After impressive performances at the state qualifying meet, members of the Hampton Bays boys and girls varsity track teams competed at the New York State Spring Track Championship in Middletown.

On the girls team, Emma Halsey earned a spot at states after winning the Division 2 100-meter hurdles with a time of 16.50 seconds; Maizie Poulakis will be competing at states after taking first place in the Division 2 pole vault, clearing 9 feet, 6 inches; and Asha Pensa Johnson threw 109 feet, 8 inches, placing second in the division.

Representing the boys team at states will be Charlie Garcia, who earned a spot on the state championship team as the fastest qualifier in the 200-meter dash from the Division 2 teams. Elijah Amos also earned a spot on the state championship team as the fastest qualifier in the 100-meter dash from the Division 2 teams.

The boys 4-by-400 relay team, consisting of Eddy Benenaula, Garcia, Matthew Papajohn and Liam Sutton, will also be making an appearance at the state meet after they finished as the fastest qualifier from the Division 2 teams. The team ran a school-record 3 minutes, 32.65 seconds, breaking a 45-year-old record set in 1978.

Also at the state qualifying meet, Papajohn earned All-Sectional by finishing as the third fastest 400-meter runner in Suffolk County. He broke his personal best and a school record by running 50.22 seconds, eclipsing a 45-year-old record. Sutton earned All-Sectional by finishing as the fourth fastest 400 hurdler in Suffolk County. He ran a personal best time of 57.45 seconds. Joffre Proano earned All-Sectional by finishing as the fourth best pole vaulter in Suffolk County. He cleared a personal record height of 13 feet, 6 inches, tying the previous school record.

The Hampton Bays School District extends its congratulations to the athletes.

Date Added: 6/12/2023