The Lebanon track and field team faced challenging weather conditions at the Sagamore Conference Meet on Friday night at Harrison, but that didn't stop them from delivering standout performances. The girls' team secured a strong second-place finish overall, while the boys' team battled to a fourth-place showing.
On the boys' side, Daniel Richards was the star of the evening, sweeping both hurdles titles. He dominated the 110-meter hurdles with a time of 14.71 seconds, then followed up with a blistering 38.53-second performance in the 300-meter hurdles—breaking his own school record set just last week. It's the kind of double that showcases both speed and endurance, a rare combination that sets Richards apart as one of the top hurdlers in the conference.
Tannon Monden also made his mark, winning the high jump title by clearing 6-2. His victory added crucial points to the boys' team total and highlighted the depth of Lebanon's field event talent.
For the girls, Soteria Udu was a standout with two runner-up finishes. She leaped 16-1 in the long jump and sprinted to a 13.22-second finish in the 100-meter dash. Paige Benton wasn't far behind, taking third in the 100-meter dash with a time of 13.38 seconds. The girls' relay teams also impressed, with the 4x100 team of Paris Benton, Jazmine Moore, Udu, and Sarah Wright finishing second in 51.96 seconds, and the 4x400 team of Sophia Kyker, Brooklyn Smith, Penny Lamerson, and Katie Boling taking third in 4:25.59.
Other top-five finishers for the girls included Temperance Thompson (fourth in discus, 101-10), Mercedes Bernal (fifth in high jump, 4-6), Liliana Gonzalez (fourth in pole vault, 8-6), Brooklyn Smith (fourth in 100-meter hurdles, 17.38; fifth in 300-meter hurdles, 51.82), Penny Lamerson (third in 800 meters, 2:26.80; fourth in 1,600 meters, 5:33.16), Sophia Kyker (fourth in 400 meters, 1:03.99), Haley Tiefel (fifth in 1,600 meters, 5:51.89; fourth in 3,200 meters, 13:06.51), and Soteria Udu (fourth in 200 meters, 28.08).
For the boys, Arsene Mpanda delivered a strong second-place finish in the discus with a throw of 153-9. Dylan Gosewehr took third in the pole vault at 10-6, while Jeremy Loveras grabbed third in the long jump (20-3.75) and fifth in the 400 meters (53.20). Cris Freitas rounded out the top-five with a fifth-place finish in the high jump at 5-6.
The boys' relay teams also contributed to the team's fourth-place finish, with the 4x800 team of Jovani Suarez, Brynner Sloan, Lucas Hicks, and Curtis Hicks taking third in 8:56.68. The 4x100 team of Cayden Gates, Carl Gildersleeve, Xavies Jackson, and Niko Trepcos finished fourth in 44.04 seconds, and the 4x400 team placed third in 3:43.08.
With the Sagamore Conference Meet behind them, the Tigers have plenty of momentum heading into the postseason. Whether you're a hurdler like Richards or a jumper like Monden, these performances prove that hard work and grit pay off—even when the weather doesn't cooperate.