After finishing second last year, White River Valley senior Cassandra Armstrong won the Vermont High School Decathlon, and White River Valley junior Jack Hughes placed second in the boys division.
Armstrong finished the 10-event meet held Wednesday and Thursday at Burlington High School with 5,391 points, well ahead of Isabell Gravina-Budis of Champlain Valley Union who amassed 4,995 points.
Competing against about more than 80 athletes in some events from 31 schools, Armstrong won the 100 meters, pole vault and 400 meters, finished second in the 100 meter hurdles, seventh in the high jump, ninth in the discus and sixth in the 1,500 meters. She was 15th in the shot put, 18th in the javelin and 20th in the long jump.
Hughes’ point total of 5,590 included first in the long jump, second in the 400 meters, third in the shot put and 100 meters and fourth in the high jump. He was fifth in the javelin, seventh in the 110 meter hurdles, 13th in the discus, 19th in the pole vault and 21st in the 1,500 meters. About 70 athletes competed in the boys division.
Isaac Kinsley, a White River Valley junior, was seventh overall. He took second in the discus, fifth in the 110 meter hurdles, seventh in the 100 meters, 12th in the pole vault, 10th in the shot put and 11th in the high jump.
White River Valley coach Dave Mattern said Armstrong, who led the Wildcats to the VPA Division III state championship on June 4th, winning four individual events, finished her high school career with 10 school records, one Division III state record in the 300 meter hurdles, 11 first place and three second place finishes in state meets. She will be playing soccer at Houghton College in the fall, Mattern said.
Other decathlon finishes: White River Valley – Liberti Bollman 24th, Addison Isham 29th, George Roda 24th, Sam Armstrong 26th. Thetford Academy – Matthew McGovern 28th, Zac Amber 37th, Lilian Miller 28th. Windsor – Audrey McFarland 40th.
Top ten individual results included Sam Armstrong (third, pole vault), George Roda (seventh 1,500), Ollie Emery of Thetford Academy (eighth 1,500, 42nd overall), Matthey McGovern (ninth, 1,500). Girls – Lilian Miller (second, javelin), Liberti Bollman (sixth, javelin), Audrey McFarland (fifth. long jump), Natalie Ranney Windsor (ninth, 1,500, 58th overall), Sadie Armstrong White River Valley (10th 100 meters, 49th overall)
In 25 team scores for the boys, White River Valley finished second with 269.5 points, less than 10 points behind the winner Essex, which finished with 279 points. Thetford Academy was 10th and Windsor 16th. The White River Valley girls were fourth among 23 teams scores with Windsor 17th and Thetford Academy 21st
Individual scores: Girls – Cassandra Armstrong, White River Valley 5,391, Isabella Gravina-Budis Champlain Valley Union
4,995, Kate Bradford Colchester 4,734, Acadia Enman Mt. Mansfield Union 4,571, Gabriella Marshia Lyndon Institute 4,486, Patricia Staback Stowe 4,402, Sophie Beck Peoples Academy 4,335, Bailey Qualter St. Johnsbury 4,298, Makenna Pratt Colchester 4,171, Maeda Uria Lake Region Union 3,923.
Boys:Micah McDonald St. Johnsbury 5,707, Jack Hughes White River Valley 5,590, Quintin Fortier Champlain Valley Union 5,412, Adler Lahar Lake Region Union 5,193, Ian Bernier Green Mountain Union 5,054, Gregory Maiberger Essex 5,049, Isaac Kinsley White River Valley 5,040, Evan Hughes Essex 4,986, Jackson Ladd St. Johnsbury 4,766, Beckett Versluys Essex 4,691
