Lakers’ McColm runs at state meet

By PHil BlACkWEll

A championship season for the Cazenovia boys indoor track and field team culminated with one of its seniors competing in the biggest meet of the winter.

Branden McColm joined Section III’s all-star team that ran in the 3,400-meter distance medley relay during last Saturday’s New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships at Staten Island’s Ocean Breeze Complex.

A team captain in 2022-23, McColm, according to head coach Mark Tugaw, “embodies the term ‘leader’ on and off the track, on the streets and in the classroom”, earning accolades as a top scholar-athlete.

Aside from all of his leadership attributes, McColm was also a top distance runner, putting up strong times at 600, 1,000, 1,600 and 3,200 meters and also helping the Lakers in the 4x800 relay.

It was at 1,000 meters that McColm was chosen to take part in the medley relay, joining a Section III quartet that included Auburn’s Chris Howard, Badwinsville’s Brandon Levin and Fayetteville-Manlius’ Mason Weires.

McColm ran the first leg in two minutes, 42.55 seconds, and Section III ultimately placed eighth in 9:07.24. Section XI’s team from Suffolk County, Long Island won in 8:50.59.

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