Hewlett captures county title

The dominance continues. Another season, another championship for the Hewlett girls’ track and field program.

Fresh off their second straight county title this past spring, the Hewlett girls secured their third consecutive conference championship, and then capped the winter season off by besting the field at the Nassau Class B championships on Feb. 7 at St. Anthony’s High School.

The Bulldogs, who were outstanding in the technical events, totaled 112 points. Neighboring Valley Stream South was a distant second with 64.50. Junior Thalia Reveil picked up 22 points by finishing first in the long jump, second in the triple jump, and fourth in the 55-meter hurdles. Reveil was one of five girls to earn a county championship. 

“We’re a well-balanced team, so it was a little bit of everything,” Hewlett head coach Stephen Honerkamp said. “We knew we had a lot of talent and ability, so it really just took getting the girls to believe in themselves. They worked hard, stayed motivated, and the results really picked up.”

What makes this championship even more remarkable is the fact that 103 of the team’s points were earned by underclassmen. The Bulldogs figure to be a tough foe for years to come.

Patsy Iannico, who finished third in the 600-meter run, was the only senior to score in an individual event. Iannico now owns four school records; 400-, 500-, and 600-meters on the indoor circuit, and the 400-meter intermediate hurdles in the spring.

Sophomore Kayley Ragazzini earned the county championship in the weight throw with a toss of 38’ 11.75”, and took third in the shot put. Ragazzini earned first in the weight throw and second in the shot put at the state qualifier, and will compete in this weekend’s state meet at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island.

Junior Sophie Riegel repeated as county champ in the 1500-meter race walk and also earned a trip to the states by finished first in the qualifier. Ronnie Hillel took first in the county in the pole vault, while fellow junior Anyia Wilson earned first in the high jump. Wilson holds the school record in the high jump. 

Sophomore Emma Blumenstein had a terrific showing at the county meet. Blumenstein finished third in the 55-meter hurdles and fourth in the pole vault. She set the school record in the hurdles in her preliminary heat. Junior Kaylyn Forbes took second at 3000 meters, and was part of the 4x800 relay team that finished fifth.

Iannico will join Ragazzini, Riegel, and Reveil at the state meet. Iannico will run the 600-meter leg of the intersectional relay.

“I’m so proud of the effort that the girls have given, and all that they’ve accomplished,” Honerkamp said. “Track and field athletes often get overlooked. We have a team of hard-working scholar-athletes. I couldn’t be any happier for them.”