CICERO — Brooke Christensen extended her junior season after a personal best on her final attempt in the Division 1 shot put Friday. But in the overall finals, the Grand Island junior wasn’t able to reach the podium.
With a top toss of 36 inches, 2 ½ feet, Christensen finished eighth in the finals as one of four greater Niagara region athletes to compete in the NYSPHSAA Track and Field Championships Saturday at Cicero-North Syracuse High School. Christensen’s best attempt came on her second toss, which was also the third best finish in the round.
Christensen entered the state finals seeded 10th out of 12 competitors after her toss of 38-6.5 led her to third place in Division 1. Her other tosses in the final were 35-10.75 on the first, 35-11.25 on the third and 34-7 on the fourth and final attempt.
Miller Place’s Jillian Scully won the overall state title with a toss of 46-11.50, followed by Wellsville’s Kaylee Oswald at 41-10.25 and Maine-Endwell’s Panayiota Anastos at 41-4.75 to round out the top-three.
Lewiston-Porter’s Leo Clark placed 16th overall in the 1,600-meter with a time of 4 minutes, 23.32 seconds. After being seeded 23rd entering the final, the junior finished fourth in the second heat.
Also the runner-up at the state qualifier one week ago, Clark was in third place heading into the final lap of the heat. But Pearl River’s Jayden Lloyd McKenna jumped from fifth to jump up two spots.
Starpoint’s Timothy Lukasik placed 22nd overall in the 1,600 with a time of 4:25.68. The senior placed third in the first heat, just one week after clinching the Section VI Division I state qualifier at 4:27.46.
Nyack’s Matthew Schutzbank was the overall winner at 4:12.97, followed by Roy C. Ketcham’s Connor Hitt at 4:14.50 and Hunter College Campus’ Issac Cohen at 4:15.32.
Medina’s Gordon Young placed 26th overall in the boys high jump. The Mustangs senior completed the jumps of 5-8 and 5-10 on his first attempts and leaped 6 feet on his second try.
Young, however, was eliminated after missing all three attempts at 6-2.