SPORTS

Big spring for Jets track team

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It was a banner spring for East Meadow’s boys’ track and field program, which won the Conference I title in undefeated fashion, added a division crown, and finished runner-up to Uniondale in Nassau Class AAA.

“We had a great spring and I’m looking forward to next winter,” Jets coach Jim McGlynn said. “We’ve got a lot of talented kids coming back.”

Behind individual champions Tim Gibson (100 meter dash) and Kyle Wrynn (3000 steeplechase), along with a handful of All-County finishes, East Meadow totaled 86 points in the county meet held May 25 at Long Beach. Uniondale led the way with 96, while Port Washington finished a distant third with 66.

Gibson, who’s expected to compete at the next level at Nassau Community College, capped a solid senior campaign by taking the 100 in 11.26 seconds and also placing fourth in Class AAA in the 200. He was the Jets’ top sprinter for a few years, McGlynn said. Wrynn, also a senior, took the challenging steeplechase event in just over 10 minutes.

Senior Nick O’Malley followed up a strong winter by winning the state qualifier in the high jump after finishing in a three-way tie for second in the county meet. Junior teammate Patrick Carlin and Port Washington’s Stanley Elysee tied O’Malley at 6-feet even. “To Nick’s credit, he came back and won the state qualifier,” McGlynn said. “He qualified for the state meet but had a conflict and didn’t compete. He ended up breaking the school record in the high jump at nationals.”

O’Malley was also a key part of East Meadow’s shuttle hurdle relay earlier this month in Greensboro, N.C. Sophomore Anthony Squiciarino was also part of the foursome after finishing third in the county in the 110 hurdles. “He does a lot of things well,” McGlynn said of Squiciarino. “I’m going to be planning some lineups around his skills for the next two years.”

Junior Michael Hartcorn was fourth in the county in the 110 hurdles and combined with Gibson, senior Alex Wong and senior Will Piano on a 4x100 relay which finished third. Wong, who is headed to Stony Brook, earned team MVP honors. “Alex had a stellar season and always put the team ahead of himself,” McGlynn said. “He was a captain for two years.”

Junior Tim Euler led the distance contingency. He was second in the county in the 1600 (4:26.59) and third in 3200 in 9:50.26. Junior Dan Amari placed fourth in the pole vault, and senior Matt Mascia was fourth in the shot put.