Purple Eagles track teams return large contingent of veterans

By Mike Wertman, Sports Writer Posted 1 April 2016 at 12:00 am

Photos by Mike Wertman – Leading the Albion girls track team into the Niagara-Orleans League title chase this season will be this veteran contingent. In front are Meredith Patterson, Emily Blanchard and Katie Rustay. In back are Chanyce Powell, Mariah Elsenheimer, Aleah Foos and Mahogany Taylor.

Coming off 4-2 seasons last year, the Albion girls and boys track teams both return large contingents of All-League meet place finishers with which to make a run at Niagara-Orleans League titles this spring.

The girls return the N-O champion 400 meter relay team intact with the foursome of seniors Mariah Elsenheimer and Mahogany Taylor along with juniors Chanyce Powell and Emily Blanchard.

That quartet also makes the Purple Eagles strong in both the jumps and the sprints as Elsenheimer was first in the 100 and third in the 200; Powell first in the triple jump, second in the long jump and sixth in the high jump; Taylor first in the high jump, second in 100 hurdles and seventh in the triple jump and Blanchard sixth in the 400.

Senior Aleah Foos also placed second in the high jump while junior Katie Rustay won the pole vault and senior Meredith Patterson took second in the 3000 and sixth in the 1500.

The Purple Eagles also also looking to junior Nicole Eldred in the throws, sophomore Makayla Armstrong in the sprints and freshman Emma Mathes in the distance events.

The Albion boys squad is led by this quintet of, from left, Tommy Mattison, Lamar Chambers, Manwell Taylor, Tyler Nashburn and Bailey Maier.

Senior Nate Trembley, who won the shot-put and placed second in the discus, heads the Albion boys contingent of All-League meet place finishers which also includes seniors Manwell Taylor (3rd in triple jump), Lamar Chambers (3rd in 400 hurdles), Cody Osborne (5th in 100) and Bailey Maier (5th in pole vault) along with juniors Nick Reed (3rd in 400), Tyler Nashburn (4th in shot-put, 6th in 110 hurdles) and sophomore Hayden Pecoraro (4th in 400 hurdles).

The Purple Eagles are also looking to junior Tommy Mattison in the sprints and to seniors Israel Florentino, Mike Laine and Jared Hollinger in the throws.

Albion is scheduled to begin N-O competition at Medina on April 14.

Schedule:
April 14 – at Medina, 4:15 p.m.
April 16 – at Alexander Invitational
April 26 – Wilson, 4:15 p.m.
April 28 – at Akron, 4:15 p.m.
May 3 – Roy-Hart, 4:15 p.m.
May 5 – at Newfane, 4:15 p.m.
May 10 – Barker, 4:15 p.m.
May 14 – at Rush-Henreitta Invitational
May 18 and 19 – N-O All-League meet at Roy-Hart