Verbosky will have to worry about just one race today where he is the top seed in Class C and third overall in the 800 with a time of 1:52.16, slightly faster than his winning time a year ago. He is joined in the race by teammate Ty Kraft with a seed time of 1:57.09, ranking him No. 8 in Class C.

Hackley sophomore Alfie Adams is seeded second just behind Verbosky at 1:52.40, while Saratoga junior Levi Layden from Class A is the overall No. 1 with a time of 1:50.91.

Then on Sunday there is no rest for Verbosky as he sets out to defend his 1,600 title, but joins his Maple Grove teammates in the 1,600 relay and the 3,200 relay.

His Sunday schedule begins with the 1,600 relay with teammates Ty Oste, Kraft, Owen Erlandson, Jacob Lewis and Finn Erlandson available and ranked No. 6 in Class C at 3:25.78. The Frewsburg quartet of Cole Vaughn, Lucas Randolph, Henry Eckert and Noah Erickson are seeded No. 10 in the event at 3:28.95, while Riverdale Country Day and East Rochester take No. 1 and 2, respectively.

Maple Grove senior Ethan Verbosky will defend his Class C state titles in the 800 and 1,600 meters at the NYSPHSAA track and field championships this weekend at Webster Schroeder High School.

Verbosky then will defend his 1,600 championship a couple of hours later and is ranked 28th in the race overall and No. 8 in Class C at 4:20.29. He is currently seeded slower than his winning time of 4:15.62, while Trinity School’s Liam Luff is No. 1 in Class C and overall at 4:08.39.

Verbosky will end his day with his teammates in the 3,200 relay as the 37th overall seed and No. 8 in Class C with a time of 8:14.08.

Verbosky is not alone as far as local athletes with prospects of taking home two state titles as Southwestern senior Mikayla Johnson is seeded first or second in both Class C girls throwing events. Johnson will compete in the discus today and is ranked No. 2 in the event with a throw of 131 feet, 11 inches, just behind Hoosic Valley senior Joni Chapko at 132- 9.

Johnson then is the favorite in the shot put on Sunday with a top-seed mark of 42-04, ahead of No. 2 Hanna Roggie of Beaver River with a throw of 40-3.25.

Southwestern also has a great shot at the podium in the boys throwing events with senior Tyler McIntyre earning high seeds. McIntyre competes in shot put today as the 10-seed with a throw of 50-6.5. Kane Poje of Tri-Valley is the top seed at 58-9.5.

P-J file photo Silver Creek/Forestville senior Nathan Mays is the favorite in the pentathlon at the NYSPHSAA track and field championships at Webster Schroeder High School.

Then on Sunday he will likely earn a podium spot in the discus, coming in as the 2-seed with a throw of 166-07, but top-seed Mack Patterson comes in as the favorite with a throw of 180-06.

Ryan Ohl could also take home a state title for the Trojans as the 2-seed in the 400, posting a seeding time of 48.92, just behind top-seed Keegan Waltz of Oxford Academy with 48.78.

Silver Creek/Forestville senior Sam Bowers also has his sights set high in that event as the 7-seed with a time of 49.77.

The Trojans are also likely to get on the podium in the girls 400 with junior Marlana Cresanti seeded No. 7 at 58.35, while Port Jefferson senior Alexa Jacobs is the top seed at 55.32.

Tryniti Card is the 5-seed for the Trojans in the 800 with a time of 2:15.59, while Hackley junior Emma Curran holds the top Class C seed with 2:11.75.

P-J file photo Falconer/Cassadaga Valley senior Mary Lundmark is seeded No. 3 in the Class C pole vault set for Saturday in the NYSPHSAA track and field championships at Webster Schroeder High School.

Southwestern will also run girls relay teams in the 1,600 with M’Kenzie Zavala, Katie Bishop, Card, Cresanti, Avery Johnson and Lillian Weikel as options, then in the 3,200 with the same group.

While Southwestern has the most opportunities to shine on the podium, Silver Creek/Forestville is looking to go 2 for 2 with its competitors, and even is the favorite to take home a championship.

Silver Creek senior Nate Mays finished 41 points shy of the Class C pentathlon title last year and returns for one last try as the overwhelming favorite with a top-seed score of 3,564. Mays set the new record at the Section VI state qualifier with his most recent score, surpassing the mark set by Clymer/Sherman/Panama’s John Swabik in 2021 at 3,527.

Defending Class C champion Beckett Holmes of Oneonta is seeded third with a score of 3,291, while Broadalbin junior Eric Heinz is seeded second. The overall top-seed is from Class A with John Jay/East Fishkill’s Nathaniel Johnson at 4,039 and Mays is No. 2 by just under 500 points.

Falconer/Cassadaga Valley’s Mary Lundmark jumped to third in Class C pole vault last year as a junior and has her sights set higher this year, but enters as the 3-seed with a height of 10-10. Lansing junior Ava Kobylarz is the top-seed in Class C with a height of 12-0.

Jamestown sophomore Beckett Lumia joins the ranks of competitors in the 400, earning the 7-seed in Class A during his state’s debut. Lumia posted a seed time of 48.64, while the top three times are sub-48, and Cameron Snyder of Washingtonville takes the top spot at 47.74.

Frewsburg senior Noah Erickson will fight for a spot on the podium in the Class C 400 hurdles, entering as the 4-seed with a time of 55.44. Bishop Loughlin senior Deronne Softley is the top seed with a time of 54.78, while Cattaraugus-Little Valley senior Bransen Gabel is the 7-seed at 56.47.

Fredonia sophomore Alessandra Bugaj makes her states debut in the triple jump on Sunday and is seeded No. 8 at 35-07.50, while Schuylerville senior Meaghan Lynch is the top seed with a distance of 40-05.25.

Salamanca senior Xazavier Escobar will have a chance to make the podium in both the 100 and 200, but is currently seeded No. 11 in both with times of 11.21 and 22.33. The Class C top seed in both events is Logan Aman of Candor with times of 10.47 and 21.33.

Weekend updates will be provided on both The Post-Journal and OBSERVER websites, along with social media coverage on x.com @Chris__Storms.