the 200.”

Sordi placed second in the 800 (2:37.22) and 400 (1:07.22). Running the half-lap for the first time in 29.48 seconds, the senior finished just ahead of Taegen Forester for third.

Sussex Academy junior Katya Geyer took the top prize in the 800, finishing at 2:29:22, while Forester’s 1:06.71 was the fastest girls’ full lap. 

“Our distance team has always been powerful, but this year we brought in some more eighth-graders and freshmen that have really been advancing our speed work and our sprinting team,” Sordi said.

Summer Harmon of Sussex Central ran 28.28 in the 200, which made her the clear-cut winner. Harmon’s 7.71 topped the 55-meter race too.

“It’s definitely more fun when it's just two teams because it's like you're just kind of running with your friends,” Sordi said. “It feels more casual.”

Golden Knights sophomore Lily Russ landed in front of the field when she finished the 55-meter hurdles in 10.55 seconds. A pair of Seahawks, senior Natalie Roblero-Chavez (11:40) and sophomore Kaylee Zimmerman (11:43), rounded out the top three. Sussex Academy freshman Riley Moriarty wrapped up the mile in 5:58 seconds to lead the girls’ field.

In the shot put, Rachel O’ Day’s 27-foot-7-inch throw was sandwiched between Sussex Central junior Zaigeya Sheppard’s first-place 29-1 throw and Golden Knights freshman McKinley Messick’s 25-8 toss. Seahawks sophomore Kenny Blades’ 13.7-foot long jump edged out Zoey Cullen’s 13-foot leap.

Geyer edged out Sussex Academy eighth-grader Regaen Klahr in the triple and high jump events.

As for the boys, Seahawks coach Jay Diaz praised the effort of Duncan Winger, who transferred from Sussex Central last year. The senior was clocked at 2:03.81 in the 800, just ahead of Sussex Academy junior Ryan Moody. Winger finished third (54.27) to Sussex Central’s Jaycen Davis (53.34) and Seahawks senior Josue Laurore (53.45) in the 400-meter dash.

“I used to be way more of a distance runner; this season, I'm trying to run a bit more on the speed side so I can work on my 800 speed, because I really want to get that down,” Winger said.

The familiarity with the course also came in handy.

“It felt like a really hard workout here, one of the many I've spent here, and I just love the atmosphere here on the track,” Winger said. “Hopefully, eventually, they can get a track down at Sussex Academy, because it is really important.”

In the hurdles, Kai Thorton’s 8.14 seconds was enough to stave off Laurore’s 8.96. Sussex Central flexed its speed muscles in the 55-meter sprint; Peyton Willis (6.46) finished first, Jabari Herring nabbed second (6.62) and Davis settled in at third (6.65).

In the half-lap sprint, Willis’ 23.14, Herring’s 23.5 and Thorton’s 23.81 filled the winner’s circle.

Distance-wise, Moody ran a 4:50 mile, besting his teammate Will Parker (5:11.24) by over 20 seconds.

The best shot put throw of the day came from Sussex Academy’s Rylan Podrasky’s 39-footer. Alec Dukes’ 27-5 gave the Seahawks the top two finishes. Davis registered an 18.2-foot long jump to take first, while Sussex Academy’s Noah Melton finished second.

Junior Jesse Jean-Louis conquered the triple jump, and his classmate Austin Taylor captured the top spot in the high jump.