Spartans run away with title

The Three-Peat is complete.

Valley Stream North completed a sweep of Nassau Class A titles with a runaway performance in the boys’ track and field championships, totaling 123 points to runner-up Manhasset’s 62.

“We were looking at Manhasset as our biggest threat,” Spartans coach Mike Fraser said. “We were a little fortunate to beat them in the winter, but we really piled up the points this time. To win cross-country, indoor and outdoor titles in the same school year is a milestone for our program.”

North, which finished ninth in Class A last spring, went 14-0 during the regular season to extend its winning streak to 81 dual meets, rolled to the division title and kept the momentum going at the county meet May 24 at Cold Spring Harbor. The Spartans captured four individual events and placed second in all three relays.

“I was pleasantly surprised with how well we did in the relays,” Fraser said. “It shows the kind of depth we’ve got. We have our core of year-round kids and also a group of one- and two-season runners that contribute a lot.”

Junior Kendel Levy was a double county champion, taking the Shot Put with a school-record throw of 49-feet, 7 ¾-inches, and the Discus in 136-6. He went on to qualify for this weekend’s state meet at this Friday and Saturday at Caledonia-Mumford High School in both events. Senior Patrick Canny, who was second in the county in the Discus and third in the Shot Put, will join Levy in the latter event upstate. “Kendel and Patrick scored 34 points between them,” Fraser said. “To put how well they did in perspective, they outscored a bunch of teams for the meet.”

Junior Steven Barbuto held off Manhasset’s Travis Burger and Seaford’s Zachary Zieniewicz to win the 400 Intermediate Hurdles in 57.1 seconds. Berger finished in 58.1 and Zieniewicz in 58.2. “Steven treats every race like there’s one hurdle,” Fraser said. “He’s so aggressive and likes to be in front and challenge the field. He qualified for the state meet, and that was his goal.” Barbuto also placed fourth in the 110 High Hurdles, behind teammates Joe Cafaro and Michele’ Tripoli, and was part of the 4 x 400 relay.

North junior Thomas Bardabelias renewed his rivalry with Mineola’s Nuno Tinoco in the 800 and evoked some payback from the division meet by taking the county crown in 1:58.6. Tinoco placed third in 2:01.9, with Burger finishing runner-up in 2:00.7. “It was Tommy’s turn to win,” Fraser said of Bardabelias, who also topped Tinoco in the state qualifier June 1 at Westbury and will run the 800 this weekend.

Cafaro, a sophomore, was fifth in the 200 and a key part of the 4 x 100 relay. Junior Samuel Catalano (fourth in 3,200 run and 3,000 Steeplechase) and senior Visal Mohanan (fifth in both events) led the distance group along with Bardabelias.

“We’ve had a special year,” Fraser said. “We’re bringing a large group to the state meet and we’ll see what we can do to top it all off.”