V.S. North extends county title streak

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The Valley Stream North boys track and field program successfully maintained its longtime winning tradition by securing its sixth consecutive Nassau Class B championship and a 14th straight conference title.
The county meet was held Feb. 5th at St. Anthony’s High School where the triumphant Spartans amassed 91 points accumulated throughout all events. Seaford High School took second place with 49. These types of wins are becoming common for the Spartans program.
“I would have to attribute the success and attitude to build towards to that success to the culture we have here,” said coach Mike Frazer. “The kids know when they sign up what is expected of them and the tradition of success.”
One such athlete that shined for Frazer is senior Bernardin Fleurima Jr. A county champion in shot put, Fleurima cut no corners to get to where he ended his high school track career.
“This kid came in freshman year and could barely throw a shot put at all,” Frazer said. “He worked extremely hard. His personal best all year was 38 feet. Then it was 41, and his best shot at the meet was just over 44 feet.” Fleurima Jr. will go on to play football at Stony Brook University and looks to walk on for the track team as well.

Freshman jumper Ryan John has been a juggernaut at every meet he has performed in this year. “He’s one of our best athletes on the team,” Frazer said. John finished with 22 points at the county meets, the most on the team. He also is No. 1 in the state in the Triple Jump, top five in the Long Jump, and his coach believes he can compete with the best in the High Jump as well.
“Really anyone can coach tremendously athletic kids, as coaches it’s out job to see a competitor that we get and mold his mindset to be a winner and always shoot for his or her personal best,” Frazer said.
Juniors Christian Cicilia and Matt Marrone both qualified for the state meet on March 2nd. Cicilia finished second in the 1000 meter run and third in the 1600 meter run. Marrone finished third in the 3200 meter run.
“We’ve never had two distance runners qualify for states until this year,” Frazer said.
Also earning All-County Honors were Dan Araneo (3rd in the Pole Vault) and Jacob Schoenfeld (3rd place in the 300 meter dash.)
“We’ve put a focus on the team. People say its an individual sport, but not here at Valley Stream North,” Frazer said. “Schoenfeld and Fleurima Jr have been great senior leaders for this team.”
Now the sights are set on the state meet on March 2 in Staten Island. “We have about three weeks between the county meets and the state meet. Now we just work on the little things,” Frazer said. “What we’re shooting for is each individual just shooting for their personal best time. If that puts them on the podium, so be it.”