Newburg Free Academy boys take down record with 3:12.79 4x4

By Brian Towey for DyeStat

ENDICOTT, N.Y. -- When Newburgh Free Academy’s boys 4x400-meter relay team ran 3 minutes, 15 seconds June 2 at the Section 9 New York State Qualifier, it was clear that great things were on the horizon. Fast forward to June 10 at the NYSPHSAA New York State Track and Field Championships at Union-Endicott High School, and a behemoth was born.

NFA ran 3:12.79 on Saturday to take down Middletown’s meet record of 3:13.98, which had stood since 2010. The quartet of Stephon Scott, Brendon Hanson, Jordon Lawrence and Robert Walker easily outpaced Huntington (3:17.91) and Cardinal Hayes (3:18.28), following its 3:14.05 effort in the prelims (when Walker split 46.23).

“They told me at Warwick Fast Times (on May 30) that they were going to take down the meet record,” Newburgh Free Academy coach Malcolm Burks said. “Everybody PR’d today.”

In Newburgh Free Academy’s history, Saturday’s performance was a special distinction: it put this group in the same league with the outstanding 2003 Newburgh team that ran 3:12.27, led by the inimitable Elzie Coleman, who split 45.1 that day at the adidas Nationals.

“As a freshman, when you come to Newburgh Free Academy, everyone knows Elzie Coleman,” said Lawrence, a senior who will run at the University of Albany (N.Y.) next year.

“I never thought we’d be able to match what he produced.”

For Walker, a Clemson commit who sandwiched the two relay legs between a state title in the 400-meter hurdles (52.23) and a prelim race over two days, he stood on wobbly legs to deliver powerful words.

“If you have the heart you can do it,” Walker said. “Coach told us we could break the meet record. I didn’t have confidence: I’m someone who needs to see something to believe it.

“We looked at the bigger picture and we did it: we broke records." 

Big meet for Suffolk Co.

Suffolk County’s state-wide dominance was on full display June 2-3 at the Section 11 State Qualifiers, when Shoreham-Wading River led a string of remarkable performances with its sweep of the girls 3,000 meters by Katherine Lee (9:36.04), Alexandra Hays (9:47.68) and Maria Smith (9:51.14).

In the boys 3,000 steeplechase at the state championship, the rivalry involving seniors Jonathan Lauer (Sachem North) and Michael Grabowski (Smithtown West) captured Suffolk’s dominance at its best.

After Lauer’s nation-leading 9:14 over Grabowski (9:19) at Section 11 state qualifiers, Grabowski, who will run at the University of Arizona next year, did the grunt work. He led a pack of four that included Lauer, Niskayuna sophomore Marty Dolan and Kingston senior Jayson Hinds.

Hinds made a break for it with one lap to go, trundling down the backstretch with Lauer in tow. Hinds ran out of gas on the final water jump, when he was overrun by Lauer (9:16.72) and, ultimately, Grabowski (9:18.54).

“If I have to lose to anybody, it’s him,” said Grabowski, as he and Lauer embraced at the finish.

“Mike made it this far because he’s a grinder,” said Lauer of Grabowski, a 5:09 miler as a freshman.

“He just kept working and working to get to this point.”

The rivalry blossomed last winter, when the two ran the 3,200 indoors. It was a prelude to the steeplechase, where this spring they’ve emerged as two of the nation’s best.

“It’s sick (to represent Suffolk County),” the Columbia-bound Lauer said. “We have so many great hurdlers, sprinters and jumpers there. It’s great to be able to bring it out in the distance events.”

Tuohy runs US#1 1,500

When North Rockland’s Katelyn Tuohy defied the weather to run a 4:49 mile on a 45-degree day May 13 at the Glenn D. Loucks Games at White Plains High, there was no questioning her resolve.

In the girls 1,500 at the New York State Championship she continued her front-running dominance, producing a nation-leading 4:18.51 finish that left little in doubt.

Tuohy led the field through splits of 68 and 2:19. Corning senior Jessica Lawson, who won the 3,000 in 9:25.68, Shoreham Wading-River’s Katherine Lee and Our Lady of Lourdes’ Caroline Timm tried to stay close as Tuohy churned through the opening laps.

After Tuohy hit 1,200 meters in 3:39, leading by an eight-meter gap, her pursuers were unable to close. Lawson (4:22.38), Lee (4:23.48) and Timm (4:25.94) followed behind.

