Wolfe, June pace St. Anthony's to CHSAA titles

When you're going up against your toughest rival, it never hurts to have it happen in your own back yard.

That's how Tyler Wolfe felt after yesterday's CHSAA indoor track championships at St. Anthony's High School.

"Chaminade is definitely our biggest rival and they put up a great fight,'' Wolfe said. "At the end of the day, we knew we had to come out on top for each other.''

Nobody came out on top better than Wolfe for the boys team and Melissa June for the St. Anthony's girls team.

Wolfe won the 1,600-meters (4 minutes, 27.01 seconds) and the 4x800 relay (8:16.01) to help the Friars win the team title with 109 points.

And because June won the 55 (7.24), the 300 (40.70) and the 4x400 (4:04.96), it helped the Friars claim the girls team title with 78 points.

"This was the last time we were racing on this track this season, so the motivation was to work hard and score a lot of points,'' said Wolfe, who also finished second in the 3,200 (9:24.39). "Today was all about the team.''

SEE PHOTOSNSCHSAA track league championship meet

And because Wolfe and June made it all about the team, they were named MVPs for track events.

"Going out with a bang was on my mind,'' June said. "I had the mindset of doing the best I could and leaving it all on the track.''

Holy Trinity's Kristina Insingo followed suit. Insingo was named MVP for field events after setting a personal best and school and CHSAA record in the shot put (41-feet, 81/4 inches).

"I was aiming for an inch and got a foot and more,'' Insingo said. "I wasn't nervous, just relaxed. All I kept telling myself was to do my job, relax, and not think about anything.''

What makes Kellenberg's Melany Belot special is that she puts the team before herself. Belot delivered for the Firebirds in winning in the triple jump (37-9) and the 55 hurdles (8.39). Both scores were personal bests.

"My teammates and coaches know what I'm capable of and with that support pushing behind me, I know I can definitely win these events,'' Belot said. "The goal was to improve on my technique and approach.''

The Firebirds (second with 48 points), weren't done. Jazmine Fray won the 600 (1:37.66), just ahead of St. Anthony's Emily O'Neill (1:38.91).

"This was the first time this season that I've raced here,'' Fray said. "In a short race, you have to make your moves quick, and I did that.''

Sacred Heart's Paige Duca made a quick move in the 3,000 and won in 10:24.48, a personal best.

"My plan was to go out fast and see how I felt,'' Duca said. "I led the whole way and that helps my confidence. I wasn't really sure what time I'd have.''

Chaminade's Reginald Verrier was field event MVP, winning the long jump (21-0) and triple jump (42-8). The Flyers were second with 65 points.