Malverne boys capture track championship

When scores revealed Malverne’s boys’ track and field team was about to capture its first outdoor county title in recent memory, the achievement had special meaning for coach Kito Lockwood given the group's strong work ethic displayed throughout the spring.

The Mules entered the final distance events at the Nassau County Class A Championship meet at North Shore High School May 24 with enough of a gap against the competition to finish atop the standings on the heels of coming two points shy of capturing the Division 4A title three weeks earlier. Malverne finished with 72 points, five ahead of second Oyster Bay with 67.

“When you are coaching team sports you preach the importance of not being selfish and all these guys were unselfish and did everything we asked of them,” Lockwood said. “Never once was a question raised unless it was how I do it so from a coaching standpoint that's probably the second best feeling to winning.”

Malverne particularly shined in the 4x400 meter relay, taking the event  with a time of 3:30:87, 12 seconds against of the competition. The team was paced by Ricardo Ricketts, Jordan Blue, Jeremiah Haye, Jianni Henriques, Noah Jones, Isaiah Jolly and Louis Torres. 

Ricketts was the lone senior on the relay team and proved to be a valuable leader on and off the track. 

“He is the heart and soul of the team and the anchor as the fourth leg who finishes the race,” said Lockwood of Ricketts. “He leaves it all out there.”

The county crown was also keyed by the 400-meter dash where Malverne took the top three spots led by Ricketts, who won the event in 50.71 seconds. Torres placed second with a time of 51.01 followed by Haye in third. 

“The 400 meter is what we call the money race, giving it all you’ve got around the track one time,” Lockwood said.  “Practice is competitive so it makes it that much easier come meet time because they get after each other in practice and they hold one another accountable.” 

Junior Keshawn Pinnock shined in the speed events by capturing county titles in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. Pinnock was also part of a 4x100 relay team that placed third with Jianni Henriques, Noah Jones and Jalen Blue. 

Jordan Blue stood out in the field events winning county titles in the long jump and high jump. The senior earned county titles to close his high school career after an injury hampered his postseason performance as a junior and Lockwood was impressed by his perseverance in battling through adversity. 

“His injury healed and he got back at it this spring and worked hard,” said Lockwood of Blue. “I can’t say enough about him and his quality senior leadership.”

Lockwood’s team will next compete on an even bigger stage and look to make more waves on the scoreboard at the New York State Championships in Syracuse on Friday.