FITCHBURG — Silvian Popusoi wasn’t quite himself last week at the PVIAC Western Massachusetts Division II Track and Field Championships.
Despite battling the flu, Popusoi competed in the pole vault and finished tied for second with teammate David Giugiu at 12 feet. Popusoi recovered quickly from the flu and on Saturday won the pole vault with a personal best of 13 feet, 3 inches at the MIAA Central/West Division II Track and Field Championships.
A 15-inch difference is almost unheard of. Good health and a tremendous week of practice paved the way for Popusoi’s success.
“I recovered very well,” Popusoi said.
It was also a matter of family pride for Popusoi. Older brother Vladimir, who attended Saturday, won the event on the same track and set a state meet record last year with a vault of 15 feet 6 inches.
“He’s a real leader and he’s been like a coach to me,” Popusoi said. “Thank God he came here today because I would not have done it without him.”
Giugiu also bettered his vault from the previous week. He took third at 12-6, also a personal best.
“I was really feeling it and I felt like I was on fire today,” Giurgiui said. “We’re all very proud of Silvian today and we were both energetic.”
Frontier’s Clay Kocot also made an appearance at the medal ceremony. He placed seventh, while Pioneer Valley’s Jacob Kelton (8th), Mahar’s Camden Mosher (11th), Frontier’s Andy Habel (12th) and Mohawk’s Sam Rode (13th) all cracked the top 15.
But the pole vault belonged to Greenfield, which has a strong tradition in the event. It saw its streak of six straight sectional pole-vault first-place finishes end last season before the Green Wave reclaimed it this year.
Mohawk Trail came in with a target on its back. The Warriors were projected to win a close meet but settled for third place with 42 points..
“That puts pressure on everyone, but at the same time it’s a good thing because it gets everyone’s adrenaline pumped up,” said Mohawk sophomore Seth Hoynoski.
But track meets are not won on paper and Auburn performed well to claim the meet with 66½ points.
Mohawk was led by Cam Olynak, who took second place in the 800-meter run in 1:57.53. Frontier’s Connor Hamilton was fourth in the event (2:01.08).
Olyank set a school record in the 800, eclipsing the previous mark of 1:58.70. The Warriors also set a school record in winning the 4×400 relay (3:30.64) falling a second shy of a new meet mark.
Hoynoski placed second in the 400-meter hurdles. The sophomore came in just under a minute at 59.66.
“Being a sophomore and making it to states is an accomplishment,” Hoynoski said. “I am so happy to be on this team.”
Teammate Sam Rode was 10th at 1:02.60. Athol’s Mason Barrieau was seventh at 1:01.75.
Mohawk’s Jacob Cross took third in high jump at 6-2.
Owen Ortiz of Franklin County Tech secured second in long jump (21-0), triple jump (41-02.75) and finished fourth in the 100-meter dash with a time of 11.42. The Eagles finished 10th with 21 points.
GIRLS’ MEET
Athol’s Emily Casella won the javelin and shot put and placed second in discus as her Red Raiders finished eighth with 28 points..
Casella, a senior, had a throw of 115-feet, 2 inches to win javelin. That’s quite an accomplishment for someone who just picked up javelin this season.
“My coach told me I could do it,” Casella said. “I said ‘sure, I’d like to try it.’”
It was a good decision.
“I don’t really have any steps,” Casella said. “I just go up there and do it.”
And on a hot day in Fitchburg, no one did it better.
“I was happy,” Casella said.
Her discus toss of 108-10 was runner-up to winner Alyssa LaBrack of Murdock (110-02).
“I just threw as I always threw and just hoped for the best,” Casella said. “I’m a little disappointed because 108’s not bad, but I know I can do better.”
Casella won shot put with a throw of 37-feet ¾ inches. Mohawk sophomore Violet Rawlings was seventh at 99.05.
Frontier’s Katt Miner won the high jump with a leap of 5-2, four inches shorter than her winning jump in last week’s WMass Championships. The 95-degree day had a lot to do with the competitors not being at their best.
Most of the competitors were disappointed with their performances. Miner was one of them, but after she won, she congratulated the runner-up, shook hands with the officials and called it a day.
“That’s the kind of kid she is,” Frontier coach Bob Smith said. “We’re going to miss her.”
But Frontier’s loss is Michigan’s gain. If Miner didn’t have enough pressure being the top seed in the event, the University of Michigan’s women’s track assistant coach Cindy Fowler was in attendance.
“I came in hoping for 5-8 and I wanted to do well in front of coach Fowler,” Miner said. “I’m happy that I won, but not happy with my performance.”
Fowler left Fitchburg knowing the Wolverines have a special recruit.
“She is very impressive and extremely untapped,” Fowler said. “I thought she handled the heat very well, but it’s tough when you come in at the end because it’s so hard to keep yourself mentally prepared.”
Miner hopes to improve next week at All-States at Westfield State University.
“She’s going to get a lot better and we can’t wait to have her,” Fowler said. “Just getting in the weight room and learning technique will help her jump higher.”
Mohawk freshman Megan Davis took third in the 2-mile run at 11:41.51.
Mahar senior Ally Parker took third in long jump with a leap of 16-11, and fifth in the 100-meter dash (13.14). Pioneer’s Danielle Devin placed third in the high jump (4-10), sixth in triple jump (33-8) and eighth (16-1) in the long jump.
The Mahar girls received the Chris Lane Sportsmanship Award prior to the meet.
“Even though track is a team sport, it can also be very much individual, and you see the same people at events who you get to know,” senior co-captain Natalie Gonyor said. “You have that connection with them and it’s like a family.”
The girls’ pole vault competition was held on Thursday afternoon and Frontier’s Jaime Byrne and Pioneer’s Victoria Laskoski tied for second at 9-6. Emily Geser finished eighth at 8-6, Mohawk’s Kayla Baus was ninth at 8-0, and Pioneer’s Megan Weld was 10th 8-0.