This has been a long day, I need to get up in a couple hours to go back to North Rockland and I just finished watching the movie Fireproof with my wife. If you never heard of it, watch Oprah.

But for the meet, it was a pretty exciting first day. I think the two best races of the day were, by far the boys’ 1,600 and the girls’ 3,200.

To have Chris Carrington and Mike Hickey go at it was interesting. Carrington ended up winning in 4:22 as he outkicked Hickey to the finish line. Hickey tried to get separation, but on the final lap Carrington was too close and was able to pass him with 300 meters to go. It was an intense race with Julian Saliani of Irvington having the lead for a little bit, but in the end, if Carrington’s close on that final lap, he’s tough to beat.

And in the 3,200, again it was Shelby Greany showing why she’s the top distance runner in the state. Her and Aisling Cuffe were back and forth. After Greany had the lead, she lost it too Cuffe, which with the wind, was a tactical decision by Greany, who, similar to Carrington outkicked Cuffe. The two of them went out in 5:12 and Greany came back in 5:15. Talk about pushing the pace. They went out as if they were running a mile.

Other happenings from the meet:

• Watch out for Anjelique Parnell. The Hackley junior is back from her hamstring injury and looked impressive qualifying for the 100 dash finals and winning the long jump in 18-1.


• There might not be a better thrower in the section than Clarkstown South’s Joe Fox. We’ll see what he can do tomorrow in the shout put, but this afternoon he won the discus in 148-0.


• After taking the winter off to play basketball, I think Gina Talt is a name from cross country that we’re going have to start remembering again. She won the 1,600 in 5:!2.


• It wasn’t the best day for pole vaulters, but jumping with a new poll after shattering his old one at the Pirate Relays, Jesse Sarka of Suffern still managed to win clearing 13-0. He was an inch away from qualifying for Penn Relays with only competing in one meet during the indoor season.


• Dasheen Ellis is now consistently the best triple jumper in the section. He won it tonight in 43-10. He’s always around this height with the ability of hitting 45.


• I know Kevin McKenna from Suffern only took second in the 3,200 finishing in 9:31, but he led most of the race and lost out on the final lap. He was impressive tonight and this could really be a big season for him. I don’t think he’s ever really been fully healthy this year, but he looked it tonight.