The Bernards Mountaineer track program has had a strong spring track season after a productive winter. Throughout the season, the team has broken longstanding records and won multiple championships. On the boys side, long distance is where the team shines with Brody Watt ‘26, Mikey Dooley ‘25, and John Richardson ‘25 leading the way. For the girls, Lucinda Putnam is the top runner for the girls, but their success come predominately from field events.
The boys team captured the sectional title for the second straight year, the last time Bernards won back to back sectional championships was 2004 and 2005. Highlights from the meet included the Mountaineers having 3 of the 5 top finishers in the 800 meter race. Brody Watt was also dominant, taking first in the 3200 meter, 1600 meter, and 800 meter races. In the field events, Hercules Stewart ‘25 had a standout performance. He took first in the high jump, he jumps 6 feet, 4 inches. He also grabbed fifth in the long jump with a score of 19-11.
The boys 4×400 team broke a 41 year old record by running a time of 3:24.10 at the Skyland Conference championships. The combinations of Mikey Dooley ‘25, John Richardson ‘25, Cyrus Mehrrostrami ‘25, and Brody Watt ‘26 was able to defeat the record. The boys also participated in the DMR at Penn relays, and they placed 6 with some of the best teams across the nation. The distance medley relay (DMR) is a relay race composed of a 400 meter, 800 meter, 1200 meter, and 1600 meter dash.The same group that captured the 4×400 record, also participated at Penn Relays and they scored their best time of the season 10:11.04.
The girls top runner Lucinda Putnam ‘25 took 6th in the 1600 meter at the Skyland conference championship, she ran a time of 5:06.25. However, the Mountaineers have had more success in the field events. Ayla Johnson ‘25 placed third in the pole vault at the sectional championship, she cleared 8 feet, 6 inches. Bernards has gotten good production from Hannah Vinegra ‘25 in the high jump, her season high is 4 foot, 6 inches at it came at the Skyland Conference Championships.
The Mountaineers have broken longstanding records and won a north 2 group 2 championship this season, but they will have their biggest challenges in the upcoming weeks.
