×

Four local tracksters to compete at states

Saranac Lake’s Liam Nobles competes in the long jump event at Section VII track and field championships in Peru on May 24. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

SARANAC LAKE — Four local athletes from the Lake Placid and Saranac Lake track and field teams qualified for the NYSPHSAA state championships at Middletown High School on Friday and Saturday.

After winning the Section VII track and field championship last week, the Saranac Lake boys will send Sam Ash and Liam Nobles to the state meet. The Lake Placid track and field team will send Andrew Scanio and Kai McKinnon. All four qualified after winning their respective event at the Section VII State Qualifiers on Friday.

Ash, a senior, qualified for the state after winning the 1,600-meter event. He won the race in 4 minutes, 37.34 seconds.

“After starting the season slowly due to sickness and weather, Sam has been performing very well as of late,” Red Storm head coach Cy Ellsworth said. “He has worked extremely hard, has outstanding character and has a great opportunity to PR (personal record) at states, which could put him in the top 6 in the Division 2 race.”

Nobles will make his first appearance at the outdoor state meet. He previously competed at the state indoor track and field meet in March. Nobles, a sophomore, qualified after winning the long jump (21-8.50 feet) and triple jump (40-10.75).

Lake Placid’s Kai McKinnon competes in the Section VII track and field championships in Peru on May 24. (Enterprise photo — Parker O’Brien)

“Liam will have a very busy day on Friday competing in two events,” Ellsworth said. “He hit a PR in the long jump at State Qualifiers and although he didn’t hit great numbers on the triple jump, he qualified despite getting 3rd at sectionals the week before. He will have a great week of practice this week to get ready for our trip to Middletown.”

During the Section VII state qualifiers, the Red Storm boys had some strong showings but were only able to send two athletes to states. Seniors Carter Hewitt and Mitchell Ellsworth had a solid performance but ultimately finished as runner-ups in their events.

“We have had a great run with this group of seniors. They have only lost two regular season meets (this year) in the last four years and have been sectional champs three years in a row,” Ellsworth said. “Carter Hewitt was very close in the 110 Hurdles to qualifying for the state meet and Mitchell has scored us a ton of points over the last four years on the throws. He faulted an absolute bomb in the discus at state qualifiers and had a difficult day in the shot put. We have three 50-foot throwers in the league this year and Jesse Giddings (of Beekmantown) had the better day today.”

Scanio, a senior, won the 3,200-meter event in 9:52.46, edging out his teammate Aidan Fay (10:05.39) to qualify for his first track and field state meet.

Kai McKinnon, a freshman, earned her ticket to the state meet after winning the 2K Steeplechase in 7:52.15. Lake Placid hasn’t sent a track athlete to the state meet since 2019.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

Starting at $4.75/week.

Subscribe Today