Charter School truly competitive in county track meet

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Charter School's Amanda Marinaro was a double winner in the 1600 and 3200-meter runs at the Collier County Middle School Track and Field Meet on Saturday at Golden Gate.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Charter's Eli Henderson gives his all as he makes his throw in the shot put event at a Collier County Middle School meet on Saturday at Golden Gate.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Charter School's Jen Schoen shows good form in the long jump compettition at the Collier County Middle School Track and Field Meet on Saturday.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Cassidy Penzo follows through on her discus toss in a Collier County Middle School meet on Saturday. She also competed in the shot put. Roger LaLonde/Staff

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Christy Thorstenson put the pedal to the medal in the last 100 meters of her 800 meter race to charge from sixth to second in the Collier County Middle School meet. She did the same in the 400, finishing third after surging forward in the last 100 meters.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Charter's Jen Schoen makes pass to Maddie Hague in the 4x100 meter relay at the Collier County Middle School meet.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Charter's Taylor Fetzer, right and Katie Sanford, third from right, take off in the 100 meter run at the Collier County Middle School meet.

Photo by ROGER LALONDE

Charter's Sommer Adams, left and Morgan Booth get off to a good start in the 800 meter run at the Collier County Middle School meet on Saturday.

The Marco Island Charter Middle School track team competed in its first meet with Collier County middle schools at Golden Gate on Saturday.

It was a big meet, with the public schools having the numbers, as each school is at least two to three times larger than the Charter School’s enrollment.

Charter School competed with Manatee, Naples and East Naples, finishing third.

Amanda Marinaro and Kristina Temkiewicz, gave us a one-two finish in the 1600 and Amanda became a double winner as she won the 3200.

Christy Thorstenson was in real tough competition in the 800 and 400-meter races, yet she finished strong, coming in second in the 800 and third in the 400. She also anchored the 4X400 team that finished second, with teammates Mary Ellen Morris, Morgan Booth and Taylor Fetzer.

Cassidy Penzo did well in the shot put and discus. Sommer Adams did well in the shot and ran well in the 800.

Eli Henderson had a good meet, helping the 4x400 team gain a respectable time, while also finishing third in the shot. Kyle Adams is getting back in shape from a stress fracture, running really well in the 3200, placing sixth.

Zion Kiel gave his all in the 200, while Tyler Canady showed he can run with the big boys in the 1600.

Last year we had trouble in the county meets, but on Saturday they learned that we can compete. Believe me, they knew the Charter School was there.

Not having proper practice facilities for many of the events, makes it very difficult to practice events, such as the high jump and long jump and making hand-offs for relays on the proper surfaces.

The county teams are coached very well and have some fine sprinters. Manatee is almost like our sister school. They are well coached and run hard. It is fun to compete with them and with that kind of competition we will get better.

On Saturday, beginning at 9 a.m., we will be at Lely High for another county meet.