SS. Peter and Paul improves ribbon count

SS. Peter and Paul track earned ribbons at the annual Parochial track and field meet. Pictured from left, are: Connor Tumiel (11 and under sprint, fourth place), Brian Costello (10 and under sprint, second), Sam Ministero (15 and under sprint, first), and David Hill (13 and under sprint, third).

The SS. Peter and Paul Knights, coached by Mary McIntyre, continued their winning ways this year and improved their ribbon count to 18 in the 85th annual Parochial School Outdoor Track and Field meet last week.

The team was led by the boys as they earned ribbons in all three relay races to start the meet at Saint Francis High School.

The 10 and under relay team was awarded ribbons by finishing second overall in the meet's first event after winning their initial heat. The team was made of Brian Costello, Jake Baran, Anthony Podgorsak, and Nick Eberhard.

The ribbons continued to be awarded to SSPP as the Knights' 12 and under boys relay team placed third in their finals. The relay team was comprised of Jonathan Caimano, Patrick Polino, Alec Cowe, and Connor Tumiel. It was the boys' 14 and under relay team that ran away from the competition by winning decisively in both their initial heat and the finals.

The relay team of Sam Ministero, Mark Eberhard, Max Roehmholdt, and anchor man David Hill turned in a winning time of 39.84 seconds. The girls' 10 and under relay ran two great races but finished just out of the ribbons by placing fifth in the finals. The relay team was made up of Valerie Quebral, Gabriella Mancino, Pauline Jakson, and Melissa Postek.

The boys continued their winning ways in the individual sprints as they won ribbons in four of the six age groups. Each of the ribbon winners had already won ribbons earlier in the morning with their respective relays teams.

Brian Costello finished strong in the boys' 10 and under sprint and took home his second second place ribbon. Connor Tumiel won a ribbon by placing fourth in a very close 11 and under sprint finals. David Hill, the anchor for the boys' 14 and under relay team, added a third place ribbon for the team in the boys' 13 and under sprint. However, it was Sam Ministero that led the Knights by winning his second first place ribbon after winning the boys' 15 and under sprint. Max Roehmholdt made the finals in the 14 and under sprints but finished just out of the ribbons with a fifth place performance.

Gabriella Mancino won a ribbon for the Knights by placing third in the finals of the girls' 10 and under sprint. Other strong performances were turned in by Olivia Jakson and Julie Dudek as they both placed fifth, just out of the ribbons, in the girls' 12 and under sprint and 14 and under sprint, respectively.

The Knights performed well in field events. Claire Haumesser took a third place ribbon in the girls' 13 and under softball throw with a toss of 113-feet. Rick Mendiola turned in a strong performance but just missed a ribbon with a fifth place throw of 152 feet. Sixth grader Jonathan Caimano missed a ribbon by a half-inch after jumping 13-4.