NTL TRACK & FIELD: CANTON'S KITCHEN, NIEMCZYK, KAPICHOK HAVE STRONG SHOWINGS AT NTLS (2022-05-14)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
ATHENS — It was quite the debut for Canton’s Kendall Kitchen, as the freshman won the pole vault in a personal best 9-feet, while also taking fourth in the long jump at 14-feet, 10 1/2-inches.

“It’s been amazing so far,” Kitchen remarked. “What I was going for was to hit nine, but to hit that, and win, when I was a freshman, is just amazing. A perfect way to do it.”

Kitchen had done it in practice, so she knew she could hit the height.

“I’ve been working really hard at it to get as many reps in as possible,” explained Kitchen. “And I’m just going to focus on what I’ve been doing.”

She teamed with Laci Niemczyk, Kali Wesneski, and Camille McRoberts to win the 4x400 relay, too, in 4:25.83.

McRoberts (2:29.45) was third in the 800, and fourth in the 1600 in 5:43.69. Wesneski (2:42.96) came in eighth in the 800, with the 4x100 relay team finishing seventh in 59.19.

As a team Canton was eighth with 39 points.

On the boys’ side Isaiah Niemczyk had a strong day, as he got PRs in three of his four events. He was fourth in the long jump at 19-feet, 8-inches, third in the 400 in 54.27, fifth in the triple jump at 40-feet, 2-inches, and seventh in the 200 in 24.49.

“I feel pretty good,” he said. “It gets me really confidence to do well at districts.”

Niemczyk broke 40-feet for the first time in the triple jump.

“I think I could add maybe a foot, or a foot, and a half,” he remarked.

As for the 400, he’s going to be looking to compete with the best in the district.

“I have a shot, especially against those better kids who are a lot faster than me,” he said. “I think I can maybe potentially keep up with them.”

Kyle Kapichok (133-feet, 6-inches) was second in the discus, and eighth in the javelin at 127-feet, 7-inches. 

Caiden Williams took fourth in the shot put at 42-feet, was sixth in the discus at 115-feet, and finished seventh in the long jump in 19-feet, 6 1/2-inches.

Williamson Colton (40-feet, 2 1/2-inches) was fifth in the shot put to score some points for the Warriors.

Canton ended up ninth with 42 points.

PHOTO CAPTION: Canton’s Isaiah Niemczyk competes in the long jump…PHOTOS BY CHRIS MANNING