Blue Devil Track Puts Star Power on Display

KeiRon Byrams (second from left) and Kyree Johnson (second from right) line up for the 55m dash finals.

December 19, 2016

The Huntington boys’ indoor track and field team showed it still has plenty of star power as the Blue Devils dominated the St. Anthony’s Christmas Classic last Friday night in South Huntington.

Huntington won an avalanche of medals as hundreds of athletes from across Long Island battled each other for more than six hours before a standing room only crowd. “It was a good early season test for us,” said Ron Wilson, the Blue Devils’ veteran head coach.

Kyree Johnson won the 55m dash in 6.55 seconds, which is off the senior’s best time, but was still good enough to pace a field of 59 sprinters. KeiRon Byrams finished sixth in 7.53.

Lawrence Leake dominated the 300m dash, winning easily in 36.29 seconds. Will Vollack took 11th place in 39.77.

Clay Jamison captured the shot put with a toss of 43-00.75 feet. Sam Bergman finished second with a throw of 41-09.25 feet. Eric Sands was eighth with an effort that measured 36-08.75 feet.

In other action for the Blue Devils:

• Shane McGuire finished second in the 1000m run in a time of 2:40.99, 67/100ths of a second behind the first place finisher. Dan Collins placed fifth in 2:55.19.
• Brian Pierre was second in the 55m hurdles in a time of 8.62 seconds, 22/100ths of a second off the first place finisher.
• Jared Leake placed fourth in the triple jump with a series of leaps measuring 36-01.00 feet.
• Mark Rafuse placed fifth in the 600m run in a time of 1:30.62.
• The 4x200m relay team consisting of Jared Leake, Kei Ron Byrams, Lawrence Leake and Kyree Johnson finished first in a time of 1:34.53.
• The 4x400m relay team consisting of Brian Pierre, Mark Rafuse, Will Vollack and Shane McGuire finished first in a time of 3:41.23.
Huntington also placed many of its athletes among the top finishers in the freshman division, including:
• Anthony Joseph won the freshman 300m dash in a time of 40.89 seconds.
• Mekai Butts (41-03.00 feet) and Gary Barash (35-05.00 feet) placed 1-2 in the freshman shot put.
• Jaylen Bush captured the freshman 55m hurdles in a time of 10.08 seconds. Justin Stevens finished third in 10.45 seconds.
• Jason Verville finished second in the freshman 3200m run in 11:04.06.
• Nasir Youngblood placed second in the freshman 55m dash in 7.24 secons, a mere 2/100ths of a second off the first place time. John Panos (7.89 seconds), Mauricio Flores (7.90 seconds) and Darren Fils-Aime (8.11 seconds) placed 7-9.
• Isaiah James (1:38.57) and Brendan Roller (1:39.75) placed second and third, respectively, in the freshman 600m run.
• Andrew McKenzie took fourth place in the freshman 1000m run in a time of 3:05.18.
• Huntington runners took second and third place in the freshman 1600m sprint medley relay. Isaiah James, Nasir Youngblood, Anthony Joseph and Andrew McKenzie finished second in 4:18.08. Mauricio Flores, Jaylen Bush, Angel Rubio and Jason Verville placed third in 4:24.90.

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Huntington sprinters Kyree Johnson and KeiRon Byrams at the St. Anthony's Christmas Classic.
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Huntington's Sam Bergman in action. (Darin Reed photo.)