by Jen Burhans
The Berlin varsity track and field team is winding up its season as the weather warms up and sectionals and States loom near.
The combined boys and girls teams have fared well in the WASAREN league, setting two new school records and racing in five invitationals this season.
Individual standouts include 7th grader Allison Ryder who many times this season has placed in all 3-4 events she has entered at league meets, including taking 2nd place in the discus at a three-state invitational. She follows in the footsteps of her older sister Laura Ryder who is the defending Section 2 class 5 discus champion. Laura has been closing in on the school discus record and has been dominating the disc in the league and is near the top of the Section 2 Leader Board. She was the first place winner in the Schuylerville Classic invitational and finished 9th at
the Eddy meet. Alex Flowers, a 10th grader, is on the Leader Board for section 2, matching the Berlin school pole vault record of 12’6 in two invitationals this Spring. Alex has placed in the top three at the Maple Hill, Shenendehowa, and Schuylerville Classic invitationals after finishing first in most of the league meets. He competed in the Eddy Meet at Schenectady against a large field including some of the top pole vaulters in the state. Flowers held his own against many class A and AA schools before going out at 13 feet behind only two other guys. Through tie breaks he placed 5th overall. This is the first time Berlin has placed anyone in the Eddy Meet and coach Burhans was very proud of how well the Berlin athletes did, looking like old
pros and maintaining their cool, concentration, and focus. Serena Rizzo, one of the team’s two seniors, set her sights high this year and has been working to score big in the sectionals and try for the State competition. She has stayed on task and is undefeated in the league in the 3000 meter race and has finished in the top place in all her 1500 meter distances, breaking one of the oldest school records by 8 seconds in the 1500 meter race. Rizzo had a chance to run the mile classic at Schuylerville and placed 3rd with a very strong time.
The team will compete at the league championships in Stillwater on May 20 and then have a week to prepare for the sectional meet on May 30 at Fort Plain.