Sam Bergman is one of the Huntington High School boys’ track and field team’s top throwers. The junior just missed a trip to the indoor state championships when he finished fourth in the weight throw at the state qualifier. He captured All-County honors with the performance.
Bergman tossed the 25 lb. weight 49-10.25 feet, which was four inches behind North Babylon’s Devon Didier who finished third with a throw of 50-02.25 to qualify for the New York indoor championships on March 4 at the Ocean Breeze Track & Field Facility at Staten Island. The top three finishers meeting the state qualifying standard advance to the New York finals.
Huntington junior Clayton Jamison placed sixth in the state qualifier with a throw of 45-01.25 feet. Blue Devil sophomore Eric Sands was ninth with a best effort that measured 40-08.00 feet.
Huntington head coach Ron Wilson and the Blue Devils’ throwing events coach Haidee Ganz-Bonhurst were both pleased with Bergman’s showing.
“I practiced hard over the week learning to do two spins instead of doing only one, which is what I did all season,” Bergman said. “My first throw was my best. I worked really hard to give it my all. If it wasn’t for Mr. Wilson and Mrs. Bonhurst, I don’t think I would have been All-County. So I owe a lot of thanks to them.”
The weight throw is a cousin of the Olympic hammer throw, which dates back thousands of years. The weight throw was only recently added to the state championships.
“Sam did a really nice job and came so close to qualifying for the state championships,” Wilson said. “He’s been working hard and he peaked at just the right time.”
All three Huntington throwers will return next winter giving the Blue Devils one of the strongest such units in Suffolk. “We will be looking to get all of them to next winter’s state finals,” Wilson said. “It’s going to take plenty of work, but if they want to put in the time and effort it can be done. Anything can be done!”
