Eric Heinz Shines at County Frosh-Soph Championships

The Huntington boys’ track and field team enjoyed several standout performances at the Section XI Frosh/Soph Championships at Longwood earlier this week. The competition stretched from mid-afternoon into the evening and the young Blue Devils excelled.

Huntington head coach Ronald E. Wilson was pleased with both the effort and results as his runners and throwers both pursued personal best performances in a long list of events.

“Freshman Eric Heinz continues to wow the crowd with his amazing performances,” Wilson said. He leaped an impressive 20-0.75 feet in the long jump for third place. He would later earn a gold medal after a hard fought battle in the 800m run.

Heinz led for most of the race with Evan Levine, Seamus Taylor and Malakai Hayden, all from Northport along with Nikolas Gasparis of Miller Place and William Smith of Smithtown West hot on his heels.

With 200 meters remaining in the race, Levine passed Heinz. “Heinz responded coming off of the final turn with an impressive drive,” Wilson said. The duo fought to the wire with Heinz outlasting Levine for the freshman county crown in the 800m dash.

Heinz new personal best record of 2:04.91 was the fastest time run that day. His time would have also beaten the sophomores, who crossed the line in 2:05. Freshmen James Ruthkowski also ran a personal best of 2:18.85 finishing in 11th in the 800m while Jesse Perez finished in 16th in 2:22.59 and Greyson Henderson finished 27th in 2:30.68. There were over 60 freshmen and 50 sophomores competing in the 800m races.

Heinz would later team up with freshman Robbie Campbell and sophomores Jermine Campbell and Titan Elysee in the 4x400m relay. The quartet finished in 3:42 for fourth place.

Elysee ran a personal best in the 400m intermediate hurdles finishing in 56.99 to place a close second behind county leader Jordan Peck of North Babylon who won in a time of 56.70. Elysee’s time ranks him No. 3 in Suffolk County behind Peck and Elysee’s teammate, Huntington senior Nikolai Lulewich who ran 56.68 at the St. Anthony’s Invitational a week ago. Lulewich is No. 3 on Long Island and Elysee No. 6 on Long Island in this event.

Elysee also earned another medal in the 110m high hurdles, placing fifth in 16.80. Also earning medals in the hurdles was freshman Shates Miller, who placed fourth in the 110m high hurdles in 20.01 and in 1:10.92 in the 400m intermediate hurdles.

In  the throws, freshman Edgar Castro earned a bronze medal, placing fifth in discus with a toss of 97-08 feet, which is actually shorter than his personal best of 110 feet. Sophomore throwers Matt Ross and Banny Soc Concua both earned medals in the shot put with Ross tossing 42-02 feet for second place and Soc Concua throwing 38 feet for fifth place. Jean Riboul threw 37-07 feet, placing seventh and narrowly missing a medal. Robbie Guillen threw 29-4.25 feet.

Freshmen Joe Rivers and Edgar Castro were well under their personal best throws in shot put.

In the 4x800m relay, Perez, Ruthkowksi, Henderson and Adan Ntambwe finished in 10:03.32 for 17th place. The 4x100m relay of Jermine Campbell, Zayvion McCoy, Shates Miller and Joe Ramundo finished 12th in 47.94. In the freshmen high jump, Michael Tucker jumped 5 feet for tenth place.

“Some of these individuals will be moving on to county championship meet next week,” Wilson said.