Another big year for Long Beach

Long Beach senior Tyquan Scott will attempt a rare accomplishment this weekend at the New York State track and field championships at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.

Scott, the defending state champ in the High Jump, is looking for a repeat after capturing the Nassau Class AAA title in the event and finishing first in the county’s State Qualifier meet. He’s cleared the bar at 6-feet, 4-inches in 2014 after setting a personal best jump of 6-7 last spring.

“Tyquan’s been pretty dominant,” Marines coach Greg Milone said. “Every event we’ve used him in this year he’s finished first or second. I think his chances to repeat at the state meet are very good.

“The unique thing about him is he’s very relaxed,” Milone added. “He doesn’t let anything bother him and doesn’t overanalyze. He also knows how to raise his game when he needs to.”

Scott will have company on this Friday and Saturday’s big stage. Long Beach junior Josh Linster won the county and state qualifier meets in the 100 meter dash. “When Josh gets out quick, he’s really difficult to beat,” Milone said of Linster, who thrived during the winter season in the 55. “He had an amazing win in the county race by three or four steps,” he added. “In the state Q, he didn’t have a great semifinal but ran a huge final. I think he’s capable of making noise in the state meet.”

Milone had hopes of a third state meet representative but senior Tariq Cole, who won division titles in the Shot Put and Discus, was unable to compete in the state qualifier meet. Cole is headed to Rutgers University on a football scholarship. “Tariq dominated the shot and discus for us for four years,” Milone noted. “He’s going to be tough to replace.”

Cole and classmates Stefan Pitts, Kevin Matthews and Richie Velez served as captains this spring. “We had a terrific senior class,” Milone said. “A lot of those guys competed four years and we had a division record of 44-8 over that time.”

Pitts, after a injury plagued 2013, stayed healthy and along with Linster helped the Marines gobble up tons of points in the 100 and 200, Milone said. Pitts also scored consistently in the Long Jump. Matthews led the Marines in the 400, anchoring the relay at the distance, and also backed up Scott in the Triple Jump. Velez contributed in the 400, 800, and 400 hurdles.

Looking down the road, Milone said he’s excited about the future of freshman Scott Powers, who won the division title in the Pole Vault. Sophomores Tom Ryan and Max Gottuso also enjoyed a strong ending to the campaign.