Brian Hagberg
COUDERSPORT, Pa. – Sheffield’s Lucas McNeal had quite a night under the lights during the Northern Tier League Championships at the CARP Park Complex in Coudersport Friday.
McNeal took home individual golds in the long jump (19’5″) and triple jump (38’3.5″), both season bests, and anchored the 400 relay team in its gold medal effort. McNeal also finished third in the high jump.
For his efforts in the jumping events, coaches voted McNeal as the 2022 NTL Most Outstanding Field Athlete.
Despite the accomplishments, Sheffield coach Jason Snell felt McNeal could have swept the jumps were it not for some bad timing.
“We were really upset as coaches with the way the jumps played out,” Snell said. “Lucas should have swept and won all three jumping events without a problem. He had just finished winning and running the run of his life in the 4×100 relay with his adrenaline through the roof, and triple jump and high jump were waiting for him to come complete his jumps. He chose to jog over to the high jump and they made him immediately complete all three of his jumps without being able to catch his breath because he was the lone jumper remaining. An exhausted McNeal was still able to win third place in the event but had he had a few minutes of rest, most likely he would have won the event by at least six inches. Can’t change it, but what a competitor he is.”
That 400 relay team also set a season mark, and improved its seed time for next week’s District 9 Championships, with a winning time of 46.82. Michael Mihalic, Landon Mead, and Leihden Wotorson joined McNeal on the relay.
For the Lady Wolverines, Emily Foster repeated as NTL high jump champion clearing 4’11”.
“All in all, it was a wonderful night for the whole community to be a Wolverine,” Snell said. “The determination and effort tonight were the best I have ever seen whole as a team. The work Coach Amy O’Donnell has done with the Jumpers, and Coach Dave Fitch working relentlessly with the relays to better the times and handoffs have surely shown. All of the coaches on this staff are amazing and have a great relationship with the kids.”
All told, the Wolverines had 27 place-winners at the 2022 NTL Championships, including individuals placing in multiple events, and events with multiple Wolverines earning a spot on the podium.
“It was great seeing the majority of seniors that attended on the podium,” Snell said. “Senior Landon Mead placed four times, senior Michael Mihalic placed three times, senior Cooper Traister placed twice. Notably, sophomore Dylan Hardwick, junior Lexi Goldthwaite, junior Gage Mott-Macalush, junior Alex Eaton, freshman Bryden Letendre, and freshman Leihden Wotorson visited the awards stand for two different events as well.”
The list of Wolverines placing on the podium includes:
Lady Wolverines: 4×800 meter relay – 3rd place (Paris Foster, Shelby Lobdell, Leah Bentley, and Mary Faye Muzzy); 200 Meter – 6th place Kadence Steffan; 400 meter – 6th place Madison Mitchell; 300 Intermediate Hurdles – 4th place Lexi Goldthwaite, 6th place Lily Benton; Triple Jump – 6th place Lexi Goldthwaite
Wolverine Place Winners: 4×800 Relay – 3rd place (Alex Eaton, Bryden Letendre, Jeremiah Richardson, and Dylan Hardwick); 100 meters – 2nd place Landon Mead, 5th place Michael Mihalic, 6th place Leihden Wotorson; 200 Meters – 4th Place Landon Mead; 400 Meters – 3rd place Landon Mead, 5th Place Colby Barr; 800 Meters – 4th place Dylan Hardwick; 3200 Meters – 4th place Alex Eaton, 6th place Bryden Letendre; 110 High Hurdles – 4th place Cooper Traister, 6th place Gage Mott-Macalush; 300 Intermediate Hurdles – 5th Place Dylan McNeal, 6th place Cooper Traister; Javelin – 6th place Michael Mihalic; Shot Put – 4th place Gage Mott-Macalush
