Standouts lead Freeport to track title

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They are the Big 3 for Freeport boys track team – senior captain/middle-distance star Danzil Monk, senior sprinter Kazeem Scott and junior hurdle specialist, Jordon Quinn. 

The trio powered Freeport to its first Class AAA Nassau County championship in 10 years. All three will be headed to the individual state championships in Middletown June 9. 

Freeport edged Syosset, 86-81, marking the first time the Red Devils swept both the winter and spring championships. The champs won 7 of 15 events - a title based more on star power than depth. 

“The thing about our story and what’s so good about us this year, we didn’t get a lot of back-end points,’’ said coach Charles Gilreath, who has run the program since 1998. 

For starters, Monk won the 800 and 1,600 meters and soared as anchor leg on the 4-by-4 relay. 

“It’s his whole attitude - he comes to practice every day,’’ Gilreath said. “He works so hard, the kids look up to him. He’s got great endurance. He had a decent cross-country season, fantastic winter and it’s just carried over.’’

Monk is headed to SUNY-Buffalo to run but first he’s off to upstate Middletown for states where he has a legit shot at winning the 800. His best 800 time ranks second in the state (1:53.69).

“I knew I had to do everything I could in order for us to win,’’ Monk said. “I had to win all of my events and I’m happy I could help the team win the championship.’’ 

His leadership has also been stellar. “It’s just about showing up at practice every day, making sure my teammates are always there,’’ Monk said.

A state title in the 800 is within reach. “All I have to do is commit to a fast pace on the first lap,’’ Monk said. “I’m more than capable of holding that pace.’’

Monk isn’t the only Freeport runner with state-title aspirations. Scott won all three of his events and has a shot at glory in Middletown. He captured the 100 and 200 meters and also was champion in the long jump (21-11).  He’s No. 3 in the state in the 100 with a “PR” of 10.7. “Kazeem is a very talented kid - one of the best runners to come through my program,’’ Gilreath said. 

Quinn rounds out the Freeport Big 3 after winning the 110 hurdles and finishing third in the 400 hurdles. The junior is ranked first the state in the 110 (14.16). In winter, he captured the state championship in the 55 hurdles. He may net a second one. 

There were contributions to the title. “We knew going into the meet we’d get the top-end points but we needed a couple of kids coming in the top 6,’’ Gilreath said.

Without a fifth-place finish by the 4x800 relay (sophomore Kristian Hernandez, sophomore Jeovany Villatoro, junior Reginald Fraser, and sophomore anchor Chase Holt), a sixth-place finish from senior Yvan Neas in the 400 and an All-County third place in the triple jump by senior David Boyd, there would have been no outright title.