Freedom, Whitehall, and Parkland track and field teams competed in a tri-meet last Tuesday at Parkland after weather-related postponements affected originally scheduled dual meets over the past two weeks.

Freedom’s girls were 91-55 winners over Whitehall but fell to Parkland while Freedom’s boys lost to Parkland and Whitehall.

Top scorers for the Patriot girls were Ava Fihlman, who was third in the 800 meter run (2:44.10) and second in the 1600 meter run (5:48.00).

Keturah Steward took third place in the 100 meter hurdles (18.6), and Sydney Brown clinched first in the 300 meter hurdles (48.8).

Gianna Dowling was the third place finisher in high jump (4-07.00).

Chloe Moschberger won shot put (29-05.50), and Isabel Rodriguez was third (26-11.50).

Rodriguez then took first place in discus (92-05), and Moschberger was second (84-08).

Top scorers for the Patriot boys included Antonio Santiago, Chase Bonstein, Joe Bauer, and Alex Heidemann, who won the 4x8 relay (8:58.80).

“We never ran it full out. This was the first time running with the four of us,” said Bauer, who ran third. “I was slightly behind and caught up, and when I handed off to Alex, I was like five meters behind. It was a big race to win against Parkland.”

Santiago led off for the Pates.

“I was patient throughout the first lap, and in the second lap, the wind kind of hit me, so I kept pushing, hoping to set my team up for close to first,” Santiago said. “I think my handoff was pretty good to Chase, especially this being our first time, and I think Chase ran a good, solid leg. Overall, we did really good.”

Heidemann was the anchor who came from behind to give the Patriots the first top points of the meet.

“I got the baton, and about 50 meters into the race, I just sat right on [Parkland’s Landon Hoppel] and let him use all his energy against the wind,” Heidemann said. “Around 300 meters, I made my move and went around him. He didn’t really have anything left. It was a good tactical race.”

The wind affected most runners, creating slower than usual times throughout the day.

Jalen Fletcher placed third in the 100 meter dash (11.8), and Bonstein came in second in the 200 meter dash (24.3) after the Freedom sophomore thought he had a false start and initially hesitated but made up for lost time.

Bonstein then came back to win the 400 meter dash (54.2).

“It being a little bit colder, and the wind coming into a headwind on the backstretch negatively impacts the second half of the race, for sure, and it made it harder to finish the 400. It feels like you have to put the same amount of energy in as a kick to maintain your speed at the end,” Bonstein said. “Outside of that, I know my coach wanted me to get out as if I was in a 4x1 and then I settled in the backstretch, started to pick it up around the 300 meter mark and from there, I gave it everything I had with that wind coming down the backstretch.”

Heidemann won the 800 meter run (2:04.6) and the 1600 meter run (4:41.10).

Dylan Boyle placed third in the 3200 meter run (11:00.70).

Stephen Richards was the second place finisher in high jump (5-07.00), Tyler Smith was third in pole vault (8-03.00), and Juan Feliciano finished third in shot put (38-02.00).