Dynamic trio propels VSS

A trio of standout juniors led Valley Stream South to a regular-season conference crown and the Division 4A title as well as a runner-up finish in the Nassau Class A girls’ track and field championships.

Chibugo Obichere, DeAnna Martin and Lindsey Smith combined to win seven events at the county meet May 24 at Cold Spring Harbor and accounted for 78 of the Lady Falcons’ 101.33 points. Obichere won the 110 hurdles along with the 100- and 200-meter dashes, Martin took the 800 and 1500 and was also an extremely close second in the 400, while Smith won the long jump and triple jump and was part of the second-place 4x400 relay.

“They all have laser-focus that you just can’t teach,” coach Nicole Bertrami said of the trio nicknamed “LCD” for their first initials. “Too much work is never enough for them. They’re the heart of the team and they inspire everyone else to be better.”

Obichere, who has two winter state championships in the 55-meter high hurdles, will try to defend her state 100 hurdles outdoor title June 8-9 at Cicero North Syracuse High School. She’s ranked No. 1 in the event and also ranked in the top five in the 100 or 200. “She’s aiming to repeat in the public schools and also win the Federation,” Bertrami said. “She’s such a humble, goal-oriented and driven athlete. She’s an incredible leader on and off the track.”

At the county championships, Obichere breezed to a convincing win in the 100 hurdles, crossing the tape in 14.41 seconds. She took the 100 dash in 12.20, and the 200 in 25.69. Bertrami said there’s a good chance Obichere will compete in only the hurdles for the duration of the season.

Martin is eying the state crown in the 800, the coach said, after taking the county title by almost three full seconds. She finished in 2 minutes, 21.65 seconds. She won the 1500 in 4:59.67 and just missed in the 400 with a time of 58.23, one stride behind North Shore’s Caroline Reiner. “DeAnna lights up the track with her enormous sportsmanship,” Bertrami said. “She’s in a league of her own when it comes to that. She’s the type of kid who waits around the finish line after a race to congratulate the competition. Her diversity is also rare. She’s great in the 400, 800 and 1500.”

Smith, a star on the soccer field, brings the same combination of grace and explosiveness to track and field, Bertrami noted. “Lindsey goes from one gear to the next and it’s effortless,” the coach said. “She’s great under pressure.” Smith won the county long jump at 17-feet, 8 ¾-inches and took the triple jump at 36-feet, 10 ½-inches.

Obichere, Martin, Smith and senior Tiara McDougle are also eyeing a top finish in the state in the 4x400 relay after setting a school record in the event at the Penn Relays (3:57) in April.

“As eighth-graders, Chibugo, DeAnna and Lindsey showed up at my desk and asked if there was a spot for them on varsity,” Bertrami said. “That’s when this magic carpet ride began.”