courtesy photo
Members of the Hazen Union Track and Field Team who recently competed at a meet at U32 in Montpelier, were (left to right) Lewis LaPierre, Gabe Aubuchon, Chloe Dyer, Aster Watkevich, Jenna Thomas, Lily Castle, Ella Considine and coach Kathy Fortmann.
by Ken Brown
MONTPELIER – The Hazen Union track and field team went up against some stiff competition last week in Montpelier at a U-32 meet that featured several of the top Division II contenders in the state.
Two-time Division II defending state champs U-32 hosted several top teams in Division II as well as Hazen and the 2022 Division IV boys’ state champions from Craftsbury Academy last Thursday. Junior Gabe Aubuchon posted a ninth-place finish for Hazen in the 200m, with U-32’s Drew Frostick besting the field. Aubuchon also ran his best time of the season in the 400m for the Wildcats and freshman teammate Lewis LaPierre also set a personal record in the 100m event.
On the girls’ side, Hazen Union sophomore Aster Watkevich continued her solid season with a sixth-place finish in the long jump event, won by U-32’s Greta Little. Ella Considine posted an eighth-place finish in the 200m event for the Wildcats, with Watkevich finishing ninth. Montpelier’s Ruby Connell took home first place honors. Considine also finished tenth in the 100m behind Lake Region’s Isabella Hanover. Lily Castle posted a solid tenth place finish for Hazen in the javelin, with Heather Alexander of Lake Region winning the event. Castle kicked off the season for Hazen Union in their opening meet at St. Johnsbury in April with her first ever individual title in the javelin.
“Gabe and Lewis were standouts for us on the boys’ side at the U-32 meet with Gabe’s best time ever in the 400m and Lewis’ personal best in the 100m. Gabe’s new goal this season is to run a sub-one-minute 400m and he hopes to achieve this at our upcoming meet at Spaulding this week. This past week was a chance to get back into the groove after spring break. Now that we are back together, we continue to work on our form, strength, and endurance. With only four weeks left in our season, and four meets before states, all of Hazen’s student athletes are wanting to strive for those personal bests in their events. With the weather finally turning for the better, these upcoming track meets should showcase how hard these athletes have been working. I know that there are distractions in our everyday lives and I am proud that these students continue to show up and put it all out there during practices and meets,” said head coach Kathy Fortmann.
Hazen’s varsity team will be back in action on Wednesday at Spaulding High School. The middle school team will compete in their second meet of the season on Wednesday at North Country Union High School.
