You would have to forgive Chesterton boys track coach John Snyder if he forgot to mention somebody to the press after Thursday night’s Portage Sectional.

The Trojans advanced athletes in 10 events to next Thursday’s Valparaiso Regional, while also garnering two event titles and finishing second as a team.

“I’m just excited,” Snyder said. “Hopefully the weather is starting to help us out. The Regional is going to be exciting. We didn’t get anybody to the State Meet last year and our goal is to get several this year.

“I think we are in a position to do that.”

The Trojans first Sectional title came from Joe Raffin in the 400. Teammate Jon Watson finished second.

“Joe Raffin bettering his personal best in the 400 with a 49.45 and winning was nice,” Snyder said. “That’s a pretty significant drop in a 400 sprint.”

Raffin also ran the anchor leg of the Sectional Record setting 4x400 that finished in 3:19.96 along with teammates Matt Raffin, Watson and Remy Lewis.

“The 4x4 was just outstanding,” Snyder said. “They set a Sectional Record and that’s something you’ll always remember.”

Chesterton also got second place finishes from the 4x800 team (Ryan Cutter, Austin Palombizio, Thomas Halpin, David Osborn), Matt Raffin (100 hurdles), David Osborn (3,200), Tony Smith (pole vault) and a 2-3 finish from David Raffin and Dan Dellumo in the shot put.

“David Raffin and Dan Dellumo throwing over 50 feet is great,” Snyder said. “I’m very excited for them because they’ve known they were capable of it all year. Tony Smith went 8 feet here last year and this year he finishes second at 13-6.

“Matt Raffin continues to run well in the 100 hurdles. I think he’s got a great race in him still. He’s right around 15 (seconds) and I think he’s ready to break through.”

The Trojans also got fourth place finishes from Alex Lydick (200) and Ryan Cutter (1,600).

“Alex Lydick ran extremely well and qualified for the Regional in the 200,” Snyder said. “He was a little more motivated today and did a great job.

“Ryan Cutter ran a personal best and qualified in the 1,600. He really hasn’t run it that much and I think he’s got a chance to break 4:30 and do some nice things at the Regional.”

1. Valparaiso, 187; 2. Chesterton, 115; 3. Portage, 98; 4. LaPorte, 72; 5. New Prairie, 56; 6. Michigan City, 48; 7. Washington Twp., 20; 8. Westville, 11; 9. Michigan City Marquette, 7; 10. Wheeler, 5; 11. South Central, 4.

3,200 RELAY -- 1. Valparaiso, 8:10.67; 2. Chesterton (Ryan Cutter, Austin Palombizio, Thomas Halpin, David Osborn), 8:30.83; 3. LaPorte, 8:46.94; 4. Michigan City, 8:52.57; 5. New Prairie, 9:01.24; 6. Westville, 9:05.70.

100 -- 1. Isaac Bullock (V), 11.18; 2. Michael Perkins (V), 11.29; 3. Nathan Samano (P), 11.31; 4. Arvis Johnson (P), 11.36; 5. Devin Price (SC), 11.41; 6. Blake Surface (MC), 11.66.

100 H -- 1. James Elia (V), 15.09; 2. Matt Raffin (C), 15.21; 3. Thomas Trinosky (V), 15.36; 4. Robert Webb (NP), 15.64; 5. Nathaniel Lowery (P), 15.81; 6. Aaron Griffin (MC), 15.88.

200 -- 1. Isaac Bullock (V), 22.67; 2. Michael Perkins (V), 23.04; 3. Blake Surface (MC),

23.46; 4. Alex Lydick (C), 23.47; 5. Casey Pattengale (L), 23.49; 6. Kyle Nole (WV), 23.81.

1,600 -- 1. Kyle Smiley (NP), 4:26.83; 2. Philip Strader (MC), 4:28.18; 3. Corbin Slater (L), 4:32.77; 4. Ryan Cutter (C), 4:32.77; 5. Matt Burgess (V), 4:34.82; 6. Mitchell Hubner (L), 4:38.29.

400 RELAY -- 1. Valparaiso, 42.85 (SECTIONALÊ RECORD); 2. Portage, 43.54; 3. Michigan City, 44.89; 4. LaPorte, 45.04; 5. Chesterton, 45.79; 6. New Prairie, 46.66.

400 -- 1. Joe Raffin (C), 49.45; 2. Jon Watson (C), 50.63; 3. Scott Shimala (V), 50.65; 4. Joshua Luna (WH), 51.11; 5. Kevin Piet (V), 52.07, 6. Cameron Eaton (P), 52.82.

300 H -- 1. James Elia (V), 39.50 (SECTIONAL RECORD); 2. Skyler Coburn (L), 40.97; 3. Nick Thompson (V), 41.08; 4. Deandre Jackson (P), 41.28; 5. Will Butz (C), 41.55; 6. Robert Webb (NP), 43.05.

800 -- 1. Kyle Breitenbach (V), 2:00.13; 2. Kevin Costalunga (V), 2:00.89; 3. Mitchell Hubner (L), 2:01.60; 4. Craig Fettig (MC), 2:01.80; 5. Nathaniel Edquist (L), 2:02.35; 6. Ryan Cutter (C), 2:05.24.

3,200 -- 1. Matt Miller (L), 9:21.66; 2. David Osborn (C), 9:35.24; 3. Kyle Smiley (NP), 9:49.87; 4. Ahmad Aljobeh (V), 9:51.48, 5. Philip Strader (MC), 9:51.49; 6. Andrew Morris (C), 9:56.05.

1,600 RELAY -- 1. Chesterton (Jon Watson, Joe Raffin, Remy Lewis, Matt Raffin), 3:19.96Ê (SECTIONAL RECORD); 2. Valparaiso, 3:20.36; 3. Portage, 3:31.07; 4. LaPorte, 3:41.10; 5. Westville, 3:41.83; 6. New Prairie, 3:45.60.

HJ -- 1. Alvin Best (P), 6-4; 2. Robert Webb (NP), 6-4; 3. Kody Galloway (C), 6-4; 4. Matt Hills (V), 6-2; 5. Jordan Romanov (V), 6-2; 6. Michael Wagner (NP), 6-0.

PV -- 1. Nate Malone (V), 14-0; 2. Tony Smith (C), 13-6; 3. Ben Kucinski (V), 12-0; 4. Casey Newcomb (P), 11-6; 5. Mark Matchett (WT), 11-6; 6. Eric Singleton (NP), 11-0.

DIS -- 1. Tyler Monahan (P), 141-8; 2. Richard Russell (WT), 133-7; 3. Carlton Austin (L), 132-7; 4. Zach Greiner (V), 131-3; 5. Joe Paczolt (P), 123-8; 6. Raphael Young (MC), 121-5.

SP -- 1. Joey Little (P), 51-9; 2. David Raffin (C), 51-3; 3. Dan Dellumo (C), 50-1; 4. Connor Snapp (V), 49-8; 5. David Spurrier (P), 48-4; 6. Carlton Austin (L), 47-10.

LJ -- 1. Andy Martin (V), 21-10; 2. Nathan Samano (P), 21-10; 3. Brandon Ciolli (MCM), 21-6 3; 4. Stanley Roberts (L), 21-6 1; 5. Robert Webb (NP), 21-4 1; 6. Matt Hills (V), 21-3 3.

Posted 5/22/2009