Henry Raymond
Bellows Free Academy => BFA Sports Events => Topic started by: Henry on May 01, 2005, 06:57:54 PM
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(The following information was sent to me by Carol Stanley for input on the forum)
BFA Fairfax Track and Field
A new sports club has emerged at BFA Fairfax this year- Track and Field. Two years ago, one student from Fairfax, Aidan Grace, was interested in track and participated in track as an independent, training with BFA St. Albans team and their coach, Mike Mashtare. In 2004, 11 BFA student athletes trained again with St Albans, racing as independents. They provided their own transportation for most of the year, with the school providing transportation to most or the meets held at various schools. The group competed in the State Meet and placed in many events.
This year, 38 students (high school and middle school) were interested and a dedicated group of parents and students approached the school board and athletic director for permission to have a school endorsed team. Volunteer coaches were in place and fund raising had begun. The school granted permission for the group to be a club team as well as transportation costs. After 2 seasons as a club sport, it will be possible to become a varsity sport at the school.
There is a high school and a middle school program this year all headed by co-coaches, Cheri Audet and Maria Short. Assistant coaches are Tom Grace, Beth Barden and Ellen Sternberg. The students themselves raised needed for equipment and funds. The school’s PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Assoc) provided the team with new uniforms. Community, school members and families have been greatly supportive.
The students train at the Collins Perley Track in St Albans 2 days per week and train 3 days at BFA Fairfax, which does not have a track.
And so far, the team is doing Fairfax proud! Their first meet of the season on April 15 was at S. Burlington High school - competing against St. Johnsbury and S. Burlington schools. Fairfax’s Will Adams (sophomore) placed third in the Boys 400 m and Connor Gibson (junior) placed third in the 3000 meter. The Boys relay team came in third in the 4 x 400 m.
The BFA Girls also had a great day. Heather Garner (sophomore) came in first in the 100 m with a time of 13.5 sec. Lindsay Stanley (junior) placed first in the 200 m with at time of 29:23 with Heather Garner placing third. In the 300 m hurdle, senior Jeanine Audet placed second. The BFA girls’ relay teams placed third in the 4 x 400 m race and second in the 4 x 800 m.
April 26, the team had a fantastic day at a 4- school meet at Collins Perley Sports Complex which was hosted by MVU. They competed against athletes from MVU, Burlington and Winooski. The Girls Team had some outstanding finishes. In the 100 meter, junior Lindsay Stanley won first with a time of 13.87 and Heather Garner came in second at 13.9. In the 200m, Stanley placed first with a time of 29.25. Garner placed second with 29.94. In the 110m hurdles, senior Jeanine Audet was third with a time of 19.46 and Jeanine placed first in the 300 m hurdles with a time of 54.02. Fairfax junior Abby Lidster was 4th in the 300m hurdles (1:03.08). Lindsay Stanley won the 400m in a time of 1:10.88. In the 800 m race, freshman Kayla Whitmore came in fifth. The girls relay team for the 4 x 100 placed first (58.18) and placed second in the 4 x 800 relay.
In the Boys portion of the meet, Fairfax placed well in many events. In the 100 m, junior Brian Senesac was fifth (12.74) and he also placed fifth in the 200 m. In the 400 m, Freshman Isaac Barbour was fourth (1:00.88). Junior Ryan Duprat won the 800 m with a time of 2:22.53. Junior Connor Gibson placed third in the 1500m (4:49.52). In the 3000 m, Ryan DuPrat came in fourth for BFA (10:53.85). The Boys relay team place second in the 4 x 800 m (10:19.4) and second in the 4 x 400 m (4:21.56). Freshman Curtis Lantagne placed fourth in the javelin event (79-0) and also placed fourth in the shot put (25-7). It was a fantastic day for the team and their supporters.
The Middle school track and field team had their first meet at People’s Academy in Morrisville on April 29. This team is just oozing with talent. The following 7th grade athletes placed in this meet from BFA Fairfax: Megan Kane came in 2nd in the 100 meter dash with a time of 15.24 seconds. She also won 1st place in the 880 m with a time of 3:00. In the Boys 400 m dash, Simon Mann-Gow finished second with his time of 1:19. In the field events, Charity Ryan placed 4th in the discus throwing with a distance of 47’7” and she placed 5th in the shot put with a distance of 18’11”. This was the first track meet ever for these students so they are showing a lot of spirit and determination. Well done!