Olivere wins four times to push Padua Academy to big score

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

After two straight days of running around, Lydia Olivere admits the tiredness was finally starting catch up. The junior middle distance runner completed four events, winning all four, and led Padua Academy to a Delaware Division 1 state outdoor title at Dover High on Saturday.

“Just seeing everyone compete all day, you get news from shot put one moment, you get news from high jump another, and it just keeps you motivated and energetic the whole day,” Olivere said. 

This was the sixth straight team title for the Pandas and capped off another historic year as the team claimed cross country and indoor track team titles as well. 

“This one was extra special because my sister (Maddie) was a senior this year so it was her fourth one throughout high school, so it was a really cool to see that,” Olivere said. 

Olivere contributed 40 points as the Pandas won eight events during the two-day meet. 

Olivere began the 3,200 on Friday in a time of 11 minutes, 15.94 seconds. Saturday, she won the 800 (2:14.32), 1,600 (5:01.09) and ran on the 4x400 (4:01.59). Olivere said the plan was to take each race as it came and compete for place not time. 

“Going into the meet I knew I was going to run those four events just because I knew I would be able to get my team a lot of points,” Olivere said. “The rain that kind of changed things up a little bit, but it ended up working out really well.” 

Teammate Taliah Cintron won the 300 hurdles (44.47), finished second in the 100 hurdles (15.33) and was part of the winning 4x400.

Next up for Padua will be the Meet of Champions on Wednesday. 

“Our team had a lot of depth this year and that's what makes us be able to have these titles is the overall depth in all fields of the sport,” Olivere said. “We're all just so supportive of each other. It's really special to see everyone's hard work contributing to one big title.”

Middletown's Daija Lampkin swept the sprints, winning the 100 (11.85), 200 (23.76) and was part of the winning 4x200. 

In boys Division 1 action, Dover's Tayshaun Chisolm swept the 110 hurdles (14.32) and 300 hurdles (38.93) and ran on the winning 4x4 (3:25.62) as Dover won the team title.

Dover was dominant in the relays, sweeping all fourh: 4x100, 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800.  

Mount Pleasant's Malachi Davis won the triple jump, soaring 47-7.50.

In Division 2, Howard Tech's Edwin Rosembert claimed the 100, 200 and 400. His 200 time of 21.36 was state record. St. George Tech claimed the overall D2 state title. 

On the girls side, Keelin Hays completed the four-peat just like Padua Academy's Olivere. The sophomore won the 800 (2:16.26), 1,600 (5:12.38), 3,200 (11:21.44) and ran on the 4x4 (4:08.73  as Tatnall won the D2 team title. Last spring Hays won the 800, 1,600, 3,200 and was part of the first-place 4x800.

Team Champions

Division 1 - Dover boys 121 points, Padua Academy girls 184.5

Division 2- St. George's Tech boys 98, Tatnall girls 168