IAAM Track and Field Championships ready to head into the final day of competition

By Gene Williams

Photos: IAAM Track & Field Championships - Day 1 - IAAM

Looking at the IAAM Day 1 results of the IAAM Track and Field Championships it appeared that the B Conference were in a hurry to get their show on the road, while most "A" Conference competitors appeared efficiently laid back in pursuit of team points and Day 2 finalists.

With the aid of near perfect weather and a fast track at McDonogh School on May 7th, John Carroll took a team point lead, 49-to-32, over Roland Park,  its current main B Conference competitor Roland.

McDonogh is favored among the A’s and holds a 68 -50.5 lead over Maryvale.

The final day of competition is Saturday, May 10, beginning at 8:30 am, at Archbishop Spalding.

IAAM Track & Field Championship Central - IAAM

B Conference

In the 11 (six finals and five semi-finals) events contested on Day 1 the B Conference athletes were swarming and collected eight event meet records.  But instead of a single girl resetting records per event most had multiple new marks set and then reset.

The B record resets began with the afternoon’s first event as John Carroll reduced the 4x800 meter relay standard by over 20 seconds to 10-minutes and .7-tenths of a second.  But they needed every bit of that effort to hold off Roland Park which was only two seconds back.

Proving the sprinters were also ready, the 100 had three athletes finish below the old mark.  Sidney Richardson, Pallotti, end up on top at 12.24 seconds; followed by Kennedy Myrie, Garrison Forest, 12.42; and Lily Band, St. John’s, 12.59.

Richards contributed to a second record as Pallotti took the 4x200 relay in 1:43.80.

In the 400 semis Myrie put her name back in the books with a 56.14 time to push Bandy, 59.76, off the top of the list.

Three more girls battered the 300 meter hurdles. Izzy Grace, John Carroll, 46.80; advanced over Amelia Coles, Roland Park, 47.09; and Mauli Ashford, St. Paul’s, 48.23.

In the 200 meter semis it was again Myrie over Bandy with a record of 24.97 to 25.53 effort.

Five girls destroyed the old 3200 standard. Genevieve Cowan, St. Timothy’s, took 30 seconds out of her own 2024 winning mark with at time of 11:21.35.  Chasing her were four others going under the old record;  Maddy Wassin, John Carroll, 11:29.90; Ava Miller, Garrison Forest, 11:41.20; Sophia Prior, Catholic, 11:48.85; Sonia Patel, St. Tims, 11:50.48.

On the field event side the four girls break the old triple jump mark and placed within four and half inches of each other.  Danica Ross, John Carroll, won the event with a jump of 34-feet, 8.75-inches. Taking second was Zaria Medley, Catholic, 34-07.0; followed by Bryah Breaux, Garrison Forest, 34-06.25 and Elyse White, Indian Creek, 34-03.25

A Conference

McDonogh’s march towards a third consecutive team title was led on Day 1 by Elise Cooper. She lowered a pair of her own meet marks.  She ran the 100 in 11.63 and the 200 in 23.98.

Eagle pole vaulter Caroline Birdsall equaled the record with a clearance of 11-feet even.

Heading into Day 2, with all final events, McDonogh advance 12 runners out of the semis to go along with its direct to finals competitors in two more relays, the 4x100 and 4x400, and the 800, 1600, shot put, long jump and high jump.

The real battle will probably come for the second place team plaque. Maryvale advanced seven athletes from the semis, and hopes for more points from the day’s other finals.

Notre Dame Prep, currently third with 45.5 points, will rely on its high jump, 800 and 1600 strength.

Mount de Sales, 36 points, have eight advancers along with strong 800 and 1600 and relays.

Archbishop Spalding, 17, has nine going to the finals and matches well Mount de Sales in the other finals.