By Joseph Staszewski
There were plenty of memorable performances by the city’s top boys track and field athletes.
Robert Rhodes was the heart and soul of Boys & Girls’ resurgence and a PSAL city indoor crown. Columbus’ Strymar Livingston, who is headed to Mississippi State, remained among the nation’s top middle-distance runners. Stuyvesant’s Konrad Surkont, a Harvard commit, became the first PSAL boy to run in the invitational mile at the Millrose Games since 1998. Jefferson enjoyed a second-straight PSAL outdoor crown and Xavier topped the NYCHSAA’s traditional powers for an outdoor sectional title.
All-City Boys Athlete of the Year: Robert Rhodes, Boys & Girls
The UConn-bound Rhodes ran with a refuse-to-lose attitude for Boys & Girls, which won its first PSAL indoor city title since 1998. He beat Columbus’ Strymar Livingston to claim the PSAL 1,000 meter indoor and 800 outdoor crowns. He ran the state’s fifth time in the 800 indoors and second best (1:50.57) outdoors, taking third at New Balance Nationals. Rhodes was also the anchor of the Kangaroos’ national championship 4×800 and 4×400 relays.
All-City Boys Coach of the Year: Amateka Morgan, Boys & Girls
Along with assistant Coach James Jackson, Morgan has helped the Kangaroos’ return to prominence, both at the city and national levels. Boys High won its first PSAL indoor city title with a mix of veterans and budding stars. The Brooklyn school saw its 4×800 and 4×400 relays combine to win three national titles this year and the 4×800 team also qualified for the Penn Relays Championship of America final.
FIRST TEAM
Dajon Dixon, Thomas Jefferson
The senior was the epitome of the versatility the Orange Wave used to win its second-straight PSAL outdoor city title. At the meet, he won the pentathlon with a score of 3306 — the second best in the state — the high jump with a leap of 6 feet 2 inches and was third in the 110 meter hurdles with a time of 14.82.
Benjamin Ezike, Susan Wagner
The Rhode Island-bound senior was the cream of the crop of New York City jumpers. He won the PSAL indoor title in the long jump and triple jump, posting season-high marks of 23-7 and 47-1. Ezike, a football star for Wagner as well, placed third at the state meet during the indoor season and, despite being bothered by an ankle injury, won the triple jump with a leap of 47-11 at the Loukes Games.
Dan Galford, Monsignor Farrell
The Lions senior enjoyed one of the best seasons by a city distance runner. He won the CHSAA cross-country championship and finished second at the state meet in 15:59.60 and third at the regional championship. He finished second in the 1600 at the CHSAA intersectionals during indoors.
Strymar Livingston, Christopher Columbus
The Mississippi State-bound Livingston remained among the elite in the nation. He smashed the national 500-meter record with a time of 1:01.68 at the New Balance Games and owns the nation’s fastest mark in the indoor 600 at 1:17.58. Livingston was the PSAL city champion in the indoor 600 and outdoor 400, capping a sterling career.
Jeremiah Obeng Agyapong, Dewitt Clinton
The Albany-bound hurdler put together his best season on the track. Outdoors he won the PSAL city championship and Mayor’s Cup title in the 400-meter hurdles. He posted the second fastest time in the state this season at 52.59 coming in fourth at the Penn Relays.
Brian Russell, St. Joseph by the Sea
One of the city’s top pitchers was also one of its top performers in field events. The senior posted the fourth-best high jump mark in the state at 6-foot-8 outdoors. Russell won the event at the indoor CHSAA intersectional, was second in the Mayor’s Cup and placed fifth at the Penn Relays.
Laray Smith, Xaverian
The junior running back is the fastest person ever in Xaverian history, owning multiple school records. Smith was the CHSAA intersectional champion in the 55, 200 and 300, with some of the state’s top times. He also won the 100 and 200 at the outdoors Mayor’s Cup and placed second in the 200 at the outdoor state championships.
Konrad Surkont, Stuyvesant
The Harvard recruit was one of the PSAL’s most decorated distance runners and became the first boy to run in the invitational mile at the Millrose Games since 1998. He was the league’s 1,600 champion during indoors, finished second in the event at the state meet and own the state’s fourth fastest time: 4:14.82. Surkont also won the PSAL outdoor 3200 and was second in the 1600.
SECOND TEAM
Rudje Beckford, Dewitt Clinton
The Governors star was one of the city’s top short hurdlers. He won the PSAL city championship and Mayor’s Cup crown in the 110 hurdles and was third in the 55 hurdles at indoors.
Michael Delligatti, Francis Lewis
Delligatti, who is headed to SUNY Oneonta, was again one of the city’s top distance runners. He helped lead Lewis to the PSAL Queens indoor crown, took home first-place honors in the Mayor’s Cup title in the 3,000 steeplechase and placed second at the PSAL city championships.
Tyquan Dukes, Erasmus Hall
Dukes took home the PSAL indoor city crown in the 55 meter dash in 6.49, the 11th best time in the state. He also placed third at the PSAL outdoor city championships in 100 and 200.
Michael Hall Jr., Harry Truman
The senior was one of the city’s top jumpers. He took home the PSAL indoor crown in the high jump with a leap of 6-4 and won the league’s outdoor long jump title with a mark of 22-9.
Mitchell Kun, Sheepshead Bay
Kun finished his career in superb style. He won the 3,200 at the indoors Mayor’s Cup and was second in the event at the PSAL indoor and outdoor city championship. Kun was also seventh at the PSAL cross-country championships.
Ryan Phillips, Regis
The senior continued to show he was one of the CHSAA’s top distance runners. He was third at the CHSAA cross-country meet, second at the indoor Mayor’s Cup in the 3200 and second at the outdoor intersectional championship in the event.
Will McDuffie, Collegiate
McDuffie was the NYSAISAA’s premier distance runner. The senior won the league’s cross-country title, the 1,600 indoors and the 800 outdoors crowns this season. He owns the state’s eight-fastest time at 15:49 in the 5,000.
Edward Wagner, Xavier
The senior helped lead the Knights to the CHSAA Archdiocesan outdoor title by placing first in the 400 hurdles. He was second at the state meet with a time of 53.04 and was second in the event at the Mayor’s Cup.
HONORABLE MENTION
Sidgie Green, Thomas Jefferson
Darren James, Archbishop Molloy
DeQuan June, Cardinal Hayes
Christopher Lewis, South Shore
Andy Nichols, Midwood
Marco Pompil, Collegiate
Richard Rose, Boys & Girls
Jack Stevenson, Stuyvesant
Liam Vogt, St. Joseph by the Sea
Felipe Yanez, Forest Hills
