Gifted Efforts
Falconer Invitational Brings Out Best In Area Athletes

Bucknell University sophomore and 2020 Cassadaga Valley Central School graduate Rayven Sample, center, is flanked by Falconer/Cassadaga Valley boys track & field coaches Dave Nelson, left, and Nick Spry at the Falconer Invitational at Bill Race Field on Friday evening. Sample presented the men with his uniform top and number from the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Sample was a member of the United States team and competed in the 400 meters after the winning the T45 classification at the U.S. Paralympic Trials last June. P-J photo by Tim Frank
FALCONER — Southwestern’s boys track & field team continued its dominant run.
Allegany-Limestone’s Angelina Napoleon did, too.
And then there was Randolph’s dynamic duo of Roan Kelly and Jaiden Huntington who were literally “outstanding” to highlight the Falconer Invitational on a brilliantly sunny, but cool Friday at Bill Race Field.
The Trojans, led by Michael Butterfield and Nate Lewis, claimed the boys team title with 82 points, 5.75 better than second-place Randolph; Napoleon and Kelly were chosen the outstanding track athletics; and Napoleon and Huntington were selected the outstanding field athletes.
Toss in a banner effort by Maple Grove’s Sam Eimiller — he won three events — and it was quite a day for followers of high school track and field.

Randolph's Jaiden Huntington. P-J photo by Tim Frank
Butterfield won the 100 meters (11.23), breaking a 36-year-old school record, and the 200 (23.03); Kelly claimed the 800 meters (1:58.76) and the 1,600 (4:20.89); Huntington was first in the shot (44-0.5) and the discus (128-11); and Eimiller captured the 110-meter high hurdles (15.34), the 400-meter hurdles (59.75) and the high jump (5-10).
Other area first-place individual performances for the boys were turned in by Lewis in the 3,000-meter steeplechase (a school-record time of 10:05.06); Clayton Crouse of Randolph in the pole vault (11-06); David Speagle of Chautauqua Lake in the long jump (20-4.50); and Nick Whitfield of Fredonia in the triple jump (42-0).
As has become custom, Napoleon was the headliner for the girls.
The junior won four events — the 800 meters (2:16.81), the 1,500 meters (5:01.29), the 2,000-meter steeplechase (6:39.71) and the high jump (5-2) — to sweep the individual honors.
Jenna Fisher of Clymer/Sherman/Panama captured two first-place finishes in the 100 meters (12.73) and the 200 meters (26.77). She was also the recipient of the Matthew “Billy” Eskeli Sportsmanship Award.

Randolph's Roan Kelly. P-J photo by Tim Frank
Other area individual winners among the girls were Hannah Madonia and Ella Eckstrom of Falconer/Cassadaga Valley, and Corinne Inkley and Renee Waterman of Randolph.
Madonia crossed the finish line first in the 400-meter hurdles and Eckstrom had a winning triple jump of 32-7. Meanwhile, Inkley was first in the pole vault (8-0) and Waterman captured the shot (29-85).
Southwestern had quite a unique turn of events in the steeplechase when siblings Emma and Nate Lewis both set new school records. Emma, only a seventh-grader, placed second in the 2,000-meter steeplechase with a time of 7:28.36, while Nate, a junior, turned in a winning time of 10:05.06 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase.
Also recognized during the invitational were Josh Lea of Allegany-Limestone, who received the John LaBardo shot and discus Sportsmanship Award; and Matt Linder of Fredonia, who joined Fisher as a Matthew “Billy” Eskeli Sportsmanship Award recipient.
To cap the awards ceremony, Bucknell University sophomore and 2020 Cassadaga Valley Central School graduate Rayven Sample, presented Falconer/Cassadaga Valley coaches Dave Nelson and Nick Spry with his uniform top and number from the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Sample was a member of the United States team and competed in the 400 meters after winning the T45 classification trials last June.

Allegany-Limestone's Angelina Napoleon. P-J photo by Tim Frank
NOTES: Following are the team results for the boys: Southwestern 82, Randolph 76.25, Easst Aurora 66, Fredonia 51.25, Maple Grove 49.25, Franklinville 45, Falconer 31.25, Allegany-Limestone 30.5, Chautauqua Lake 30, Frewsburg 21, Olean 18.25, Springville 15, Portville 13, Clymer/Sherman/Panama 11, Dunkirk 11 and Iroquois 7.25.
Following are the team results for the girls: East Aurora 92.5, Franklinville 76, Allegany-Limestone 50, Portville 47, Falconer 45, Clymer/Sherman/Panama 45, Randolph 43, Southwestern 38, Iroquois 35, Maple Grove 30, Eden 12, Frewsburg 10, Olean 8, Gowanda 6, Chautauqua Lake 5.5, Dunkirk 5, Fredonia 4, Cattaraugus-Little Valley 4 and Silver Creek 2.
- Bucknell University sophomore and 2020 Cassadaga Valley Central School graduate Rayven Sample, center, is flanked by Falconer/Cassadaga Valley boys track & field coaches Dave Nelson, left, and Nick Spry at the Falconer Invitational at Bill Race Field on Friday evening. Sample presented the men with his uniform top and number from the 2021 Paralympic Games in Tokyo. Sample was a member of the United States team and competed in the 400 meters after the winning the T45 classification at the U.S. Paralympic Trials last June. P-J photo by Tim Frank
- Randolph’s Jaiden Huntington. P-J photo by Tim Frank
- Randolph’s Roan Kelly. P-J photo by Tim Frank
- Allegany-Limestone’s Angelina Napoleon. P-J photo by Tim Frank
- Allegany-Limestone’s Josh Lea receives the John LaBardo shot and discus Sportsmanship Award. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg
- Fredonia’s Matt Linder, left, and Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Jenna Fisher receive the Matthew “Billy” Eskeli Sportsmanship Awards from Falconer/Cassadaga Valley boys coach Dave Nelson. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Allegany-Limestone’s Josh Lea receives the John LaBardo shot and discus Sportsmanship Award. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg

Fredonia’s Matt Linder, left, and Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s Jenna Fisher receive the Matthew “Billy” Eskeli Sportsmanship Awards from Falconer/Cassadaga Valley boys coach Dave Nelson. P-J photo by Scott Kindberg






