By: Brian T. Dessart
The event, which featured some 1,200 Nassau and Suffolk County track and field athletes, was organized a year ago by Hewlett track coaches Mark Goodman, Stephen Honerkamp and Eamon McHugh, in the hope of promoting track and field and providing a quality facility.
"The track was a swamp when it rained, and we couldn't use it when it snowed," said Honerkamp, describing Hewlett's old track before its revitalization three years ago. "[Now] we have our own meet for top-end athletes and novices. It helps to strengthen the program."
Making the most of the 80-degree weather was Hewlett's own Ricki Velotti, who won the girls' 100-meter dash -- clocking the fastest time in Nassau County this year, 12.1 seconds -- and the girls' 200 meters. "I guess that with the warm weather I had the intensity and motivation," said Velotti, who was the event's girls' track MVP. "I was so surprised at myself -- it's exciting. Today I wanted to win."
The boys' first event of the day -- the 110-meter high hurdles -- was captured by Baldwin's Mark-Anthony Gilbert. "My attitude was to come in and run well," Gilbert said.
Hewlett's Jessica Lubeski was the girls' winner in the 100-meter high hurdles. Her time of 16.1 seconds was 1.3 seconds faster than that of Lynbrook's Kristie Lengel. "I thought that I had a real good chance of winning," said Lubeski, who practices no fewer than 10 events, "but the second-to-last hurdle always kills me. I was real excited when I didn't hit it."
As the event came to a close, it was obvious that the Bulldog Invitational had not only an impact on the athletes competing, but on the coaches who provided their expertise, as well. "The meet was wonderful," Lynbrook boys' coach Ed Reilly said. "While this was competition, it was not cut-throat competition. Everything came together for a perfect day."
The following is a list of some of the top finishers from the Heralds' coverage area:
*Girls' 100-meter high hurdles: 1-Jessica Lubeski, Hewlett. 2-Kristie Lengel, Lynbrook. 3-Jennifer Matteo.
*Boys' 100-meter high hurdles: 1-Mark-Anthony Gilbert, Baldwin. 2-Corey Dineen, Lynbrook. 3-Stephen Small-Warner, Baldwin.
*Boys' 1600 meters: 1-Justin Appel, Calhoun. 2-Jonathan Truitt, Lynbrook. 3-David Jones, Lynbrook.
*Boys' novice 1600 meters: 1-Walter Kenny, Calhoun. 2-(unlisted Hewlett runner). 3-Daniel Gidasi, Calhoun.
*Boys' shot put: 1-Bill Cosgrove (boys' field MVP), Valley Stream South. 2-Mario Tobar, Lynbrook.
*Boys' 400-meter intermediate hurdles: 1-Mark-Anthony Gilbert, Baldwin. 3-Thomas Valerius, Valley Stream Central.
*Girls' novice 100 meters: 1-Jessica Mordi, Valley Stream Central. 3-Amanda Cohen, Oceanside.
*Girls' 100 meters: 1-Ricki Velotti, Hewlett. 2-Ellysha Delva, Valley Stream Central. 3-Kathleen Kobbe, Lynbrook.
*Boys' 100 meters: 1-Gavin Webb, Baldwin. 3-Anthony Lane, Valley Stream Central.
*Boys' novice 100 meters: 2-Adam Mirabeli, Valley Stream North. 3-Jvrel Wilford, Elmont.
*Boys' 400 meters: 1-Atiba Liverpool (boys' track MVP), Elmont. 2-Stephon Beckford, Baldwin.
*Girls' 400-meter intermediate hurdles: 1-Marisa Mann, Hewlett. 2-Sarina Meikle, Valley Stream Central.
*Boys' 800 meters: 1-Julian Crosswell, Elmont. 2-Jonathan Williams, Elmont.
*Girls' discus: 1-Victoria Clemens, Hewlett. 3-Njum Kalu, Elmont.
*Shuttle hurdles: 1-Valley Stream South.
*Boys' 200 meters: 1-Atiba Liverpool, Elmont. 2-Stephen Small-Warner, Baldwin. 3-Stephon Beckford, Baldwin.
*Girls' 200 meters: 1-Ricki Velotti, Hewlett. 2-Ellysha Delva, Valley Stream Central. 3-Yoanne Ishmael, Valley Stream Central.
*Boys' novice shot put: 3-Sean Suh, Valley Stream North.
*Boys' 4 x 800 relay: 1-Elmont. 2-Bellmore-JFK. 3-Lynbrook.
*Girls' triple jump: 1-Meredith Skolnick, Oceanside. 2-Katie Hicks, Valley Stream South.
*Girls' novice high jump: 1-Kelly Misiti, Lynbrook.
*Boys' novice high jump: 1-Vincent Cho, Valley Stream North. 3-Marc Lamarre, Mepham.
*Boys' 4 x 100 relay: 1-Valley Stream Central. 3-Valley Stream South.
*Girls' 4 x 800 relay: 1-Bellmore-JFK. 2-Hewlett.
*Girls' novice shot put: 1-Jessica Hinajosa, Lynbrook. 2-Sabrina Zervas, Lynbrook. 3-Jennifer Hubbard, Hewlett.
*Girls' shot put: 1-Joanna DiMaggio, Bellmore-JFK. 2-Cassidy Kletter, Oceanside. 3-Jessica Lubeski, Hewlett.
*Girls' 4 x 100 relay: 1-Hewlett. 2-Valley Stream Central. 3-Bellmore-JFK.
*Boys' 4 x 400 relay: 1-Elmont. 2-Lynbrook. 3-Lynbrook.
*Girls' 4 x 400 relay: 1-Bellmore-JFK. 2-Oceanside. 3-Valley Stream Central.
*Girls' thrower relay: 1-Hewlett. 2-Lynbrook.
*Boys' high jump: 1-Caine Reasson, Lawrence. 2-Corey Dineen, Lynbrook.
*Boys' discus: 1-Mark Peters, Mepham. 2-Rob Valleti, Valley Stream South. 3-John DiPlato, Mepham.
*Girls' pentathlon: 1-Meredith Levison, East Rockaway. 2-Megan Flaherty, Oceanside. 3-Megan Hein, Lynbrook.
