Seaford claims track title

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Highlighted by three championship runs by junior Jason Lizner, Seaford track and field earned the Conference 6 title late last month, adding another trophy to a program fresh off a cross-country conference championship in the fall.
Winning comfortably in the 3200 meters, 1600 meters and 1000 meters, Linzer garnered 30 of his school's 112 total points to lead Seaford over eight other schools at the Jan. 29 meet at St. Anthony’s High School.
“Jason is an incredible athlete,” said coach Rich Thau, who filled in for coach Kimberkly Cooke who took the season off to recover from an injury. “He strives to be the best at all times and constantly wants to push himself.”
Thau, who has coached other sports but never track and field before this winter, said he was struck by the dedication and commitment Seaford athletes put forward every day. “The biggest thing about the kids is their leadership skills,” said Thau, noting that several of the athletes could be found practicing after hours throughout the week in addition to weekends and during school vacations.
Seaford totaled seven first-place finishes at the conference meet, including junior Luke Sulli in the 55-meter hurdles, junior Al Munro in the high jump and triple jump, and senior Carl Bloom in the weight throw.

“Luke is another one whose really put a lot of effort into it,” Thau said. “He’s taken a lot of ownership.”
The school’s performance was also bolstered by a number of second place finishes, including freshman Anthony Munro in the 55-meter hurdles, Bloom in the shot put, and senior Brian Rodriguez in the weight throw. Al Munro, who is Anthony’s older brother, also finished second in the long jump. Junior Joe Randazzo contributed points with a fourth-place finish in the 1600 meters.
A week after the conference championships, Seaford placed second out of more than 20 schools behind Valley Stream North in the county championships, also at St. Anthony’s, despite a first- and second-place finishes from Linzer in the 3200 and 1600 meters, respectively. In the same meet, Al Munro won the top spot in the high jump, and Bloom took second in the weight throw.
Thau said it was particularly the leadership of his more experienced athletes who set the tone this winter. "They took the imitative and the responsibility,” he said of his athletes. “They covered a lot of the drills in practices and gave a lot of the pep talks. They taught me a lot about coaching.”
He also credited former coaches Joseph Bon Jovi and Tom Condon, as well as his current assistant coach, Cristina Capasso, for their instrumental roles guiding him through the season while he learned the ropes.
Linzer will be Seaford’s lone representative in the state championships on March 2 in Staten Island in the 3200-meters following a first-place 9 minute, 35 second run in the state qualifying meet on Feb. 12.