VSN wins track title at wire

In capturing its third straight Nassau Class A boys’ spring track and field title and seventh crown in eight years, Valley Stream North overcame considerable odds to nip Roosevelt, 91-89, in the championship meet May 21-22 at Mitchel Athletic Complex.

“Based on the rankings, we were about 30 points behind Roosevelt going into the meet,” Spartans coach Mike Frazer said. “We cut that in half after the first day, but the second day is where Roosevelt figured to have an advantage. But we did great in a couple of key events and won it in the last event.”

Going into the finale, the 4 x 100 relay, North held a six-point lead over Roosevelt but the Rough Riders were seeded No. 1 in the event and projected to earn 10 points. “We knew if we finished fourth, we’d guarantee ourselves a share of the title if Roosevelt won the relay,” Frazer said. The Spartans took fourth and snagged the county championship when West Hempstead won the event in a photo finish over Roosevelt.

“Nobody knew for certain if West Hempstead or Roosevelt won,” Frazer said. “People had different angles and different opinions. Once they announced West Hempstead, it was really exciting. We were truly the underdogs.”

North thrived in jumping events — coached by Tim Boyens — with senior Curtis Mensah winning the Triple Jump (42 feet, 4 ½ inches), sophomore Zavier Jean-Charles capturing the High Jump (6-0), and senior Demesvar Destin taking second in the Triple Jump and Long Jump. “We knew Curtis and Demesvar would be somewhere in the top four in the triple,” Frazer said. “For them to go 1-2 was huge. Curtis has been jumping a long time, and Demesvar just started this year. They developed a friendly rivalry pretty quickly and pushed each other.”

Senior Joseph Cafaro (second in 110 Hurdles, third in 200-meter dash), senior Leonardo Puerto (fifth in 800 and 1600), sophomore Peter Wilk (fourth in 3200, sixth in 1600), and sophomore Isiah Paige (third in 400, fifth in 110 Hurdles) also scored in multiple events. Paige also teamed with seniors James Dipaoli and Ayokunle Fagbemi, and sophomore TJ Magno in the second-place 4 x 400 relay. “The 4 x 4 beat Roosevelt, so that was another event with big swing points,” Frazer noted.

Lady Spartans finish second

Class A individual champions Anointing Onuoha, Elaina Hobbs and Chika Aniagba led the Valley Stream North girls to a runner-up finish behind powerhouse North Shore. Onuoha, a junior and state champion indoors in the Long Jump, won the Long Jump (17-3¾) and Triple Jump (37-9½.) Hobbs, a sophomore, captured first in the High Jump (5-0) and scored in the other two jumping events, while Aniagba, a senior, won the Shot Put with a heave of 31-6½. The Lady Spartans also took second in the 4 x 400 relay with senior Amira Dubissette, sophomores Kim Jelich and Nanami Ellis, and freshman Emily Martino.