Perennially one of Suffolk’s finest squads, the Huntington High School spring girls’ track and field team started practicing this week. The season was pushed back by almost two months due to a reshuffling brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Blue Devils are welcoming the warmer temperatures and looking forward to an opportunity to compete.
“We enter this spring season in better shape than we were during the winter track season,” said head coach Eddie Santos, who is assisted by Mark Jackson. “We lost a very experienced runner and jumper in Alicia Brooks to graduation. We still have a roster that is filled with talent and depth.”
Huntington returns track stars Analisse Batista, Briana Halbeisen and Olivia Conte, who won the state indoor 4x200m relay championship in March 2020 before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down athletic programs across the state and led to the cancellation of last year’s spring season. “They are all returning with one goal on their minds; to win another title,” Santos said.
The Blue Devils expect to be stronger than ever in the throwing events with talented junior Kiana Nosile among the best in the county. She will be joined in the circle by seniors Alana Wallace and Zariah Smith and junior Junie Nosile.
Huntington’s corps of top sprinters includes eighth grade sensation Elizabeth James and freshman Amirah Beverly. The middle distance contingent features junior Caroline O’Rourke and freshman twins Andrea and Damaris Mani-Munoz. Senior Erin Ye will head up the distance and race walk group.
Conte and Halbiesen will compete in the jumping events, while Batista will be a threat in a variety of events from the 100m dash to the 800m run. Conte is also expected to shine in the hurdles.
A long list of skilled veteran athletes will be spread across running and field events to complete Huntington’s impressive lineup.
The Blue Devils open the season at home against Connetquot on May 3. Meets with Copiague, Northport, North Babylon, Smithtown East and Half Hollow Hills East will follow.
