STAC TRACK & FIELD: SZABO WINS THRILLING 800 TO LEAD OWEGO AT LEAGUE CHAMPIONSHIPS (24 PHOTOS) (2019-05-16)

Tioga County Sports Report
JOHNSON CITY — Owego’s Cameron Szabo kicked in the afterburners down the homestretch to win the boys 800-meter title at the STAC Track & Field Championships here Thursday.

Szabo, the top seed heading into the race, fended off a strong effort by Ithaca’s Alex Simpson to win the race, posting a time of 1:57.55. Simpson who stayed with Szabo throughout the two-lap battle, clocked 1:57.87.

Three other competitors would break the two-minute mark. Right on their heels in third was Corning’s John Cleary (1:58.29) and not far behind him was the No. 2 seed, Horseheads' Owen Juan (1:59.22). The fifth-place finisher was a bit of a surprise, however. The Indians’ Nate Bowers shattered his No. 8 seed time of 2:02.8, crossing the finish line in 1:59.82.

Owego’s other point scorer in the boys meet was Colby Selover. He placed third in the discus with a throw of 139-06 and fifth in the shot put with a heave of 43-5. The latter effort topped his seed distance by two feet, 2 1/2 inches.

The Indians placed 10th in the 16-team meet with 20 points. Corning won the team title with 90.83 points to beat out Norwich (80) and U-E (75).

The Owego girls were 15th out of 16 teams with four points. Corning dominated the team challenge with 120 points. Ithaca was second with 74 and Vestal third with 69.

The Indians’ 4x800 relay quartet of Ashleigh Gault, Jennifer Scott, Brittany Sanguinito and Katie Shoen placed fourth with a season-best time of 10:42.79.

Owego competes in the Section IV Class A/B championships Tuesday at Vestal at 4 p.m.

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IN PHOTO 1: Owego’s Cameron Szabo leads the way to the finish line in the 800. … PHOTOS BY TIM TAYLOR.