CATO - In a flash of lightning, they were off. The Cato-Meridian boys and girls track team hosted its first-ever invitational Friday. Joining them was Port Byron, Union Springs, Red Creek and Onondaga made the trips for the Invitational.

Despite a brief lightning delay, Red Creek won the most events with six, Union springs had four first-place finishes, Port Byron had three, Cato-Meridian had two and Onondaga had one.

“It was a great day; Cato-Meridian did a great job of putting this on,” Port Byron boys track coach Chris Ford said. “They are just a classy team.”

For Port Byron, Steve Cuff qualified for the Sectional III championships in the 800m (2:16), good enough for first place. Cuff, Christian Cobb, Will Rice and Zac Leja finished second in the 4x800m relay (9:29.9). Demetrius Milazy came in second in the 110m high hurdles (18.4) and second in the 400m intermediate hurdles. Jim Schroder placed third in the 400m intermediate hurdles (70.3). Cobb ended up in third in the 3200m (11:08.9). Shawn Seamans, Ryan Eldridge, Travis Snyder and Dillon Swann placed third in the 4x100m relay (50.8). Mike Borst won the 1600m novice (5:31.1). Seamans, Cuff, Leja and Rice came in second in the 4x400m relay (3:55) Robert Yeomans won the discus (96-10) and finished in third in the shot put (36-11.5).

Mike Howell led Union Springs with a second-place finish in the triple jump (39-1) and J.P. Gregory ended up in third (38-2). Joel Terry finished first in the 1600m (4:51.1). Scott Wood won the 100m high hurdles (17.4) and Garropy placed third (19.4). Wood also took first in the 400m intermediate hurdles (62.7). Nate Markham placed second in the 200m (24.4). Garropy finished third in the long jump (16-4). Markham, Wood, Howell and Matt Heindl finished first in the 4x100m relay (46.8). Heindl took second in the discus (90-1).

“He was our standout guy today,” Wolves coach Mark Gaffney said.

Andrew Gillis broke Cato-Meridian's 200m record with a 23.1 and finished first in the 400m (54.4). Ben Mesmer, Ivan Rojo, Tom Klaben and Joe Mattice placed third in the 4x800m relay (9:32.8). Wes Sweetman took third in the 400m (56.7). Mattice came in third in the 800m (2:20.1). Joe Bowden, Brandon Bosco, Mike Davison and Gillis finished second in the 4x100m relay (47.6). Carl Tausend placed second in the 1600m novice (5:42.8). Bowden, Sweetman, Mattice and Seth Trapp came in third in the 4x400m relay (4:01.6). A.J. Rothenberg finished in second in the shot put (38-1). Dave Quinn placed third in the discus (87-8). Davison ended up taking second in the long jump (17-1). Klaben ended up third in the high jump with a jump of 5 feet. Bowden tied for first with Red Creek's Joe Wiegelt for first in the pole vault (8-6).

On the girls side, Union Springs led the way with seven first-place finishes, Red Creek came in second with five, Onondaga had three, Port Byron had two and Cato-Meridian finished with one.

It seemed as if Monica Sacco never stopped running for Union Springs. She took first in the 800m (2:30.9). She helped Kati Stolz, Jesica Maltese, Ashley Salato and Alyssa Dean win the 4x100m relay (56.9). Dean finished first in the 100m (14.2) and second in the long jump (14-1). Daniele Lyndaker took first in the 100m high hurdles (18.3) and 400m intermediate hurdles (80.8). Annie O'Hara came in second in the 1500m (5:42.2). Casey Emmett placed second in the 400m intermediate hurdles (83.8). Salato took second for the 200m (29.9) and third in the long jump (13-6). Sarah Norton placed first in the 1500m novice (6:56.6). Lyndaker, O'Hara, Annie O'Hara and Sacco finished second in the 4x400m relay (4:45.7). Stolz finished third in the shot put (25-4.5).

“She anchored all of our events today,” Gaffney said of Sacco. “She had a great meet for us.”

For Cato-Meridian, Aubrey Campbell finished first in the high jump (4-8). Erin Annett, Autumn Bullard, Erin Grant and Rebecca Myers finished second in the 4x800m relay (11:52.6). Ashley Gillis placed second in the 100m (14.4). Amy Close took third in the 100m high hurdles (19.4). Myers came in third in the 800m (2:52.4). Tara Pickard, Grant, Gillis and Jessica Griffiths finished second in the 4x100m relay (57.5). Bullard, Grant, Myers and Campbell finished third in the 4x400m relay (4:45.7). Shelby Klaber took second in the shot put (25-5.5). Kristine DeLattre (77-9) and Jessica Brand (69-8) finished second and third in the discus.

For Port Byron, Katie Wykoff, Nina Swarez, Jen Locastro and Felicia Darrow finished first in the 4x800m relay (11:46.3). Ashley Leja came in third for the 100m (14.4). Cassie Grome took second place in the 100m high hurdles (19.3). Mindy Myers finished third in the 400m (69.9). Locastro came in second for the 300m (12:49.5). Kristina Kalyan won the long jump (14-7). Brittney Bigness finished third in the 200m (30.3).

“I was very proud of my girls today,” Panthers girls coach Kelly Brewster said. “As well of our hurdlers too. We all did a great job today. They stayed and moved so well in their positions.”

The Blue Devils added two events to their invitational. The 800m turned into a memorial for Nate Vargason, a 2002 graduate of Cato-Meriidan who passed away this winter. Nate's parents were on hand and were honored by the recognition.

“I was very emotional,” Blue Devils' head coach Charlie Balog said. “I coached Nate and lived in Auburn, but would see him time to time. He was a hard worker and extremely nice. It was very nice to see his parents on hand today.”