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DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. Dobbs Ferry senior steeplechaser Brendan Wortner said at the state qualifying meet in White Plains last weekend that he wanted to medal in the 3,000 meter steeplechase event at the state meet in Syracuse.
He accomplished his goal with a sixth place finish in the Division 2 standings in that event. Wortner finished 14th overall in combined Division 1 and Division 2 and was the only Rivertowns athlete to earn a medal at the state meet.
Despite that fact, Wortner was humble when discussing his performance.
I guess its something of an honor just to be the only River Town person that managed to get on there, Wortner said. Im not really focused so much on that just as how well I did overall.
Conditions were unfavorable at the event as it rained during Wortners race and the barriers became slippery as a result. Wortner also said the layout of the track was somewhat odd as the water pit was on the outside instead of the inside, which affected the lap count.
But Wortner was pleased that he reached the same level he did at the state meet last year.
I would say for the conditions that I ran in, I did pretty well and Im happy with it, Wortner said.
Wortner will now transition from being a Dobbs Ferry Eagle under Coach JP Kaminski to a SUNY Geneseo Blue Knight under coach Mike Woods. But Wortner will not soon forget his high school coach.
Ill certainly miss coach Kaminski. He was one of the best guys someone like me could ever ask for, Wortner said. Ill certainly miss him as a coach but Im getting ready to move on to bigger and better things in college.
Wortner qualified for outdoor nationals in North Carolina next weekend but decided to forego that event in favor of his high school graduation. He said he did not want to fly down to the meet and then have to scramble to catch a plane back to New York for the graduation and risk a flight delay.
Id rather just not go and attend graduation with no hassle, no worries, Wortner said.
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