LAKE WORTH – An expected result and a true surprise emerged from the Palm Beach County Track Championships on Wednesday night (April 2).
Bottom: Spanish River’s track team
We will start with Benjamin’s venerable track and field program, which sent its boys and girls teams out to defend its county titles at Park Vista High School.
Led by Sofia Balistreri, the Benjamin girls easily bested the field as they finished with 95 points. They were 24 points ahead of King’s Academy (71 points; second place) and 34 points ahead of Dwyer (61 points; third place). Balistreri, who is a junior at this time, placed first in the 800 meter run (2:21.46; 10 points) and third in the 1600 meter run (5:27.87; 6 points). She also anchored the girls 4×800 relay team to a first place finish (10:02.43; 10 points) and the girls 4×400 team to a sixth place finish (4:12.97; 3 points).
Balistreri was far and away the best female track and field star at the Palm Beach County Track Championships, as evidenced by her helping Benjamin score 29 of its county-high 95 points.
As for the Benjamin boys team, their three-year reign on top ended by coming up several points short. They finished second with 81 points – 18 points behind surprise winner Spanish River, which finished with a county-high 99 points.
Watch the boys 4×400 relay to see how the county meet ended in fitting fashion.
Spanish River head coach Doug Horn spoke on this unexpected team win for the boys and more.
Meanwhile, Benjamin head coach Barrett Saunders spoke on the girls back-to-back triumph and the boys runner-up result. He sees the county meet as a building block for the ultimate goal, which is for the girls to win its first-ever Class 1A state title and for the boys to compete for yet another 1A state title.
Balistreri and boys standout Julian Luiz spoke on behalf of their teams with Saunders.
FINAL RESULTS: GIRLS
- Benjamin – 95 points
- King’s Academy – 71 points
- Dwyer – 61 points
FINAL RESULTS: BOYS
- Spanish River – 99 points
- Benjamin – 81 points
- Cardinal Newman – 70 points
PLEASE NOTE: A total of 28 boys teams and 29 girls teams from were represented in the Palm Beach County Track Championships.
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