BUCKLAND — It was a big week for Frontier Regional’s Katt Miner.
First she decided she will attend Michigan and compete in Division I track.
On Saturday, she won two events at the Western Massachusetts Division 2 Track & Field Championships at Mohawk Trail Regional.
But what brought the biggest smile to Miner’s face was the way her teammates responded to adversity. Frontier had several athletes either out with injuries or performing at less than 100 percent.
That may have been enough to take Frontier out of the running for a sectional title, which was won by Mohawk in both boys and girls. But it wasn’t enough to keep the Red Hawks from doing what was within themselves to do their best.
It was enough for Frontier to secure sixth place with 53.5 points, well behind Mohawk’s 94. But the future looks bright for the Red Hawks thanks to some outstanding performances by several underclassmen.
“We definitely lost a lot of key players, but our team has done such a phenomenal job of pulling together,” Miner said. “A lot of our younger players stepped up.”
Among them were Jenna Martin, who was fourth in the long jump (15 feet, 4 inches), and eighth-grader Kimani Topolski-Burgess, who was seventh in the 200-meter dash (29.35 seconds).
“We didn’t come in with any expectations, it was try to do your seed or better,” Miner said. “I am so proud of our team.”
Miner chose Michigan over Duke. It was a no-lose situation for her, but that did not make her choice easy.
“They’re both great schools,” Miner said. “Ann Arbor’s a cool town and it reminds me a lot of Northampton.”
Miner won the 200 in 26.93 and the high jump at 5-4. She would love to have her name attached to a state record.
“In practice, I was able to get 5-10 and I’d love to do that or better at states,” Miner said. “There will be a lot of competition.”
Miner also competed in the 100 and finished second.
“It was a very busy day,” Miner said.
But certainly a productive one.
“She was two points shy of a perfect day and she did that last high jump after running in four events,” Frontier coach Bob Smith said. “She’s such a gifted athlete and she did a sensational job.”
Hampshire Regional’s Taylor Blow won the 2-mile run in 11:22.97 and finished second to teammate Ally Roessling (5:23.33) in the mile. The Red Raiders finished fifth with 56 points.
This was the first year running the 2-mile for Blow, who won the Western Massachusetts Girls Division 2 Cross Country individual title last fall.
“There’s a lot of pacing involved and you really need to know yourself in order to run the race in order to do your best,” Blow said. “I knew there were going to be some tough challengers, but I had the strength from training indoor.”
It was her strong showing in cross country that motivated Blow to try the 2-mile, which she did for the first time in the second meet of indoor season.
Blow is bound for UMass, where she will run track and cross country.
“This is such an awesome meet because I know a lot of the girls and it’s great to compete against them again,” Blow said.
South Hadley’s Sophie Gatzounas set a meet record with a javelin toss of 128.5 feet. After accepting her medal, Gatzounas left to attend her high school prom.
“She’s such an amazing kid,” South Hadley coach Luke Archambault said. “Since about a month ago, she’s increased her throw by 10 feet each week.”
Gatzounas, who was the starting goalie in soccer and the Gazette Girls Basketball Player of the Year, overcame some early jitters (her first throw was 93 feet) and responded with her career best throw.
“She just reached back and we knew right away how huge that throw was,” Archambault said.
South Hadley placed third with 62.5 points. The Tigers won the 4×100 relay in 52.81. Frontier was second in 53.22.
South Hadley was also second in the 4×400, while Hampshire was second in the 4×800.
On the boys side, Hampshire Regional’s Dylan Cross won the pole vault with a leap of 12-6. Hampshire finished tied for ninth with 29 points.
Last year, Cross set a personal best with a school record vault of 12-3. He topped that by three inches.
“I just tried to stay calm and concentrate on the jump,” Cross said. “I wanted to get first.”
Cross was six inches better than runners-up David Giurgiu and Silvian Popusoi of Greenfield.
“I was a little nervous about the Greenfield guys, because I thought they could beat me, but I ended up beating them,” Cross said. “I was surprised.”
A standout in cross country, Cross does not compete in distance events in track.
“The 400 is my best running event,” said Cross, who was fifth in the event in 54.15.
Frontier’s Clay Kocot (11-0) and Camden Mosher (10-6) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in pole vault. Jared Kellogg of Frontier was second in the shot put.