Jets shuttle relay flies

The East Meadow Jets head to North Carolina A&T this Friday to prove they have the fastest shuttle hurdle relay team in the entire nation. The foursome already owns the top time in New York State this season, a blistering 0:59.4 that was clocked at the Massapequa Last Chance Meet on June 7 and enters its biggest meet of the season ranked No. 3 in the country. “I’ve had three national championship teams,” coach Jim McGlynn said, “but these guys are effective, accurate and students of the sport.”

The relay is jump-started by sophomore Chris Garzia, followed by senior Baffour Obiem, junior Tom Ford and the anchor, junior Tom Milian. The fastest time in the country this season is currently 0:58.7, a number McGlynn feels is well within reach for East Meadow. “If you do the math and we have a little luck with the perfect race we can do that,” he said. “Anything is possible and the kids are pumped up and sky-high.”

Obiem captured the Nassau Class AAA 110 High Hurdles and 400 Intermediate Hurdles titles in 14.7 and 54.8 seconds, respectively. Garzia was fifth in the county in the 110 and Ford finished seventh.