A Quick 60
The Challenge
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High School SportsDesk
All-Long Island girls track team
Photo by Barry Sloan
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR
Brianna Nerud, North Shore, 2,000 steeplechase, Sr.
For Brianna Nerud, this season was all about finishing what she and her North Shore teammates started.
After leading the Vikings to their third straight Class A crown and winning her first state and Federation title, itís safe to say: mission accomplished.
Nerud led the way for North Shore in the regular season. She won the county title in the 1,500 (4:37.3), took second in the 800 (2:11.4), and in a bit of an unusual twist won the 400 hurdles in 1:04.6.
In addition, Nerud finally won her first individual state and Federation crown, taking the 2,000 steeplechase in 6:33.85 after finishing second in the event last year.
She didn't stop there, though. A week after states, the Syracuse-bound senior ran against some future collegiate competition in the 3,000 steeplechase at the IAAF Junior Nationals at Bloomington, Indiana and won in 10:23.87 to advance to the World Youth Championships July 10-15 at Barcelona.
Mission accomplished, indeed.
FIRST TEAM
Odrine Belot, Kellenberg, triple jump, Sr.
Belot won the Federation championship in the triple jump (39-1 3/4). At CHSAA Intersectionals, the UConn-bound senior won the triple jump (39-2 3/4) and the 400 hurdles (1:03.62) and took second in the 100 hurdles (14.32) to lead the Firebirds to the team title.
Jessica Gelibert, Bay Shore, 400 hurdles, Sr.
Gelibert defended her state and Federation championships in the 400 hurdles at Cicero. On top of that, the Coastal Carolina-bound senior was also a double national champion, winning titles in the 400 hurdles (59.54) and as the anchor of the 800-meter sprint medley relay (1:44.39).
Laura Jaeger (So.), Emma Gallagher (Fr.), Alexis Yeboah-Kodie (Sr.), Taylor Hennig (Sr.), Garden City, 4x400
The Lady Trojans won the Federation crown in the 4x400 with a time of 3:45.25. The foursome also set a Long Island record in the 1600-meter sprint medley (3:56.55) and took third in the 4x400 (3:47.02) at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals.
Kelsey Margey, Friends Academy, 800, Sr.
The Villanova-bound Margey won the state Division II and Federation title in the 800 (2:09.85) and took second in the 1,500 in 4:25.71. She saved her best for last, though, winning the national championship in the mile (4:45.84) at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals.
Kaitlin Whitehorn, Glenn, high jump, Sr.
Whitehorn, who will be high jumping for Darthmouth in the fall, defended her state and Federation championships at Cicero with a leap of 5-8. She also won the county title in the high jump with a state-best 5-9.
SECOND TEAM
Katie Cavanaugh, Kellenberg, 100 hurdles, Sr.
Jordan Collins, Bayport-Blue Point, shot put, Sr.
Janel Francis, Copiague, 100/200/long jump, Sr.
Valencia Hannon, Elmont, 100, Sr.
Diamond Jackson, Sachem East, discus, Jr.
Adaora Nwodili, Longwood, shot put, Sr.
Rachel Paul, Sachem East, 1,500, Sr.
Annica Penn, Westhampton Beach, 1,500 racewalk, Jr.
Melodee Riley, Riverhead, triple jump, Sr.
Candace Taylor, Friends Academy, 400, So.
Sam Triani (So.), Courtney Dooley (So.), Casey Hasher (Jr.), Bailey Walker (Jr.), Bayport-Blue Point, 4x400
Brittney Webley, Uniondale, 100 hurdles/400 hurdles, Sr.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Marty Brown, Kellenberg
Brown led the Firebirds to their first CHSAA outdoor Intersectional team championship in six years.
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