Putera Invitational honors coach

Tom Putera volunteered his time to coach Dock track and field since 2018. A record-setting high jumper, he was generous with his time and his advice. He didn’t help only the Dock athletes with whom he built warm relationships. He offered insightful pointers to any athlete in the Bicentennial Athletic League, and was a friend to coaching peers.
The Tom Putera Field Events Invitational was held Tuesday night in honor of the coach and Dock father, who passed away suddenly in October 2022 from a heart infection. After threatening weather forced the postponement of the Putera Invitational from its original date Saturday, it was held concurrently with Distance Night at Dock. On hand were his wife, Becky, and daughters Halle and Sydney, along with coaches and athletes to recognize and remember Putera’s contributions to the sport.
In addition to working with high jumpers, Putera also assisted with the pole vault – Sydney was a two-time District 1 champion – and he would have been thrilled to see Micah Mast win the boys event with a jump of 11-feet, and a newcomer, Olivia Mozzone, clear 6-feet for the girls division.
Ainsley Moyer was second in the girls discus with a season-best and District 1 qualifier of 85-feet-7. She was also second in the javelin with a throw of 78-1. The senior captain took fifth in the girls shot put at 24-10.
Gretchen German threw a new best of 70-1 for fourth in the girls javelin. German threw 20-feet-5¾ in shot put and competed in discus as well.
Mozzone was third in the girls long jump with a 12-feet-5½ effort. Maddie Afanador was fifth with a PR of 12-feet-½.
Drew Bauman hit a season-best 106-3 in the boys javelin. Luke Smeland threw a best of 98-feet, and Josh Frederick topped his best with a throw of 82-10. Micah Mast threw 73-9 in a new event for him. Smeland threw 21-9¾ in the boys shot put.
A trio of freshmen competed in the boys triple jump. Jayden Waters jumped 31-1, Myles Johnson hit 30-2 and Matthew Mast reached 30-1. Waters had a new best in the boys long jump of 16-feet-7.