Chesterton boys track coach John Snyder has said several times over the past couple of years that “success breeds success.”

It happened again.

The Trojans picked up the meet’s final five points with a victory in the 4x400 relay to edge Crown Point 68-64 and dispatch of Michigan City 103-29 in a Duneland Athletic Conference double dual on Wednesday.

“The last couple of years, it’s nice knowing we have a chance to win that race if we need to,” Snyder said. “The kids believe that too. It’s a big deal to us to win and that’s a huge step.”

With the entire Trojan team surrounding the track, Joe Troop got CHS off to a lead in the first leg of the race and Austin Palombizio kept the Trojans close. Ryan Cutter retook the lead and handed off to Jon Watson who held on for the win 3:29.04-3:29.49.

“Watson told me ‘if we need it, I’ll get it’,” Snyder said. “Troop ran great and Austin kept us in it. Cutter ran a great leg and showed us the ability we thought he had.

“And Jon’s Jon. He has the confidence because he’s done it before and that’s huge.”

The last race was set up by a victory from Andrew Kearney in the 3200 (10:11.78) and a third-place finish for Manny Orlich (10:25.23).

“Going into the 3200, we knew we needed seven points to win,” Snyder said. “We have to get at least a 2nd. Andrew Kearney won the 3200 with a great kick with 300 left. Manny Orlich held on to get 3rd.

“They are new kids that we didn’t count on last year that have stepped up to help the team. I’m really happy for those guys.”

Cutter was the only double individual winner with a victory in the 1600 (4:38.24) and the 800 (2:01.13).

Other winners were Dan Dellumo in the shot put (53-5), Kody Galloway in the high jump (6-2), Justin Zosso in the pole vault (13-0) and Richie Ruff in the 110 hurdles (16.17). The 4x800 relay quartet of Watson, Tyler Rusboldt, Orlich and Palombizio also won in 8:28.99.

“Richie Ruff had a really good high hurdle race,” Snyder said. “Nathan Brock continued to PR in the shot put. Joe Troop going 20-feet-1 in the long jump is nice and Tyler Rusboldt’s run in the 4x8 was nice and gives us some options down the road. Kyle Galloway going 5-8 and getting second (in the high jump) was nice.

“We got points from several places we didn’t expect and they were all big tonight.”

Discus -- 1. Tyler Zook (MC), 129-8; 2. Dan Dellumo ©, 126-9; 3. Ciesielski (CP), 117-2.

HJ -- 1. Kody Galloway ©, 6-2; 2. Trevor Woolum (MC), 6-0; 3. Kyle Galloway ©, 5-8.

LJ -- 1. Bernard (CP), 20-11; 2. Joe Troop ©, 10-1; 3. Leslie Rowley (MC), 19-5 3.

PV -- 1. Justin Zosso ©, 13-0; 2. Peter Fouts ©, 12-0; 3. Tyler Fozkos ©, 11-0.

SP -- 1. Dan Dellumo ©, 53-5; 2. Kral (CP), 49-5; 3. Nathan Brock ©, 48-4.

4x800 -- 1. Chesterton (Watson, Rusboldt, Orlich, Palombizio), 8:28.99; 2. Crown Point, 8:41.16; 3. Michigan City, 9:56.04.

110 H -- 1. Richie Ruff ©, 16.17; 2. Will Butz ©, 17.31; 3. Jacob Andrews ©, 17.52.

100 -- 1. Mercado (CP), 11.40; 2. Sneiderwine (CP), 11.56; 3. Shannon (CP), 11.69.

1600 -- 1. Ryan Cutter ©, 4:38.24; 2. David Dailey (MC), 4:39.90; 3. Walters (CP), 4:47.63.

4x100 -- 1. Crown Point, 44.61; 2. Chesterton (Lara, Galloway, Moore, Fekete), 46.96; 3. Michigan City, 47.29.

400 -- 1. Sneiderwine (CP), 51.12; 2. Jon Watson ©, 52.03; 3. Kyle Neulieb (MC), 52.04.

300 H -- 1. Peterson (CP), 42.03; 2. Johnson (CP), 43.06; 3. Richie Ruff ©, 43.35.

800 -- 1. Ryan Cutter ©, 2:02.31; 2. Kucic (CP), 2:02.28; 3. David Dailey (MC), 2:05.10.

200 -- 1. Shannon (CP), 23.18; 2. Mercado (CP), 23.41; 3. Shannon (CP), 23.70.

3200 -- 1. Andrew Kearney ©, 10:11.78; 2. Walters (CP), 10:24.37; 3. Manny Orlich ©, 10:25.23.

4x400 -- 1. Chesterton (Troop, Palombizio, Cutter, Watson), 3:29.04; 2. Crown Point, 3:29.49; 3. Michigan City, 3:57.15.

Posted 4/21/2011