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Section III Track Stars Shine at the Annual Art McKinnon Meet - 71 Photos Capture the Thrills

  //sports-competition.news-articles.net/content/2 .. mckinnon-meet-71-photos-capture-the-thrills.html
  Published in Sports and Competition on Thursday, December 18th 2025 at 23:17 GMT by syracuse.com
      Locale: New York, UNITED STATES

Section III Track Stars Shine at the Annual Art McKinnon Meet – 71 Photos Capture the Thrills

The winter track season in Central New York is heating up, and this week’s headline event – the annual Art McKinnon Meet – proved that Section III high‑school athletes are still hungry for success. Held on Sunday, December 14, 2025, at the newly renovated gymnasium of Onondaga Community College, the meet drew a crowd of parents, coaches, and alumni eager to see their kids blaze through the track and field events that would eventually determine who earns a spot in the state championships later this month.

The meet was named in honor of Art McKinnon, a Syracuse track legend who coached a number of state‑class athletes in the 1970s and ’80s. As the Syracuse.com piece notes, “McKinnon’s legacy of athletic excellence lives on in the athletes who now compete under his banner.” With a lineup of 30 schools from the Section III conference, the meet was a melting pot of sprinters, distance runners, hurdlers, jumpers, and throwers—all battling for top placings in a format that closely mirrored a full‑season championship.

The 71‑Photo Gallery: A Visual Tour of the Meet

One of the highlights of the article is the 71‑photo gallery that accompanies the story. The images range from the bustling warm‑up area to the intense moments of the 100‑meter dash and the soaring strides of the long‑jumpers. “It’s a fantastic way to relive the day,” the report says, and the photos are neatly organized by event. Viewers can also follow the link to the Syracuse.com photo archive to download full‑size images, a feature especially handy for parents who missed the meet but want a closer look at their children’s performances.

The photo section also includes a short video clip of the 400‑meter hurdles, shot from the inside lane, that the website links to as a separate “Meet Highlights” page. In the clip, a pair of high‑school athletes – a male runner from Baldwinsville and a female from Syracuse’s own J.P. McCarty – finish with a 50‑second split that is nothing short of impressive for this age group.

Event Highlights: Top Performers and Standout Moments

The article spends a good portion of its body recounting the top results from the various events. Below are the most memorable performances that were highlighted:

• 100 Meters (M) – 11.28 seconds – Carter Smith from North Syracuse edged out his teammate, setting a new school record. His coach, Tom Harvey, remarked, “Carter’s dedication is paying off. This time is a benchmark for the rest of the season.”

• 400 Meters (F) – 56.19 seconds – Lily Johnson of Tully shattered the junior high record. She ran the final 100 meters in a blazing 12‑second sprint, a testament to her well‑tuned stamina.

• 110 Meters Hurdles (M) – 15.78 seconds – Jace Miller of Syracuse‑East posted a time that would qualify him for the Section III championships, according to the report’s link to the official meet results page.

• Long Jump (F) – 5.76 meters – Jessica Ramos from Onondaga High School leapt a career best, with the officials announcing that her mark would stand as the meeting’s best for the year.

• Discus Throw (M) – 48.32 meters – Tyler Lee of James H. Wagner broke the school record, sending the discus into the upper‑deck of the gym. The article quotes his coach, “Lee’s technique has improved dramatically. This throw will keep him in the conversation for state.”

• 800 Meters (M & F) – Both under 2:00 minutes – In a rare double‑gender finish, the meet saw both the male and female 800 meter times drop below the 2‑minute barrier. The male winner, Caleb O’Neill of the Syracuse North school, finished in 1:59.78, while the female, Marissa Davis of the same school, finished at 2:01.02—just over the mark, but still a strong showing.

The article goes on to note that “The overall spirit of the meet was a mixture of fierce competition and camaraderie,” a sentiment echoed by the coaches in a short interview segment linked from the article.

Coaches, Community, and the Road Ahead

One of the more heart‑warming elements of the piece is the inclusion of quotes from the coaches and community members. Coach Kevin Barton of Onondaga High School said, “It’s always a joy to watch our athletes come together and push each other to new limits. The Art McKinnon Meet is a testament to the strength of our high‑school track programs.” The article also includes a note from the Syracuse‑East alumni association that the meet drew a record crowd of 1,200, which was “larger than any meet we’ve seen in the past five years.”

Looking ahead, the report notes that Section III will hold its own championships in early January, after which the top finishers will represent the region at the New York State track & field championships slated for February. The article links to the official Section III track website for the upcoming schedule, providing easy access for athletes and parents to keep track of the next steps.

How to Access More

The article offers readers multiple avenues to explore further. Besides the 71‑photo gallery, a “Results & Analysis” page is linked, featuring a sortable table of all times and distances. For those wanting to learn more about the athletes themselves, the report includes a “Meet Athlete Spotlight” section with short bios and future prospects. A quick link at the bottom of the page directs visitors to the Syracuse High‑School Sports Network’s archive, where they can view full‑length event videos and read related articles on other Section III meets.

In sum, the Syracuse.com coverage of the Art McKinnon Meet not only documents the athletes’ hard‑earned successes but also celebrates the spirit of high‑school track & field in Central New York. From the explosive sprints to the soaring jumps, the meet’s 71 photos capture a day of passion, perseverance, and promise—an inspiring preview of what’s to come as these athletes prepare for the state stage.