The Oswego High School varsity boys track team was beaten by Corcoran 90-51 on Monday. The Cougars swept the sprints for a 23-0 lead.

The Bucs stepped up and ran some excellent times as they were without top distance runner Brandon Auyer, Coach Erwin Dewey said.

Pat Shafer had a good day as he won two events and finished second in another.
Shafer won the 1,600 meters in 5:01.6 and the 3,200 meters in 11:42.9. His runner-up time in the 800 meters was 2:17.5.

Mitch Galvin continues to improve with each meet. He ran his best time of 51.7 to win the 400-meter dash, just nipping Corcoran’s Trenton Sparks (52.3).

Galvin also won the long jump with a season-best distance of 18’ 8 1/2”.

“He never quits in any event,” Dewey said.

Matt Duplessis continues to improve as he won the 110-meter high hurdles in 16.0, his best time of the season. He placed third in the 400-meter hurdles in 62.4.

Oswego’s other first-place finish came in the 4 x 400-meter relay, the day’s most exciting race. After three legs, the teams were even, and the Bucs’ Fred Johnson (55.6) pulled out the victory in the final leg. The Bucs’ season-best time of 3:42 just edged Corcoran’s 343.1. Other members of the winning Oswego relay were Galvin (54.7), Eli Tyler (57.0), and Ed Wallace (55.9). Their time was eight seconds faster than their previous best.

Second-place finishes for Oswego were turned in by Ed Wallace in the 400-meter hurdles (a season-best 61.3), Rudy Rodriquez in the high jump (5’ 6”), freshman Ryan Taylor in the pole vault (a best of 10’), and Mike McLoughlin in the discus (104’ 7”).

Third-place finishers were Zach McQuaid in the 1,600 meters and the 3,200 meters, Cody Espinoza in the discus, Fred Johnson in the triple jump (38’ 8 1/2”), and Adam Johnson in the pole vault (10’).

Taylor in his leg of the relay ran a time of 2:09.8, which Dewey said might be a record for a freshman.

Tyler had his best day of the season, Dewey said. Tom Graber ran well and had personal bests in the 800, 1,600, and 3,200. In the 400 meters, Rodriquez ran a fast time of 57.5 and Dan Cirino had his best time with a 59.9.

Tom Bartholomew and Kyle Lamb did well in the long jump as both improved with distances of 17’ 4” and 17’ 3/4”, respectively.

“I thought the team rebounded well after the poor showing in our invitational,” Dewey said. “Today, they looked like they came to race and not just run. Corcoran was a good team, and even though we lost, many positive performances came out of this meet.”