Tri-Valley athletes traveled to Philadelphia’s Franklin Field and excelled at the New Balance Outdoor Track and Field Nationals. Kane “The Prodigy” Poje delivered one of the most outstanding performances by a thrower on the national stage in recent memory. Poje’s magical season continued as he earned two All-American honors over the weekend.
It started Friday when Poje’s triumphant shot put campaign continued with a third-place finish on the biggest stage. He carried that momentum into Saturday, where he secured second place in the hammer throw, making him a two-time All-American in a little over 24 hours. Poje said he would like to thank his family, coaches, and teammates for helping him reach this point in his illustrious track and field career. He also dedicated his performance this weekend to his father, Frank, for continuing to push him to be the best he can be, and said he was glad to make it a memorable Father’s Day weekend. As he continues to improve year after year, the sky is the limit for Poje.
Next up was Anna Furman, and she did not disappoint. Furman stepped to the start line Saturday evening in the 2,000-meter steeplechase, an event in which she placed sixth last year to earn her first All-American honor. She followed up that accomplishment with a third-place finish and a massive personal record of 6:41.18, making her a two-time All-American in the event.
This incredible performance capped an outstanding junior year for Furman, who won two individual state titles and helped lead Tri-Valley’s cross-country team to the Class D New York State Championship. Her time Saturday night ranked as the third-fastest in the country this year. Furman continues to dominate the event and will head into her senior year looking to take a shot at a national championship.
Young phenom JoHanna Clarke capped one of Tri-Valley’s greatest freshman throwing seasons by a female athlete with a seventh-place finish in the freshman discus. She missed the podium by only two inches. Clarke took off during the indoor track season and carried that momentum into the outdoor season. She heads into her sophomore year as the top-ranked discus and shot put thrower in Section IX Class C. Clarke finished her remarkable season as the top-ranked freshman discus thrower in New York State. The ceiling continues to rise for the freshman standout.
Tri-Valley concludes a tremendous year with its top athletes excelling on the biggest stage. Way to go, Bears!
