Now that one of the most stressful days of the track season is over it’s time to look back and review what happened. I feel as though state qualifiers is so much more stressful than any other meet of the season. It doesn’t really matter what you do all season, if an athlete slips up all false starts or fouls on their jumps then they could not make it to states.

And some people brought this up earlier, which makes Sunday even more difficult – there were some events where multiple athletes had the standard, but only three can qualify. That’s always the toughest part, especially when you go up to the state meet and see some other sections finish last in an event when Section 1 had a legitimate challenger to a state title sitting at home because they finished fourth on Sunday. I believe it is so that one section doesn’t dominate the state meet – to give smaller sections’ athletes a chance to make states even if they don’t have the standard.

I’m going to focus on the boy’s first and then the girls.

55 dash

This is always a tough event to watch. I feel as though it’s one of the most inconsistent events on the track because everything has to be perfect for you to run a good time. Kem Ogbuagu of Lincoln ended up winning the event, but he did it without really competing against the top runner in the state in that event. Ramapo’s Kevin Malivert was hurt earlier in the meet while he was running the 800 relay trials. A runner cut into Malivert’s lane, forcing the senior to pull up straining his hamstring. Malivert came back for the dash trials and qualified for the finals, but couldn’t finish the race as he went down about 30 meters in.

55 hurdles

Now this was a fast race. The biggest surprise was probably the third place finish of North Rockland’s Ryan Lacossade. This was a stacked event, but he did well to take third. And what about the statement Claudio Delli Carpini made in the event? 7.42? That was fast and without spikes. He said after the race that it felt fast and he was right. But anything can happen at the state meet. Especially when he’ll be competing against another Section 1 representative in New Rochelle’s Chris Rones. The senior has beaten Delli Carpini before and this should be an interesting event at Cornell.

300

I think this event went according to what everyone thought. Chidi Ezemma (36.54) needed a late burst to hold off Justin Allen (36.56) of Mount Vernon. Allen’s teammate Casey Williams ended up taking third. I know Ezemma has been one of the best in this event most of the season, but I’d watch out for Allen up at Cornell. He has been slowly closing the gap all season. He’s definitely somebody to keep an eye on.

600

Another event that I don’t think had any real surprises. While the times weren’t that fast – 1:23.38; 1:23.44 – John Taylor again proved to be the best in the section over Ryan Gomba (JJEF). It was close and the two have been close all season. They have both run faster, but Sunday wasn’t about times just getting up to Cornell. This is going to be a tough event to win up at Ithaca if Livingston from Great Neck South is competing in it, but it should be good competition for the two runners.

1,000

Now this was an exciting race. I don’t know when Michael Dapice is going to lose. He just goes out there runs and wins each time. He has controlled this event all winter and it was fitting to see him hold on to another win. Although it was close. Dapice winning was the main story, but Jamie Mitchell taking second was just as impressive. The Fox Lane junior didn’t have the standard heading into the race, so he needed to take second or get the standard. He got second. New Rochelle’s Aki Bajulaiye took third, but had the standard going in and still qualified. Bajulaiye is someone else I’d watch at the state meet. If he only has to focus on one event he could be dangerous.

1,600

Another race that was probably a little slower than what was expected. I think going in Chris Carrington and Jared Leslie (Arlington) both knew they would take first and second. It seemed as though the two didn’t want to really challenge each other yesterday and Leslie also had the relay to run later. Irvington’s Julian Saliani never reached the standard, as he was just a second off, but he should be on the intersectional relay.

3,200

Another highly anticipated race. There were four runners that all had a shot to make the state meet – Mike Hickey, John Muller, Adam Doherty and Brandon Freyer. The race lived up to expectations for the first 2,000 meters. But in the end Freyer couldn’t keep up the pace as the Pearl River senior won and the two seniors from Arlington finished behind him. Again, running in the relay I don’t think Muller and Doherty were running full speed. This will be another interesting event at states.

High jump

Sean Reilly will get the chance to win a state title. I think he’s the favorite. Nanuet’s Mike Carroll will be competing in the event at Ithaca as well. Carroll cleared 6-4 on Sunday, but he always is scary because I feel as though he is a streaky jumper if that makes sense. If he gets on a roll I think he can go high. He’s not all that consistent in that he’ll jump 6-6, but then clear 6-4 the next few weeks. But if he gets it rolling it could be interesting. But again Reilly can jump 6-9, which could be enough to get a state title.

Pole vault

Did Chris Spadaccini just throw his name in as a serious contender in the pole vault? Clearing 13-6 can have that affect. I think he’ll need to get to 14 to probably win the state, but 13-6 can do it. And who’s to say he can’t get to 14. Only a sophomore he’ll have plenty of other chances to do it.

Long jump

Again Delli Carpini makes a statement. No spikes he jumps 22-10 1/2. He believes he can jump 24 feet. Why shouldn’t we believe him? He can go mid 23. Everything goes right he could get it. But I don’t even know if he’ll need to get that long to get a state title. Andrew Federowicz of Lakeland will take the second spot as he’s part of the Lakeland track and field Renaissance. Then Roscoe Balter of Scarsdale took third.

Triple jump

If you read m y story from the other day (hopefully you did) then you saw what I wrote about Dasheen Ellis of North Rockland. The senior who couldn’t find an event for three years is now one of the top triple jumpers in the state. 45-7 1/2 is a terrific jump. He told me that he never imagined of making the state meet and having a chance at winning a state title. But that’s exactly what that jump does for him. Arthur Whye - the other half of Scarsdale’s jumping tandem took second.

Shot put

I don’t think it much of a surprise that Mount Vernon’s Robert Pope won the event. He only threw 52 feet, which is not his best, but at least he’s going to Ithaca. Joe Fox of Clarkstown South will be the second qualifier from Section 1.

I will be back with my thoughts on the relays and the girl’s results in a little bit.