The Harwood varsity track and field team competed at Burlington High School on Thursday, April 17. The boys’ team came in fourth place out of nine teams, scoring 40 points. The girls’ team came in fifth place out of nine teams, also scoring 40 points.
Gavin Clark-Viola, a senior on the Harwood track and field team, is a late addition to the team this season. He decided to join the team for the first time during his senior year. “Gavin has a big personality, and an even bigger arm. Our throwing coaches chose not to tell him precisely how far he had been throwing the javelin during practice as a method of keeping him grounded about his remarkable and natural talent in the event,” explained Jake Pitman, the head coach of the Harwood varsity track and field team.
Clark-Viola threw the javelin 132 feet 6 inches while competing in the event at the Burlington track and field meet on April 17. This secured him first place in the event. Clark-Viola now has the sixth farthest javelin throw in the state of Vermont across all athletic divisions this season. He is ranked second in Division II javelin throwers. “To say this is a welcome surprise would be an understatement. We are all very happy for him. He is making a significant competitive impact for the team this season through both his raw talent and his dedication to his training for the event,” said Pitman. “This was a great day for all of Harwood’s throwers. They continue to deliver excellent results through their commitment to their training,” continued Pitman. Isabella Pockoski finished second place in both the shot put and discus, with marks of 34 feet 1.5 inches and 100 feet 2.25 inches, respectively. Heidi Haraldsen finished sixth place in the shot put with a mark of 26 feet 0.25 inches.
Pitman said that Ella Cisz and Christopher Cummiskey had excellent 800-meter races on Thursday as well. Cisz smashed her previous personal best at this distance with a time of 2:47.
“Ella’s performance was the highlight of the day for me, personally. She has been working very hard, and is already hitting her seasonal goals,” explained Pitman. Cummiskey ran an excellent second lap of his 800m run after being “boxed in” by other athletes on the rail of the track during the first lap of the race. He finished in second place.
“Christo had to deal with some rather ‘poor etiquette’ on the track from several athletes from other schools. He never backed down for a second, though. He ran the fastest race he possibly could while dealing with these external factors,” explained Pitman.
As The Valley Reporter goes to press, Harwood’s next track and field meet was underway on April 23 at Essex High School.
