Blue Devils Win Freshman
County Track Crown
Why wouldn't Ron Wilson be happy? The Huntington High School boys' winter track and field coach had just watched his top young athletes capture the Suffolk freshman championship team title while the Blue Devil tenth graders took fifth in the county sophomore meet.
Huntington's freshmen compiled 54 points in the 14-event meet to easily outdistance West Islip (46.5) and Longwood (45) and the rest of the 28 team field at Suffolk Community College-West in Brentwood. Wilson called the effort "a great performance."
While Huntington's Infinite Tucker was upset over a poor start in the 55m dash that prevented him from reaching the finals in that event, he made up for it in the high jump when he leaped 5'4 to edge teammate Jamik Curry for first place. Curry also jumped 5'4, but Tucker needed less attempts to reach the height and was awarded the coveted gold medal. Curry went on to finish sixth in the 55m hurdles in 10.01 seconds.
Eighth grade sensation Lawrence Leake returned to competition after being sidelined for a month by injury and he responded by finishing fourth in the 300m dash in 40.71 seconds to bring home a bronze medal and earn Huntington four much-needed points.
Blue Devil distance runner Kyle O'Brien competed in the 1600m and 3200m runs, a grueling experience by any measure. He crossed the finish line sixth in the 3200m in 11:07 to keep Huntington moving higher in the team standings.
First year thrower Cameron Knox earned the freshman county crown by tossing the shot put 36'1.5 on his first attempt. "Knox is a very hard-working young man that aims to please," Wilson said. "He's not the biggest out there throwing, but you wouldn't notice it from the way he steps into the circle and tosses the shot. We're very proud of his progress this year." Huntington ninth grader Michael Lonergan was fifth in the event.
Final team standings: Huntington-54; 2. West Islip-46.5; 3. Longwood-45; 4. Central Islip- 28; 5. Northport-24; 6. Eastport-South Manor-23; 7. Southampton-20; 7. Commack-20; 9. East Hampton-18; 10. Bay Shore-14; 10. Copiague-14; 10. Connetquot-14; 10. Bayport-Blue Point-14; 14. Half Hollow Hills West-12; 15. Smithtown East-10; 16. North Babylon-8; 17. Amityville-6; 17. Riverhead-6; 17. Brentwood-6; 17. Port Jefferson-6; 21. Ward Melville-5; 22. Miller Place-4; 22. West Babylon-4; 22. Islip-4; 22. Sachem East-4; 26. Smithtown West-2; 27. John Glenn-1.5.
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Huntington's tenth graders finished fifth in a field of 28 teams in the Suffolk sophomore championships behind strong performances by Matteo McNeil, Jimmie Nelson, Sondy Jean-Baptiste and Marquis Francis.
Jean-Baptiste won the sophomore county high jump title with a leap of 5'8. "His best so far this season is 6'," Wilson said. "He will be the number two seed at the small school championship on February 2. He stands a good chance to win that."
McNeil won his third consecutive Suffolk grade level shot put crown. He won the Suffolk freshman title as an eighth grader and then repeated the next year. This year he conquered a field that included teammate Jimmie Nelson, who finished fourth in the event.
Final team standings: 1. Smithtown East-44; 2. Amityville-32; 3. Sachem North-29; 4. Port Jefferson-27; 5. Huntington-25; 6. Half Hollow Hills West-24; 6. Sachem East-24; 8. Copiague-21; 8. Bay Shore-21; 10. Longwood-20; 11. Bellport-15; 12. Bayport-Blue Point-14; 12. Northport-14; 12. Central Islip-14; 15. Commack-12; 15. Harborfields-12; 17. Kings Park-11; 18. Brentwood-10; 18. Comsewogue-10; 18. Riverhead-10; 18. Southampton-10; 22. Half Hollow Hills East-8; 22. Shoreham-Wading River-8; 24. Ward Melville-7; 24. North Babylon-7; 26. Islip-2; 26. Middle County-2; 28. Connetquot-1.