Hazen’s Manny Fliegelman during the 3,000 meter run at Saint Johnsbury Academy on Thursday, April 11 where he finished third in 10:35 at his first varsity track meet.
LYNDONVILLE – Hazen Union’s varsity track and field team was solid in their second meet of the season last week and their middle school program got their season underway in the Middle School Kick-Off Meet at Montpelier.
Fresh off a stellar first meet of his young career, freshman Manny Fliegelman posted another top five finish for the Wildcats at Lyndon Institute last Tuesday. Fliegelman posted a personal best in the 3000m, good enough for a third-place finish.
Fellow freshman teammate Daniel Pougnier also ran his best time of the season, finishing fifth.
Craftsbury Academy’s Charlie Kehler captured his first title of the season, leaving Lamoille’s Zeb Whitlock in the dust by over six seconds.
Pougnier also posted a personal record distance in the javelin event, finishing twelfth. Montpelier’s Steven Supan bested the field with a throw of 104’2.
Fliegelman now has back-to-back 3000m third place finishes in the first two varsity competitions of his career.
“Manny, Daniel, and Lewis Lapierre were my high school runners at L.I. Manny took off seven seconds and Daniel removed 11 seconds from their previous best times, which is pretty awesome from both of them. We’ll be competing in the Essex Vacational as a program for the first time this week and we are looking forward to it,” said head coach Kathy Fortmann.
Seventh graders Eliza Bunten and Alden Pougnier had strong showings for the Wildcats on Wednesday in the Middle School Kick-Off meet at Montpelier.
Bunten finished fourth in the 1500m and tied for sixth in the 800m for Hazen. Middlebury’s Louisa Orten bested the field in both events. Pougnier had a solid eighth place finish in the 1500m, behind event winner Izik Currier of Montpelier.
“Eliza and Alden both ran amazing races, in what was Alden’s first track and field meet ever. I am excited to see their improvement during the rest of the season,” said Fortmann.
Peoples Academy (PA) eighth grader Kieron Russell kicked off the season in a big way, winning the 200m and teaming with Finn Kilby, Henry Young, and Thomas Hynes to win the 4X100m relay by three and a half seconds over Montpelier.
PA’s Riele Reeve edged Harwood’s Isabel O’Leary by a tenth of a second to take home the 100m title.
Anabelle McClain teamed with Piper Whitehall, Helena DeVore, and Sophia Calcagni to win the 4X100m relay and also captured the 4X400m relay for PA with teammates Fiona Morris, Adalynn McAlarney, and Lily Bucklin.
Fortmann’s varsity team will be back in action at Essex on Wednesday and the Wildcat middle schoolers will compete in their second meet of the season at the U-32 Invitational on May 4.