“I think I can go faster,” said Tuohy, beaming after the finish.

 Added Lawson: “After Katelyn ran one of the best times in the nation, I’m happy with second place.”

Thomas happy with 200 and LJ

Rush-Henrietta junior Lanae-Tava Thomas was dominating in the short sprints, winning the Division I 200 championship in a meet-record 23.42 and taking second in the Division I 100 championship long jump Thomas also broke the meet record, jumping 20-7.50.

“I would’ve felt fine with all of my times because I’d known that I’d done the best I could,” Thomas said. “But for one race (the 100), I know I could’ve done better.”

Despite dominating the 200, the scary thing is that in another event, the 400, she might be even better.

“My coaches tell me I have the strides of a 400 runner,” Thomas said.

Thomas will pass on the New Balance Nationals Outdoor to catch a break.

Johnson runs 46.88 for 400 win

The Federation boys 400 final was electric. Three of the state's big dogs in the event – Huntington’s Kyree Johnson, Half Hollow Hills West’s Jovahn Williamson and The Hackley School’s Onye Ohia-Enyia – came down the final straightaway virtually stride for stride.

It was Johnson who somehow summoned the strength for the win (46.88), with Ohia-Enyia (46.95) and Williamson (46.96) right there.

“So close, so close!” Ohia Enyia said.

One of Williamson’s toughest critics is his mother, Sonia. A former runner for Vere Tech in Clarendon, Jamaica, between 1978-82, Williamson was a former teammate of Merlene Ottey, who won silver medals in the 100 and 200 in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. (Vere Tech, according to Sonia Williamson, brought the first girls relay team from Jamaica to the Penn Relays in the 1970s).

Jovahn Williamson will run for Harvard next year.

“I contacted the Ivies and I received good results,” Williamson said. “I felt like Harvard was the best decision for me.”

Moshier wins 1,600

Corning senior Kevin Moshier, following a 9:11 3,200 win earlier in the competition, used an impressive late kick for a 4:12.81 victory in the 1,600.

The Trinity School’s Aidan Ryan did the grunt work early, pushing the field through a 2:09 800 split. At 1,200, with the help of Pearl River’s Matt Politis, Ryan hit 3:13, and the field took off.

With 250 to go, Moshier exploded towards the front of the pack, churning down the straightaway for the win. Sachem North’s Chris Tibbetts, another late charger, took second in 4:13.14. They were followed by St. Anthony’s junior Mason Gatewood (coming off a sixth-place finish in the 800 in 1:54.86) and Ryan (4:14.90).

“My plan was to sit back, let everyone do the work, and kick past everyone,” said the Binghamton-bound Moshier, who closed out the final 400 in 58.8.

Tibbetts used a late burst to go from sixth place to second.

“I’m known for my kick,” Tibbetts said. “I used to be a sprinter (a 400 runner) when I was a freshman.”

 Tibbetts will run at American University in Washington, D.C., next year.

Bulkeley kicks to 800 PR and win

Fairport junior Ben Bulkeley, another ferocious finisher, rode his kick to victory for a big PR in the 800, 1:50.89 over Wallkill’s Richard Samuels (1:52.14) and Guilderland sophomore Noah Tindale (1:52.90).

“I was hoping to go through the first quarter in 55, and fortunately there was someone (Samuels) there to do that,” said Bulkeley, who had recently run a 1:52 leg on Fairport’s 4x800 relay team.

“I knew that my fitness was good enough (for a fast time), I just needed to show it.”

At the New Balance Nationals Outdoor, Bulkeley will run on Fairport’s 4x800 relay and compete in the individual 800.

Williams reps Rochester with 200 win

McQuaid Jesuit senior Noah Williams carried on the outstanding sprinting tradition from the city of Rochester when he won the Division 1 200 in 21.31.

“Three years ago we had Andrae Hunter (of Charlotte High) who won the 100 and 200,” Williams said. “Last year we had Kelly Brown (of Wilson Magnet) who won the 100 and 200. We’re all from city schools.”

Williams turned a corner this spring with added time in the weight room.

“Really, just taking time to get into the weight room (made the difference),” said the Akron-bound Williams, who is also a 23-7 long jumper.

