Winter Track is Back

Despite a handful of Suffolk County athletes venturing out west to compete in Cross Country Nationals, some of Section XI’s best track athletes began the indoor season at Suffolk Community College’s Brentwood Campus or ventured into New York City to race at the prestigious Armory Indoor Track in Washington Heights, throughout different time frames during the week, just about every team in the county competed.

Jess Joe Augustine running at Suffolk Community College @Kristenvictoriaphotography | Instagram

Mount Sinai’s Star Senior Distance Runner Jess Joe Augustine got off to a fast start to his indoor campaign as he won his 1600 meter race in a blazing fast 4:36 just weeks after wrapping up his cross country season.

Smithtown East saw high jumper and first year athlete Braden McCormick have an impressive start to his career as he cleared the 6 foot mark, placing second in the event.

McCormick would also place fifth in the long jump as his furthest jump was 18 feet 5.5 inches from the board.

During his session, Eastport South-Manor Junior Jaden Flood made his presence felt in the high jump realm as he jumped a new personal best of 6 feet, besting his previous best of 5 feet 5 inches.

On the girls side, Mount Sinai’s 8th grade sensation Cali Gabrielson decided to spend this past weekend back on the track instead of taking a week or two off as she came home with the victory over the rest of the field full of high schoolers in the girls 3000 meter race as she ran to a time of 10:43 over the near 2 mile distance.

Gabrielson’s teammate, Paige Schieffele, also claimed a victory over the weekend as she ran away with the 1000 meter crown with a new personal record time of 3:09.

It wouldn’t be a track article if Zariel Macchia didn’t make an appearance as the superstar distance runner from William Floyd High School took to the track this past weekend as she used her 1500 meter race as a tune up for her upcoming race at the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in San Diego this upcoming week.

Macchia would clock in with the fastest time of the meet as she ran a blistering 4:52 en route to victory. She will put her track season back on hold for just one more week as she has collected the state standard for the 1500 (time fast enough to qualify her for the state championship) and put her focus into winning a National Championship.

Cali Gabrielso @Kristenvictoriaphotograph | Instagram

At the time of this result, the phenom from Mastic Beach would be co-New York Number one in the 1500 meter race as she would share the honor with Ward Melville’s own Amanda Probst.

The senior distance runner who is coming off a Cross Country season that saw her claim All-State Honors and a fourth place finish at the Section XI Championship made sure everyone would remember her name as she ran to victory at the North Shore Invitational with a time of 4:52 over the 1500 meter distance.