After a busy day yesterday, let’s take a look and see what happened at qualifiers yesterday as we prepare for today’s events:

Lawrence Campbell looks like he’s peaking at the right time again. The 1:54 he ran yesterday in the 800 was real impressive. He jumped out to the lead and just controlled race. Aki Bajulaiye of New Rochelle finished in 1:56 and was right there with him, but he was never able to make a serious run at the Peekskill senior. But they both qualify for states.

Campbell ran the race that I think suits him. He jumps out to the lead early and just controls the race from beginning to end. What he did in the state meet over the winter in the 600 was a mistake. He wanted to wait to the end to make his move, he got boxed in and was to far out of it by the final lap. I don’t know if he’ll win state, there are a few people who have faster times than him in the state, most notably Lance Roller from Panas who ran a 1:52 real early in the season. But I think for Campbell to have a chance at states he has to get out early and run from the front.

Antoine McGill had some surprise competition from Chris Rones of New Rochelle. McGill won in 14.2, but Rones was right there with him, running 14.3. It’s good to see McGill, who also won the long jump in 19-2, running again after the injury at Loucks. Those are the two fastest times in the state this season, however it was a hand time, but even still, the two of them have to be considered to have a good shot at states. Rones ran real well yesterday at Arlington and he almost beat McGill, which would have been real impressive. I don’t know what it is with New Rochelle and hurdles.

In the 100 there was another close race. Kevin Malivert (10.5) from Ramapo barely beat out Jesse Drinks (10.6). The junior from Ossining has quickly risen to the top of the sprinters’ list. He beat Malivert last week at sectionals and nearly beat him again yesterday. These are the two fastest sprinters in the state and they should finish 1-2 again in a couple of weeks up at Buffalo. These two guys have another year ahead of them, which should be real interesting.

Jesse Sarka from Suffern needed a jump-off to secure his spot at states. There were three jumpers who cleared 13-0 and then none of them cleared 13-6, so the bar went back down to 13-0 and Sarka was able to win. He’s had a real strong season and now he will be able to continue it at Buffalo.

In the 3,200, I don’t have times, but Mike Hickey of Pearl River qualified for states as he finished second to Colby Delbene from Pawling. Delbene is the heavy favorite to win states, especially since Julian Sheinbaum is going to focus on the 1,600 to beat Kyle Merber and not the 3,200 where he’s run 9:01. Hickey needed a late push to hold off Adam Doherty of Arlington, but all three of them (Delbene, Hickey and Doherty) qualified for states because of the Division I, Division II stipulation and by meeting the state standard in the event. I’ll update this event once I get the times.

That’s all for today, and now we get to head over to Suffern today, which is a little closer than LaGrangeville.