In the final stretch of the season, the Huntington girls’ track and field team enjoyed another sensational performance, winning numerous medals at the Suffolk Freshman Sophomore Championships at Longwood.
“It was a solid showing on a windy and cool evening,” Huntington head coach Shawn Anderson said. “It puts us in a positive position for next week.”
The Blue Devils followed by competing in the Section XI divisional championships on Tuesday, May 26, and today, May 28, at Northport.
At the Suffolk Freshman Sophomore Championships, Huntington tenth-grader Betty Huitt won the sophomore shot put title with a toss of 32-10.25 feet on her last attempt.
Jeannie Clerveaux finished 13th with a throw of 27-01.25 feet.
Nicole Abbondandelo finished first among all freshmen in the 3,000-meter run, crossing the line in a new personal best time of 10 minutes, 44 seconds.
“She ran very even splits, even in a tough headwind and chilly temps,” Anderson said.
Anna Gulizio enjoyed a big day.
She finished second in a field of 35 in the sophomore 400 dash in a time of 1:01.26. The teenager was also second out of 24 competitors in the sophomore triple jump, leaping 33 feet 6 inches on her final attempt.
Gulizio placed 10th out of 30 competitors in the sophomore long jump, cracking the 16-foot barrier by soaring 16-00.50. It marked a new personal best distance.
The top three steeplers in the county squared off this year, including Huntington’s Suzie Petryk, Ward Melville’s Molly Drearie and Miller Place’s Laura Nolan.
“It was a windy day and tight race and the three of them ran away from the competition,” Anderson said.
In the end, Petryk ran her own race and held off her opponents, dictating the pace from the starting gun and winning wire to wire in 7:02.21.
“It’s another confidence booster heading into next week’s divisional meet and state qualifier,” Anderson said.
In other action for the Blue Devils:
Alexis Pastorelli (5:12.40), Louise Koepele (5.27.81) and Niamh Condon (5:37) all hung tough in the windy conditions in the 1,500-meter. Pastorelli’s time placed her ninth overall out of 33 runners in the sophomore race.
With the wind at their back, Christina Reinersten (14.38 seconds) and Lianna Dechairo (14.70 seconds) both enjoyed fast races in the 100 dash, and Christina Reinersten (30.50 seconds), Gabriella DeLuca (30.92 seconds) and Lianna Dechairo (31.20 seconds) turned in strong performances to conclude their seasons on a high note in the 200 dash.
Betty Huitt (88 feet 8 inches) placed sixth overall, just two feet off her best in discus, and Jeannie Clerveaux threw 78 feet 5 inches.
The team of Pastorelli, Koepele, Condon and Abbondandelo ran strong, finishing in 10:26.40, which was good enough for third place in the 4-by-800 relay.
