For those that frequent track meets, the sights and sounds surrounding the quarter-mile oval are familiar: the squelch of a steeplechaser’s spikes, the clack of a kicked hurdle, the pole vaulting implements swaying like the masts of moored schooners, the shrill boom of the starter’s pistol, the excitement of the crowd rising to a crescendo. These spectacles and others were especially visible yesterday on the final day of the Section XI Championships, the crown jewel of Suffolk County track and field.

It was another banner day for Stony Brook track as two more individual champions were crowned, joining a lineage that includes, among many others, names like Lockerbie and Whitney. The 100 meter final was first up for the Blue and White as Taylor Colucci, already with a second consecutive 100 meter Class B County Championship in hand, ran to a 4th place finish in a time of 11.27. The title went to Mark Jackson of Longwood, a perennial power in the sprints, who Colucci defeated head-to-head in the 100 meters at the St. Anthony’s Invitational, proving once again that among the elite sprinters in the county anyone can win on any given day.

100 Meter Final Results

1.	Mark Jackson	Longwood	10.83
2.	Dayne Savory	Bay Shore	10.95
3.	Abdias Myrtil	Half Hollow Hills West	11.02
4.	Taylor Colucci	Stony Brook	11.27
5.	Ramone Henderson	Middle Country	11.30
6.	Jarrick Ambrose	Copiague	11.33
7.	Shevron	Bartholemue	11.35

Next, Khoren Lawson took to the runway to compete in the triple jump. He was seeded #2 in the meet behind Southampton’s Jordan Seymore, who Lawson had defeated in the Division Championships two weeks earlier. Lawson, who holds the school records in the indoor and outdoor triple jumps, had jumped in only two invitationals this season as he focused on the sprints. Adding to this was the fact that Lawson shortened his approach prior to the competition due to the brevity of Port Jeff’s runway. Despite these setbacks, Lawson progressively improved  on each of his three preliminary jumps of 41′ 11.75″, 42′ 2″, and 43′ 4″. His final jump was not only good enough to land him a spot in the finals but to qualify him for the State Championship. In the finals, Lawson leapt a distance of 43′ 5″ on his first attempt, then missed his second because he was competing in the 200 meter final. On his third and final attempt of the day his legs, still weary from his race, did not have enough to improve on his distance. In the end it was inconsequential as he bested his rival from Southampton by 1.75 inches to give him a second consecutive Class B triple jump title. He also finished 5th in the entire County, improving on his 8th place finish from last June.

Triple Jump Final Results

1.	Ryan Satchell	Central Islip	47′ 5″
2.	Treval Hatcher	Riverhead	46′ 11.75″
3.	Mike Cotton	Longwood	46′ 0″
4.	Dorrell Lumsden	Brentwood	45′ 0″
5.	Khoren Lawson	Stony Brook	43′ 5″
6.	Jordan Seymore	Southampton	43′ 3.25″
7.	Omari Buckmire	Bay Shore	42′ 8.75″
8.	Ivan Kemp	Middle Country	42′ 5.25″
9.	John Stallworth	Connetquot	42′ 0.75″
10.	Kevin Cherry	Connetquot	41′ 11″

In the 200 meter final, the Class B Championship was decided by Colucci and Lawson. Amazingly the teammates comprised the only duo in the race as it was Stony Brook, not sprinting factories like Half Hollow Hills West, Longwood, or Brentwood, that placed two competitors in the final. After the gun smoke had cleared, the pair gave the Brook their third and fourth top 5 finishes of the day as Colucci barely beat out his teammate to secure his second consecutive 200 meter Class B Championship.

200 Meter Final Results

1.	Dan McCord	Half Hollow Hills West	21.67
2.	Todd Colas	Brentwood	22.13
3.	Taylor Colucci	Stony Brook	22.53
4.	Khoren Lawson	Stony Brook	22.74
5.	Shevron Bartholemue	Middle Country	23.06
6.	Dayne Savory	Bay Shore	23.09
7.	Morgan Genoino	Sachem East	23.17
8.	Jarrick Ambrose	Copiague	23.57

The day ended with the 4×100 meter relay final. The team had already secured the Class B Title and the fastest time in school history on Friday evening but were hoping to upset the powerful Colts of Hills West. Unfortunately, by the race’s end, the boys had more pressing concerns. Lawson, the team’s anchor, pulled up lame with a strained hamstring on the backstretch. A subsequent examination by a trainer revealed that the injury was not as bad as it could have been; however, it remains to be seen whether or not Lawson can compete in next week’s State Meet in Rochester.

While the conclusion to the day was disappointing, this year’s Section XI Championships may rank as one of the most successful in school history. Three individual champions and a relay champion were crowned while four top five overall finishes were secured. Our athletes also qualified for six berths in the State Championships while Lawson incredibly qualified in three individual events and a relay–a feat that may be a first for a Stony Brook athlete. The team will continue to monitor Lawson’s leg and would undoubtedly covet your prayers as they look ahead to next week’s State Championship.

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