Francis Lewis High School surprised last year’s champion Springfield Gardens and captured the Queens Public School Athletic League (PSAL) Track and Field team title at Bayside High School on Thursday, May 13.
It took 144 points for Francis Lewis to secure victory, while Springfield Gardens scored 120 ½ points for second, one place ahead of Campus Magnet, who scored 90.
Head coach Ralph Montanaro, and his assistant coach Marty Laskin, felt confident that their team would redeem itself and dethrone Springfield Gardens after losing the title to them last year.
“Winning this title felt great,” said Montanaro. “It was a great feeling of accomplishment. We had hard working kids. We dominated the distance and field events. We were motivated to get it back.”
Francis Lewis’ Chuck Enei and Kevin Cadogan went one-two in the shot put with throws of 51-9 ½ and 45-8 ¾, respectively, and one-two again in the discus with tosses of 140-10 and 114-5. Cadogan’s 126-6 in the javelin earned him second place behind Gardens’ Jamael Hooks, who tossed a 132-10. And Geum Shang Park of Francis Lewis posted a second place finish with a 10-6 performance, behind Townsend Harris’ Adam Mielnik (11-0).
“This time we got ourselves together and got it done,” Enei said.
Rashawn Simpson, of Springfield Gardens, captured the 100 meter dash in 10.5, just nipping teammate Jerome Latty (10.8). And in the longer 200 meters, Simpson ran a 21.7 again just edging Latty (22.2) in the finals.
In the longer distance, Damion Walker of the same school easily took the 800 meters in 2:01.6 and 1600 meters in 4:47.7.
Devon Duncan of Campus Magnet, another power house in the running portion of the meet, made it two for two in the hurdles events. Duncan won the 110 meters in 14.8, easily defeating Eli Johnson of Forest Hills (1.5.5) in the finals and defeated Simpson in the 400 meter hurdles 55.9 to 1:00.4.
“Battling all year from hamstring problems it was tremendous for me to win,” Duncan said. “This meet marked the first time ever for me to win a double. I did my part.”
The distance races went to Francis Lewis’ Michael Delligat, who took the 3,000 meter steeplechase in 10:09.6, and Bryant’s Youncess Benzaid, winner of the 3,200 meter run, in a run-a-way time of 10:10.8. Delligat and teammate Victor Ng finished second and third, respectively, with 10:34.2 and 10:48.1 showings.
Runners and field specialists all were determined to give it “their all” in this important meet.
