Noel Bateman wrote a perfect ending to his sensational high-school running career, going out as state champion.
The Aquinas Institute senior won the 3,000-meter steeplechase race June 10 at St. Lawrence University. His time of 9 minutes, 2.56 seconds set a new Section 5 record while giving him the state Division I public school and Federation titles.
Earlier this spring, Bateman won the state-qualifier meet June 2 with a time of 9:20.83 in the steeplechase. He also captured first place in the event at the Section 5 Class A championships May 27, and added a victory in the 3,200-meter run. Bateman has earned numerous career high-school titles in indoor and outdoor track as well as cross-country.
Other Section 5 track champions from Catholic high schools were McQuaid’s Conor Shelly (boys’ Class AA) in the pentathlon; Mercy’s Stephanie Heinson and Kendra Zaffuto (girls’ Class A) in the discus and 400-meter hurdles, respectively; and Bishop Kearney’s Kate Nesbitt (girls’ Class CCC) in the long jump.
