Wawasee’s Elizabeth Zorn breaks away from the crowd to win the mile-run Thursday in the track dual against Westview. (Photos by Mike Deak)

SYRACUSE – It wasn’t an ideal night for spectating, but it was experience enough for Wawasee and Westview to get some racing and throwing in during the boys and girls track duals Thursday evening. Westview’s Warriors edged Wawasee’s Warriors in the score column in a 69-63 result while Wawasee’s Lady Warriors nearly tripled up Westview’s Lady Warriors 97-35 on a windy and cold night at Warrior Field.

Michael Katzer reaches for the baton in the 4×100 relay.

The field events for Wawasee’s girls were very strong, where a near record on day one highlighted the events. Jada Parzygnot sailed over the 9-0 height on pole vault and immediately went after the school record of 9-4 held by Sarah Rozow. While not being able to get over the bar at 9-5, Parzygnot’s showing was part of Wawasee’s huge lid lifter. Alexis Mangas went 106-8.5 in discus for the win, and Hannah-Marie Lamle sailed 15-10 in long jump in a pair of impressive stage setters. Liz Hardy added another Wawasee field win with a jump of 4-2 in high jump.

Lamle was one of three Lady Warriors’ individuals to win at least three events, adding wins in the 100 hurdles (17.92) and the 300 hurdles (55.19). Elizabeth Zorn dominated the distance runs, winning the 800 (2:42.77), 1,600 (5:51.01) and 3,200 (12:45.74) and joined in on a fourth win with Kenzie Smith, Caitlin Wortinger and Yanelly Pizana for an 11:03.10 cruise in the 4×800 relay.

“That is the type of effort and determination I hope characterizes this team,” said Wawasee head coach Scott Lancaster of his multiple event winners. “There is a much different mood and attitude with this bunch than there has been in the past. The coaching staff has been very pleased.”

Smith would win the 400 at 1:07.63 and combine with Wortinger, Delanie Bame and Nadia Palacios for a 4:46.23 win in the 4×400 relay.

Alex Castro won his first varsity hurdles race Thursday afternoon.

“We shuffled the lineup a little because we felt we had a good opportunity against Westview and the girls responded very well,” said Lancaster. “There were many great performances despite the cold and windy conditions.”

Wawasee’s boys couldn’t find the top spot in several races that would have changed the tide of the team outcome, but still had some quality personal showings.

The 4×100 relay team of Cole VanLue, Michael Katzer, Alec Rosbrugh and Eric Yankosky made up most of the day’s winners, taking the relay at 45.73. Yankosky, Rosbrugh, Luke Griner and Sam Griner won the 4×400 relay at 3:45.88, Yankosky added another in the pole vault at 10-0, Katzer won long jump at 18-10.5 and VanLue led the 200 racers with a 24.23.

Spencer Hare won the 3,200 going away at 10:32.73 and first-time participant Alex Castro won his first-ever varsity race, the 110 hurdles, with a time of 19.88, to the surprise and joy of many watching the race.

“We had a very good effort, but just came up short,” Lancaster said. “It is easy to look for all the places we could have scored better, but then you risk overlooking the effort. The boys just went out and competed well.”

Wawasee will take aim at another double dual meet next Thursday before Spring Break arrives when West Noble comes to Syracuse for a 5 p.m. start.

Wawasee’s Jada Parzygnot gets some love after clearing 9-0 in pole vault Thursday afternoon.