Mediaboss Marketing

Valhalla's Sam Morillo throws the discus before winning the event, as well as the girls D2 shot put.(Photo: Nancy Haggerty/The Journal News)Buy Photo

ENDWELL Joe Metcalfe was running as if he was running his last race ever.

It turned it was for the Pearl River senior.

But immediately after handing off to teammate Brian Flaherty in the boys Division 2 (small-school) 4x400, Metcalfe found himself on his head on the track, having tripped over another runners foot.

Flaherty, who ran the third, handed off to Thomas Wilson for the fourth in first place and Wilson didnt give the lead back.

The three, along with lead-off Nick Malfitano ran a personal-best 3:24.51 as the team (except for newcomer Malfitano) repeated as State D2 champions, despite entering the race at Union-Endicott High School ranked third.

The race was Metcalfes last for Pearl River after five years and he doesnt plan to run in college.

It was a sweet exit bruised head all but forgotten when Wilson crossed the finish.

Pearl River's Thomas Wilson (r) races to the finish as the Pirates win the D2 boys State 4x400 title..(Photo: Nancy Haggerty/The Journal News)

Its awesome, Metcalfe said. I was super emotional coming into today. This is all Ive known. There were definitely some tears earlier today and there may be more but I think theyll be tears of joy.

Sam Morillo also shed some tears.

The Valhalla junior not only won the girls D2 shot at 43-2.75 but recorded a personal-best 136-11 to take the shot put.

Those were Valhallas first state track titles since 1990.

For four years Ive trained for this, Morillo said. When I had the 136 discus throw I cried. I want to thank the community of Valhalla and my parents (Luisa Martinez and Francisco Morillo). They support me highs and lows.

Briarcliff's Jack Zimmerman before he threw the shot 57-10 to win the D2 championship..(Photo: Nancy Haggerty/The Journal News)

Briarcliffs Jack Zimmerman won the boys D2 shot at 57-10 and finished second in the boys D2 shot with a personal-best throw of 161-10.

Im really shocked, Zimmerman said of his discus placement.

Hell compete in both events Saturday for the Federation title, which is against private school athletesas well as public.

Hackleys Onye Ohia-Enyia won the boys Federation 400 title in 47.38 with Pearl Rivers Wilson fourth (49.72).

Bronxvilles Eve Balsiero, Caroline Brasherar, Laura Holland and Kaitlin Ryan shattered their personal record while winning the girls D2 4x400 relay title in 3:51.22.

Ryan, wholl run for Stanford next year, also won the girls D2 800 in 2:07.88, which was second in the Federation by a hair.

If Id gone out a little sooner and hadnt let them get so far away maybe I could have gotten it but Im pretty happy with the way it played out, Ryan said.

Rhinebeck (4:01.45) was third in the D2 4x400 and Hackley sixth in a school-record 4:04.33.

Lourdes Caroline Timm was second in D2 and fourth in the Federation (2:08.44), Ursulines Lily Flynn (sixth overall, fourth in public D1) in 2:10 and John Jay-Cross Rivers Brooke Nohilly seventh overall, fifth public D1) in 2:11.11.

Briarcliffs Ryan Gallagher won the boys D2 3,200 title, clocking 9:13.57, before being greeted by happy family members.

Briarcliff's Ryan Gallagher gets some water from his mother, Chris, after winning the boys D2 State 3, 200 title..(Photo: Nancy Haggerty/The Journal News)

Im happy with it, said Gallagher, wholl run his last high school race, the 1,600 Saturday.

Somers Greg Fusco was second in the D1 3,200 in 9:13.97 with his brother, Matt, sixth ((9:20.67).

Colin Duignan of Fordham Prep finished second in the Federation in the boys pole vault, vaulting an outdoor personal-best 15-3.

Bronxville resident Colin Duignan clears an outdoor-best 15 feet, 3 inches for second place in the Federation..(Photo: Nancy Haggerty/The Journal News)

I got out of a little rut. I was able to compete, the junior and Bronxville resident said, adding he was 100 percent very happy.

New Rochelles Kiana Stallworth was second in the girls D1 long jump (18-10.25).

Bronxvilles Alex Rizzo was second among D2 public school boys in the 800 and third in the Federation in 1:55.53.

New Rochelle sophomore Jordan Forrest was third in the boys D1 shot put at 56-2.

New Rochelle's Jordan Forrest throws the shot en route to finishing third in the boys State D1 division..(Photo: Nancy Haggerty/The Journal News)

Getting up there and getting a medals this year means a lot to me, said Forrest, who qualified for States last year in the discus.

Putnam Valleys Antonia Hoyos was third in the girls D2 long jump at 17-4.50. Ardsleys Yilinn Yang was fifth (17-3).

Zoe Maxwell of Irvington won the girls D2 triple jump at 36-6.75 with Hoyos fifth (36-3.50).

Sufferns Myles Solan was third in the boys D1 40 (47.69) with Nyacks Justin Marsland eighth (48.94).

Nyacks Louise Jones crushed her previous personal best to finish third in the girls 40 hurdles in 1:01.48.

Bronxvilles Margot Richards, Sabrina Mellinghoff, Alisa Kanganis and Sophie Kohlhoff clocked 49.28 for fourth in the girls D2 4x100.

Lakeland/Panass Josias Luctamar was fourth in the boys D1 long jump (22-09.25).

Nyacks Raylan Boutin, Justin Marsland, Marc Alexandre and Dante Brown finished eighth in the boys D1 4x100 in a personal-best 42.48. That was just hundredths of a second off the school record but the four qualified for Saturdays Federation, where theyll have a shot at breaking the record.

Rye Country Day was fourth in D2 at 44.04.

In other results, Valhallas Ethan Bartlett was fifth in the boys D2 long jump (20-10.25). Our Lady of Lourdes was fifth in the boys D2 4x400 (3:28.98). New Rochelle was sixth in the girls D1 4x400 (3:58.95) and Suffern eighth (3:59.87).

Sufferns Briana Montgomery threw 39-07.25 for sixth in the girls D1 shot put.

Ramapos Cliventz Alexis (149-06) was sixth in the boys D1 discus.

Suffern was sixth in the boys D1 4x400 (3:18.92).

Twitter:@HaggertyNancy

See the original post:
Pearl River, Bronxville relays among area athletes golden at Day 1 of States - The Journal News | LoHud.com