Union Catholic Track and Field Teams Drop Several Electrifying Performances in Season Opener
By Jim Lambert
The Union Catholic track and field teams opened their season in eye-popping fashion by racking up double digit victories, producing several personal best times and jumps, and throwing down lots of electrifying performances at Monday’s Ridge Winter Invitational at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex.
The Vikings piled up 11 wins, eight on the girls side and three for the boys.
In the girls’ competition, freshman phenom Paige Sheppard ran a school record 4:56.14 to win the 1,600, finishing more than five seconds ahead of runner-up Julia Scrudato of Montgomery, who won the 1,600 at the Meet of Champions last June.
Sheppard, who also split 57.16 as the anchor on the winning 4×400 (3:59.83) led a 1-3-4-5 finish for UC. Kayla Devine was third with a PR of 5:01.85, Courtney Kaiser placed fourth in 5:05.73, and Cayleigh Kaiser was sixth with a PR of 5:08.22.
Sydney Chadwick ignited a 1-2-3 all freshmen finish for UC in the 400 with her winning time of 57.74. Rhia Randolph was second (57.85) and Abriyah Thompson placed third in 1:01.80. Thompson also ran on the gold medal-winning 4×200. Randolph also blasted a 24.87 to win the 200 to lead an amazing 1–2-3-4-5 finish for UC.
Senior Peyton Hollis led a 1-2-3 finish for the Vikings by winning the 600 in 1:38.26. She also ran split 58.42 on the winning 4×400. Sophomore Jimmiea King was second in the 600 (1:39.14) and ran 58.20 in the 4×400. Freshman Sadie Thompson finished third in the 600 in 1:45.76.
In more girls highlights, junior Taylor Aska won the 55 dash in 7.14 and was third in the 200 in 25.15. Natalie Thompson finished first in the long jump (17-5.50) and was third in the 55 dash (7.41). Kiara Fleming placed second in the 55 hurdles with a huge PR of 8.99 and anchored the victorious 4×200 that ran 1:46.28. Alyssa Kenol launched an indoor personal best of 30-6 to place third in the shot put.
In the boys’ competition, senior Jimmy Wischusen, coming off an All-American finish at the Nike Cross-Country National Championships, grabbed the lead with an opening 400 of 60.87 and rolled to victory in the 1,600 with an indoor PR of 4:11.40.
Senior Al-Qamar Rojas had a huge meet. He ran a PR of 7.83 to win the 55 hurdles and ran a big PR of 22.49 to place second in the 200.
Senior Justice Hicks had a career-best mark of 22-0 to win the long jump for the Vikings. Dylan Williams placed second in the 55 dash in 6.89, just off his PR of 6.88. Marcus McCoy finished second in the 400 in 51.63 and was fifth in the 200 with an indoor PR of 22.80
