Stonebraker repeats as county Track MVP
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Connellsville’s Bodee Stonebraker takes the handoff from Jared Ozias in the 400 relay in Saturday’s FCCA Track & Field Championship at Uniontown’s Bill Power Stadium. Stonebraker repeated as the Track MVP and the Falcons retained the team title.
Frazier's Julian Muccioli flies through the air on his way to a first-place finish in the triple jump in Saturday's FCCA Track & Field Championship at Uniontown's Bill Power Stadium. Muccioli shared the Field MVP with Brownsville's Nicholas Seto.
Jim Downey | Herald-Standard
Brownsville’s Nick Seto flies through the air in the long jump during Saturday’s FCCA Track & Field Championship at Uniontown’s Bill Power Stadium.
The Falcons came through in the final race of the day for Bodee Stonebraker, giving the Connellsville senior the points he needed to repeat as the county meet Track MVP Saturday at Uniontown’s Bill Power Stadium.
Frazier’s Julian Muccioli and Brownsville’s Nicholas Seto, both jumpers, shared the Field MVP at the FCCA Track & Field Championship.
The Falcons cruised to the team title again with 198 points, easily outdistancing host Uniontown with 140 points.
Stonebraker finished with 23 points for honors on the track.
Stonebraker won the 200 in 23.50 seconds and finished second to Uniontown’s Ahmad Hooper in the 100 with a time of 11.42 seconds. Hooper won in 11.31 seconds.
Stonebraker ran the anchor of the 400 relay with the Falcons winning in 44.66 seconds, setting up the final race of the day.
Stonebraker ran the opening leg of the 1,600 relay, setting the tone for the Falcons’ first-place finish in 3:39.10.
“It means so much, honestly,” Stonebraker said of repeating as MVP. “I really wanted to go back-to-back since (the meet) last year.”
Stonebraker admitted he thought about the repeat.
“(Repeating), definitely, hit me hard before the 100 prelims. I wasn’t the fastest coming in,” said Stonebraker.
Stonebraker also acknowledged his teammates coming through in the relays.
“The handoffs are so important in the 400 relay. The handoffs make or break the race,” explained Stonebraker.
Stonebraker and the Falcons have the team playoffs on Tuesday, followed by the Baldwin Invitational on Friday and a last-chance meet the following week.
“It’s a confidence booster,” Stonebraker said of his county meet performance. “I know I can compete more going into the bigger meets.”
Muccioli needed only two events to post his 20 points, winning the long jump (20-6¾) and triple jump (42-11).
Seto competed in all three jumping events for his 20 points, placing second in the long jump (18-8½) and triple jump (42-2¾), and fourth in the high jump (5-8).
Seto lost a jump off with Uniontown’s Samuel Jubin for third place in the high jump, which would’ve provided the difference-making points for outright MVP honors.
Jumpers had to deal with a sharp wind throughout the contest, which affected their approach and speed.
“The wind messes me up,” said Muccioli after the long jump. “It slows me down on the runway. I felt it. It completely messed me up.”
Muccioli fell short of a couple personal goals he had for the meet.
“I’m going for first place, but the real thing is breaking my PR in the long jump (of 21-7¾),” said Muccioli. “I would like to hit 43 in the triple jump, but the wind affects me more in between phases.”
Seto was hoping for a better finish in the triple jump.
“I’m upset I didn’t get first in the triple jump,” said Seto, adding, “It was a battle just like last year.”
Seto injured his landing foot last week, so that affected his performance.
“It makes me think when I land, the pain happens,” explained Seto.
He, too, had issues with the wind.
“The wind was terrible. I can’t run fast against the wind,” said Seto.
Laurel Highlands’ Kaleb Smouse (400, 53.97), Colby Davis (discus, 115-2), and Iliesa Salauca (110 high hurdles, 15.34), Connellsville’s Dominic Prestipino (800, 2:05.93), Aden Bruich (shot put, 47-11), Cameron Sapola (javelin, 146-7), and Gabe Kemp (pole vault, 8-0), Uniontown’s Logan Maust (1,600, 4:55.47), Sam Killinger (3,200, 10:37.41), 3,200 relay (8:39.35), Jayden Thomas (high jump, 6-0), and Isaiah Melvin (300 intermediate hurdles, 40.26) also won county titles.