Kyree Johnson Sets New Suffolk Track Mark
The Huntington High School boys’ winter track team turned in another heartbeat skipping performance this past Saturday at the Molloy Stanner Games at the New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory in Manhattan.
Infinite Tucker and Kyree Johnson set new USA No. 1 times in their respective events. Johnson’s time in the 300m dash shattered the existing Suffolk County record in the event.
Tucker won the 600m run in 1:20.54, besting a talented field of 143 athletes. The time is the fastest in the United States this winter. Johnson won the 300m dash in 34.03 seconds, the fastest in the country this year and the fastest ever in Suffolk County. Johnson topped a field of 180 runners. Teammate Lawrence Leake finished second in 34.65 seconds, which gives him the No. 4 time in the nation in the 300m dash this season.
“When it was announced that both Infinite and Kyree had No. 1 times in the country, the entire crowd in the arena gave these young men a standing ovation,” said Blue Devil head coach Ron Wilson. “It was quite a tribute to two great athletes.”
In other action for the Blue Devils:
• In the 4x800m relay, Huntington trackmen Kyle O’Brien, Mark Rafuse, Tom Kopstein and Shane McGuire continued to cut their time in the event, finishing 10th in a field of 31 in a time of 8:25.24.
• In the 1000m run, Shane McGuire ran a fine race, placing ninth among 156 runners in a time of 2:37.48.
• In the 1600m run, Kyle O’Brien placed 24th out of 156 competitors, finishing in a time of 4:41.04.
• Newburgh Free Academy (1:29.14) nipped Huntington’s 4x200m relay (1:29.81) at the finish line.
• In the 55m hurdles, Exzayvian Crowell turned in a time of 8.01 seconds in the preliminary heat to advance to the finals, where the senior finished fifth in a time of 8.04. There were 74 competitors in the event.
• Tasean Betts finished 25th in a field of 75 in varsity shot put division with a throw of 40-02.00 feet.
• Amaru Jones placed ninth in the shot put’s invitational division with a toss of 47-09.00 feet.