Boys Track Opens New Facilities With Strong Performance

The Bethel High School boys track and field team opened the new track facilities Monday at Ralph DeSantis Field with a solid performance against Oxford and powerhouse Brookfield. The Wildcats were defeated by Brookfield 83.5 to 66.5, and had a convincing win over Oxford, 96-54. 

The opening ceremonies for the new track began at 3 p.m. and signified the first competitions held at the new complex. The track center debuted a new eight lane rubberized track surface, which was upgraded from the previous six lanes.  There are now two jumping pits, a dedicated shot put area, and renovations to the javelin and discus competition area. Coach Yvonne Grimes and her family provided the financing for the project. 

Grimes, who has been Bethel's track coach for more than a decade, said she was proud to see the hard work pay off in the beautiful new facilities. 

“It is a dream come true for my family and myself,” Grimes said. “Our hearts are here in Bethel with this track, and to give them facility that they deserve for all of the hard work that they’ve done is incredible.”

Considering that the previous track facilities were first built in the 70s, this renovation will serve the community for years to come. 

“For the track team now, and future athletes, it is wonderful for the athletes to have facility that they can be proud of, and is up to their standards,” she added.   “The double pits, eight lanes, the soft track; it really shows that Bethel track and field is something special. They deserve it.”

The track teams are not the only beneficiaries of this renovation. The track serves as a community location to get out and exercise. 

Grimes said: “I sit in the track house on a Sunday, or after practice, and the community is walking or running around. The moms with strollers come out and enjoy the track, and the community uses it as much as the kids do.”

After the opening ceremonies, the team got down to business and showed their appreciation of the new track by putting in a very strong performance. “We did very well,” Grimes said. “We almost broke school records in two events.  Brookfield is a powerhouse, and we came a lot closer than we expected to.” 

“We had amazing performances, including state qualifying performances from several of our athletes,” she said. “I think they were proud to run on their track for the first time, a great hometown crowd, and they have been training very hard.”

Despite losing 26 seniors from the previous season, Grimes said she knows that this year’s eight seniors, and the rest of the underclassmen will continue to progress this season.  

“I expect really good things from this team this year.  The team is showing me that they are pulling out that inner fortitude and coming up with these times and these wins,” she said.

On a day that was supposed to have afternoon showers to rain on the festivities, the sun came out and made it a wonderful occasion. Grimes said, “We have this beautiful day, on this beautiful track, and they really rose to the occasion and did amazing.”

Final Results:

Brookfield, 83.5
Bethel, 66.5
 
Bethel, 96
Oxford, 54
 
Brookfield, 105
Oxford, 45
 
4x800: Oxford  8:44.4 (Morton, Soss, Au, Swift)
4x100: Oxford  45.6  (Flach, Greco, Durkin, Vankamerik)
110H : Gardner (Br) 16.2
100M: Barrera (Be) 11.3
1600M: Mannion  (Br) 4:28.7
400M: Albin (Be) 50.9
300H: Damraksa (Be) 43.7
800M: Mannion (Br) 2:05.3
200M: Barrera (Be) 22.9
3200M: Mayerson (Br) 10:25.7
4x400M: Oxford 3:38.7 (Vankamerik, Parkin S., Parkin K., Greco)
LJ:  Silva (Be) 17-7
TJ : Gardner (Br) 37-11
PV : Gardner (Br) 12-6
HJ:  Gernert (Br) 6-2
Javelin: Ackell (Br) 174-5
Shot: Ackell (Br) 46-0
Discus: Ackell (Br) 157-7
 
Brookfield 5-0, Bethel 3-2, Oxford 1-4