Blue Devil Boys’ Track Captures Medals

Coach Ron Wilson and the Huntington varsity boys’ winter track and field team were up before the crack of dawn last Saturday to make the trip to Staten Island for the Nassau County Coaches Invitational at Ocean Breeze. The Blue Devils weren’t disappointed with their performances.

Huntington continues to take steps toward becoming a Suffolk power this winter. The Blue Devils are striving to shake off some injuries while seeking personal best performances across every event.

Senior David Dax, Huntington’s top sprinter this winter, placed second in his 55m dash heat in 6.86 seconds. Senior Nick Rosan was also impressive in his heat in the same event, clocking a time of 6.98. Junior Dominic Mattio would later run the same time of 6.98 in his heat placing a close second as well.

In the 55m high hurdles, Niko Lulewich continues to lead the way for Huntington. The senior placed eighth in a field of 57 in a time of 8.44 seconds.

Senior Jahamar Francis continues to improve in both track and field events. He finished third in a tightly contested 600m dash in 1:24.34. The top returning runner in the event, Isayah Contreras of Mepham held on for the gold, winning in 1:22.93. Freeport’s Lucca Noboa finished second in 1:23.99. Francis’ time ranks him first in Suffolk and No. 7 in the state so far this winter.

“Our underclassmen throwers continue to earn medals as well,” Wilson said. Sophomore Matt Ross didn’t throw his best, but still managed to get on the podium with a toss of 35-11 feet that earned him a bronze medal for fifth place in the freshman/sophomore section of the shot put. Sophomore Jean Riboul placed eighth with a toss of 33-11; freshman Colby Curran was eleventh with a toss of 33-05; freshman Joe Rivers placed sixteenth with a toss of 30-09.5 and sophomore Banny Soc Concua placed eighteenth with a toss of 30-04.

In the open shot put, senior Fredy Alvarez emerged as Huntington’s best thrower of the day with a toss of 38-07 placing No. 8 overall.

The 4x200m relay consisting of Dax, senior Christian Delgado, sophomore Titan Elysee and Francis also continues to improve. The relay finished a close second behind Half Hollow Hills West in a time of 1:33.22. Hills outlasted Huntington for the gold with a time of 1:32.19. The Blue Devils are ranked No. 2 in Suffolk and No. 6 in the state.

Huntington will stay local next week with a Friday night meet at Suffolk-West in Brentwood.