“I knew I had the natural ability, I just needed that extra push.”

Myers wins 100 hurdles

Queens High School of Teaching junior Sophia Myers won the Federation 100 hurdles title in 14.13, following a Federation title in the indoor 55 hurdles.

“I’ve been trying to hit the 13s,” Myers said. “I ran 14.01 at the PSAL Championship.”

It’s been a fruitful year over the hurdles for Myers after switching from a multi-event focus last year as a sophomore.

“Last year when I came to (the state championship) I was doing the multis,” Myers said. “I didn’t even finish the 800 because I got injured.”

Myers will compete at New Balance Nationals Outdoor this weekend in the 100 hurdles.

Valley Stream South sophomore Chibugo Obichere is a relative newcomer to the hurdles. Obichere, who finished second to Myers in 14.46, started hurdling a year ago. Both of her parents were track athletes in their native Nigeria.

Sweet Home builds on tradition

In many ways, it was a banner showing for Sweet Home. For the Buffalo-area school (Amherst, New York), junior Nathaniel Davis won the boys 200 Federation championship (21.55) and Sweet Home won the boys 4x100 relay (41.66).

At Sweet Home, it starts with tradition. For coach Brian Lombardo, a Sweet Home alumnus and former 800 runner at Canisius, he calls on his days as an athlete at Sweet Home under coach Pat Wyatt and (current University of Buffalo throws coach) Jim Garnham

“They had a high degree of care for their program,” Lombardo said. “How we instill our ideas and how we treat our athletes started with how they treated their kids.”

A public school that sits adjacent to the University of Buffalo, there is much overlap: Lombardo says that he “checks in” with the Buffalo staff from time to time with ideas. However, the biggest influence on his coaching background is Garnham.

“I call him ‘Papa Garnham,’” Lombardo said. “Because he used to drive me home from practice every day. I’ve been best friends with his son for years. Those groups (and those connections) have gone on for years.”

Sweet Home is a diverse school, something that is reflected in its team and their talents.

“There was a volleyball coach at our school and he had a slogan: Success breeds success,” Lombardo said. “We have a very diverse group at our school. That helps because all of their friends start talking to each other.

“Anthony Williams, the first leg of our 4x100-meter relay, he’d never run before November. His friends kind of pulled him into it.”

That diversity is reflected in the team’s spread of events.

Sweet Home, which earned All-America status in the boys sprint medley at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor in 2016 with a sixth-place finish (3:28.56), has athletes in a slew of top events.

In addition to the sprint corps, senior Chris Nowak is a 4:16 1,600 runner and 1:54 800 guy (he’ll run at the University of Buffalo next year) and senior Sam Peterman, who will run at Duke next year following an extended medical leave, is also a top-flight middle-distance ace. Assistant coach Brian Tollar, who ran with Lombardo at Canisius, is a former steeplechaser who works with the hurdlers.

But ultimately, tradition, and the “Success Breeds Success” slogan, dictates the team’s fortunes.

“A lot of alums come back to help out at track meets, and they’re very proud of what everything represents,” Lombardo said. “We try to advertise that. We have banners above our track with pictures of former runners and their college choices.”

For some athletes, the significance of those banners lies in the ability to defy expectations. Lombardo cites Wayne Gordon, a Mid-American Conference 200 champion at Kent State, as evidence.

“Wayne Gordon, he didn’t think he'd go to college,” Lombardo said. “Now he has a college degree.”

The next generation includes athletes like Davis. For them, and for others yet to come, the work of Garnham and other members of the Sweet Home tradition, continues to be passed along.

“No one wants to lose to each other,” said Davis of the team’s mentality. “And that’s how we keep pushing each other to get better and better.”

Harris rules steeplechase

North Rockland senior Alex Harris pulled away from the field in the girls 2,000 steeplechase, winning in 6:45.28. She held off late-charging Shoreham Wading-River senior Payton Capes-Davis (6:48.42) – who only began competing in the event in April – as well as Suffern freshman Mary Hennelly (6:51.82) and Churchville-Chili’s Anna Kostarellis (6:56.36).

“I started in the steeplechase my freshman year,” said Harris, who will run at Villanova next year.

“My coach started me in it because I have really long legs. It’s really turned into my favorite event. I think it’s the most fun event on the track.”

Capes-Davis, on a whim, contacted her coach back in April about the event.

