Bayport-Blue Point Girls Track Team Claims Another League Title

Submitted by Vin Ungaro

On Sunday January 26th the Bayport-Blue Point Girls Winter Track and Field team competed in the Section XI League V Championship meet.  The Phantoms had a lot on the line as they went into the meet as three-time defending league champions and had not lost a league meet in three and a half years.  The seniors on the team led by example and the underclassmen responded in kind by amassing 152.5 points and taking home their fourth straight league championship.

The meet did not start off great as Miller Place’s dominant distance team swept the 3000 meter run and took an early 24 to 5 lead over BBP.  Miller Place held the lead throughout much of the first half of the meet.  It was eerily reminiscent of last spring’s epic County Championship meet between both teams that came down to the last event.  This meet however played out differently as BBP took the first three spots in the 55 meter hurdle finals, won the 600 meters and took first, second and fourth in the long jump all within a matter of minutes.  Going into the relays, the meet was all but decided, although it did not feel that way as Miller Place scored 128 points, the most amount of points scored by the second place team in over five years. 

As the meet finished, the Phantoms could rejoice in winning the league five championship for the fourth straight year.  All of the seniors on the team can boast that they have not lost a league meet while they have been in high school.  Combining the cross country, winter track and field and spring track and field seasons together, BBP has now won eleven consecutive league championships.  It was a team effort all around as the team had a scorer in every one of the 15 contested events.

The point scorers for Bayport-Blue Point are as follows:  Courtney Dooley (12), Kathleen Cibuls (28), Dariya Dolan (18), Kerri Nickel (24), Taylor Darby (5.5), Jeami Van Weele (10), Brianna Delzell (6), Stephanie Silver (9), Courtney Bofinger (8), Cassie Dooley (7.5), Lindsey McGovern (2), Brigitte Strobl (5), Annie Loretz (4.5), Emily LaPorta (2), Mary Kate Kaplan (4), Ashley Magnifico (2), Caroline Giunta (1.5), Maddy Fiorentine (1.5), Megan Becker (1), Julia Aurandt (1), Shelby Wertz (1) and Julia Imbo (1).

The individual League Champions were Kathleen Cibuls (55 meter hurdles and 300 m dash), Courtney Dooley (600 meter run), Kerri Nickel (Long Jump) and Jeami Van Weele (Shot Put). 

Next up for the girls is the Section XI County Championship Meet on Friday January 31st.  The team looks to improve on its fourth place finish in the same meet last year.