Jun 7, 2025
Chautauqua Lake’s Jada Cole clears the bar to win the high jump at the Section VI track and field state qualifier on Saturday at Bill Race Field at Falconer High School. P-J photo by Christian Storms
FALCONER — In her junior season, Chautauqua Lake’s Jada Cole nearly reached the top of the podium of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Division 2 track and field championships in high jump.
As a senior, Cole has just one more chance to accomplish her goal of reaching the top and on Saturday at the Section VI state qualifier she got a little bit closer. She remained the last girl standing after outlasting East Aurora’s Addie Miller and finished with an overall winning height and Class C title at 5-feet and 7-inches.
“It’s so fun, especially considering I’m not even doing this next year,” Cole stated. “It’s fun to be able to experience this. I have supportive parents and supportive coaches helping me through it the whole way.”
Cole was nearly a double-winner, finishing 2nd in the Class C triple jump with a leap of 35-1.5 and Tapestry’s Janee Long won at 39-3. In taking second, Cole will head to Middletown next week with just the focus of winning the high jump.
“I’ve kind of had a lot of ups and downs this year for sure,” Cole said about her year. “But I’m starting to peak finally for high jump which is really nice. I just try not to let it get to my head and I just try to keep going everyday.”
Southwestern’s Marlana Cresanti leaves the blocks in the 200-meter final of the Section VI track and field state qualifier on Saturday at Bill Race Field at Falconer High School. Cresanti finished second in the event, but achieved the state standard time to advance to the state championships. P-J photo by Christian Storms
Clymer/Sherman/Panama senior Isa Kioko and Gowanda sophomore Isabella DeGolier both reached the high jump podium in Class C. Kioko will also join Cole at states having already cleared the super standard of 5-4.
Southwestern junior Mikayla Johnson already had her ticket booked to Middletown in both the shot put and discus as she continues to put together a dominant season.
“I just try not to let anybody get into my head,” Johnson said about her mindset this year. “I just try to keep focus and do what I’m best at.”
However, on Friday she still showed up big to claim the Class C shot put title with an overall top throw of 38-4.
“It means a lot,” Johnson stated. “The people that I’m around they always support me with whatever I do. It just means so much to do what I do and be good at it.”
Then in discus, she finished third in Class C with 119-3, Franklinville’s Elizabeth Price was 2nd with 119-4 and Tapestry’s Nyla Wilson-Epps blew away the competition with a winning throw of 150-10.
Johnson qualified for states with a previous super standard distance of 126-7, surpassing the necessary 122-9.
“I’m very dedicated to what I do,” Johnson said about the results she’s getting. “I put all my hard work into it and all my effort into it.”
Falconer/Cassadaga Valley’s Mary Lundmark earned a trip to Middletown in the pole vault after capturing the Class C title with a height of 10-9 and Southwestern’s Ellie Pearson took 2nd at 8-9.
Jamestown senior Emily Cardinale missed out on states reaching the same mark as Lundmark, but vying for a bid in Class A in which the state standard is 11-7 and the champion Ally Schmitz of Orchard Park cleared 11-6.
Just like Cole, Frewsburg senior Grace Lennon is also making the most of her final year on the track claiming two Class C titles with wins in the 100 (12.34) and 200 meters (25.36).
In doing so, Lennon edged out Southwestern’s Marlana Cresanti as a double-winner. However, both will be going to states in the 200 as Cresanti took second at 25.41 which surpasses the Class C standard of 25.72.
Cresanti earned an individual championship in the Class C 400 with an overall top time of 57.84. She will be joined at states by Fredonia’s Delaney Kaiser who took 2nd in Class C after posting a time of 58.59, clearing the state standard for the event.
Emma Lewis was the top competitor claiming three Class C titles with a win in the 800 (2:13.28) on Friday, then on Saturday won the 3,000 (10:21.45) and 2,000 steeplechase (7:01.94).
Lewis will now have three individual cracks at the podium in Middletown, adding the 800 to her schedule.
Southwestern teammate Tryniti Card just missed out on joining her in the event after taking third with a time of 2:19.31, short of the super standard at 2:16.79.
Southwestern junior M’Kenzie Zavala claimed another Class C title for the Trojans with a win in the 400 hurdles (1:05.51) and Fredonia’s Mariella Russo took third (1:09.08).
Jamestown’s Emily Cardinale was runner-up in the Class A 100 hurdles (16.11), while Williamsville North’s Lily Bauer won with a time of 14.72.
Then in Class C, both Maple Grove’s Sydney Simmons and Southwestern’s Zavala shared 2nd with a matching time of 16.87 and East Aurora’s Miller won with 15.62.
Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Deidre Green was the runner-up in the Class C 1,500 (5:03.68) as Springville-Griffith’s Kirsten Melnik won with a time of 4:39.09.
The Southwestern 3,200 relay team dominated again with the best time overall and Class C title running a time of 9:20.90. The Clymer/Sherman/Panama team took 3rd in Class C, while Jamestown’s group was 3rd in Class A as Williamsville North won the class.
Clymer/Sherman/Panama senior Milka Woodring finished 2nd in the Class C pentathlon with a score of 2,470 and Springville-Griffith freshman Kendra Cook won with 2,832.
Then a pair of local freshmen in Frewsburg’s Anelia Pitts placed 3rd and Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Emmersen Crawford took 4th with 2,382 and 2,310 points, respectively.
RUSH — Section VI will have 11 girls get a look at Wild Wood Country Club today ahead of the New York State …
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