“He told me he thought I’d be great at it,” said Capes-Davis, who will run for Bucknell.

Connetquot senior Kelli Iocca, who finished seventh in 6:58.72, helped mentor Capes-Davis in the event.

“I know that she fell today, but Kelli has really helped me with the event,” said Capes-Davis of her Section 11 (Suffolk County) colleague.

“As soon as we got to States, she was like ‘Do you want to warm up together?’ She’s running in college, too, at the University of Rhode Island.”

West Babylon seniors go out on top

West Babylon’s state championship in the 4x400 relay (3:44.60) bore special significance for West Babylon coach Phil Armato.

A former junior high school coach, Armato has risen from the seventh grade with this current group of seniors that includes Brittany Korsah, Paige Keefer and Dana Beggins.

“It’s bittersweet,” Armato said. “It’s like watching your daughters grow up.”

West Babylon, the defending indoor state champions, used top legs from Keefer (55.9), Korsah (54.1), Beggins and sophomore Nadja Ashley to pull away from Newburgh Free Academy (3:50.9) and New Rochelle (3:51.5) for the win.

“It’s a great feeling,” said Korsah, who will run at Binghamton University next year.

“We were a program that no one knew. It feels good to be on top.”

West Babylon added a fourth-place finish in the 4x800 relay (9:01.43), as the quartet of Beggins, Keefer, junior Tara Hauff and senior Noela Franco came through in a fast race won by Fayetteville-Manlius (8:56.41).

At the Section 11 State Qualifier on June 3, West Babylon became only the second Suffolk County team to go under nine minutes in the 4x800 (8:59.01), joining Bay Shore’s 2003 squad.

Keefer, who finished third in the 800 (2:07.95) and will run at Towson University in the fall, has anchored that squad.

For Armato, it will be hard to imagine a track season without the three seniors, Beggins, Korsah and Keefe. But a foundation has been set at West Babylon; a template for great things is in place.

“These are the people who’ve rebuilt the program,” Armato said. “When we came to the program, we were bottom-dwellers in Suffolk County. They’ve revitalized the program.”

Claxton gets coveted HJ title

Smithtown West senior Daniel Claxton took home his first state championship in the high jump, clearing 7 feet.

Claxton roused the crowd with a rhythm sequence – his presence has been a fixture on the high jump apron with his charisma – before clearing the final height.

“I’m glad I was finally able to win a state championship,” Claxton said. “I didn’t want to go four years without one.”

Byron-Bergen-Elba senior Brandon Burke, who will jump at the University of Buffalo next year, was second at 6-8.

Claxton, who cleared a PR of 7-1.75 at the Section 11 state qualifier June 3, has signed with the University of Connecticut.

Zimmerman wins shot put with PR

Briarcliff senior Jack Zimmerman won the Federation shot put title with a career-best mark of 61-2.75.

“I’ve just been feeling more confident in the ring,” said Zimmerman, who will throw for Penn State.

“It’s my fifth time at States and I knew what it was about. Guys are going to come after you.”

Zimmerman will compete at New Balance Nationals Outdoor in the hammer and shot put.

F-M girls wins 4x800

Fayetteville-Manlius won the girls 4x800 relay in commanding fashion (8:56.41), holding off a stellar group of teams that included Bronxville (8:58.80), John Jay-Cross River (9:00.31) and West Babylon (9:01.43).

The Fayetteville-Manlius quartet of Rebecca Walters, Phoebe White, Palmer Madsen and Sophie Ryan proudly upheld the school’s distance tradition.

“It’s exciting every year (at Fayetteville-Manlius) because you never know what to expect,” said Ryan, a junior.

“But running with this group has been a good experience.”

McNeil Three-peat

When local favorite Courtney McNeil (Newark Valley) won her third straight Division 2 championship in the 100, her former sprint coach, Kevin Trippany, could barely contain himself.

“Three years in a row!” yelled Trippany, as he bounded through the stands, waving his baseball cap.

Newark Valley is a small town in the Binghamton region (in the 2010 Census, its population was 997).

“We’re a small school,” Trippany said. “We graduate 80 or 90 kids a year.”

McNeil is currently coached by Eric D’Arcy. The LIU-Brooklyn signee eased past her Division 2 competitors for the win, then took sixth in the Federation championship.