Finley Boys' Track Races to 5-1 Mark
A strong core group of athletes helped lift the J. Taylor Finley Middle School boys' track and field team to a 5-1 mark this past spring. The 26-man roster was coached by Huntington physical education teachers Tim Madden and Michael Marinello.
"The team had lots of fun while working hard at their craft and accomplishing many goals set at the beginning of the season," Madden said. The squad featured 14 seventh graders and a dozen eighth graders. The nearly equal mix of veterans and newcomers appears to bode well for both the high school and middle school programs.
Joe Saginaw and Alex Alvarenga captained the team and were among the top performers. Eighth graders Gerald Riley and Brendan Wirth also sparkled.
Saginaw specialized in the 100m dash and 400m run and the long jump. "Joe was a great captain and leader," Madden said.
Alvarenga shined in the 55m hurdles, mile run and long jump. "Alex is one of the hardest working kids I have ever coached," Madden said. "He will be a great asset for coach [Ron] Wilson at Huntington High School."
Riley excelled in the 55m hurdles, high jump and long jump. Wirth was a standout in the 100m dash, 400m run and the high jump. The emergence of the duo and the points they consistently scored helped put the Falcons over the top in several meets.
Predicting what will happen next year is obviously an inexact science. "We graduated many team leaders," Madden said about the departing upper classmen. "The seventh graders will have to step up and rise to the challenges next season."