Freeport third in division meet

The Freeport boys track & field team got an opportunity to compete on a championship stage in familiar territory this past Monday. 

The Red Devils shined on their home turf placing third in the Nassau County Division 1A outdoor track & field championships. Freeport finished 22 points above fourth place Uniondale with 89 with only Oceanside (106) and Massapequa (169) finishing higher.

“We had a couple of key injuries that took away some points that we might have gotten, but beyond that I thought the team competed to the level that I thought they should have,” said Freeport coach Charles Gilreath. “There were some good performances from a lot of kids.” 

The solid showing Monday was paced by Freeport capturing a division championship in the 4-x-400 relay event led by Lucca Noboa, Dorian Boyd, Chase Holt and Hunter Scott. Freeport won a county title in the county indoor championships in February that also featured Noboa, Boyd and Scott along with Giovany Villatoro.

“That’s one of our strongest events year in and year out,” said Gilreath of the 4-x-400 relay. “We have a legacy in the 4-x-400 and that is where we are really going to try and win counties and go to the state meet.”

Freeport just missed out on another division crown in the 4-x-100 relay with a second place finish behind Syosset. The team features sophomore Glen Person III, Christopher Ramos-Abreu, Dylan Woodward and Owen Feiler. 

Boyd also excelled in individual events placing second in the 400-meter dash. Person III finished as runner-up in the 110-meter hurdles while Noboa placed third in both the 400-meter hurdles and 200-meter dash.

The field events featured a second place showing from Ramos-Abreu in the triple jump. Gilreath said Ramos-Abreu has exhibited strong leadership on and off the field as a senior and throughout his Freeport career.

“He has a great personality and is a team leader who knows how to talk to everybody,” said Gilreath of Ramos-Abreu. “He does a variety of events for whatever the team needs.” 

The Freeport runners and field athletes embraced the opportunity to compete at home in a championship setting with a large crowd attendance, according to Gilreath. 

“To be able to have your family and friends out there and administrators come out to support, that was important to them,” he said. “They were excited about that.” 

Freeport next turns its attention to the Nassau County Class AAA championships slated for May 22 at Westbury High School. State qualifiers will then next be on tap for May 30 and 31 at Syosset High School.

Gilreath said he is hoping for a top three finish in counties and to send multiple athletes to compete for state championships as well.

“There are going to be some exciting races next week to try and get some All County kids,” Gilreath said. “We are going to have to be at our best and I’m very confident that they will.”