Earl L. Vandermeulen High School's track and field team capped off another outstanding season with an impressive showing at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Championships, highlighted by Alexa Jacobs' fourth consecutive state title.
Jacobs captured the NYSPHSAA Class C Championship in the 400-meter dash, cementing her place among the state's elite athletes. The victory marked her fourth straight state championship in the event, an incredible accomplishment that reflects years of dedication, determination and excellence on the track. Her latest title served as the perfect exclamation point to another remarkable season for the Royals.
Port Jefferson's success extended well beyond Jacobs, as several student-athletes turned in strong performances against the best competition in New York State.
The boys 4x800-meter relay team of Chris Nam, Lucas Sweeney, Chase Davis and Sviatoslav Zalizniak earned a fifth-place finish. Mehana Levy placed sixth in the shot put, while the girls 4x400-meter relay team of Salomé Maginier, Nina Gnatenko, Leilani Von Oiste and Jacobs finished sixth overall.
Leilani Von Oiste set a new school record in the 800 meters with a time of 2:19.17 while placing seventh in the state. Zalizniak also finished seventh in the 800 meters, and Neko Davis placed eighth in the 400 meters.
Additional top performances included Isabela Thomsen, who finished ninth in the high jump, Salomé Maginier, who placed ninth in the 100-meter hurdles, Sean Grossman, who finished 10th in the 1,600 meters, and Chase Davis and Von Oiste, who each earned 11th-place finishes in the 110-meter hurdles and 1,500 meters, respectively.
The girls 4x800-meter relay team of Chloe Kelly, Myla Kelly, Bridget Grossman and Von Oiste also delivered a strong effort, finishing with a time of 10:31.99.
"We are incredibly proud of all our student-athletes for representing Port Jefferson with determination, sportsmanship and excellence on the state stage," the Port Jefferson School District said in a statement. "Congratulations to our athletes and coaches on an unforgettable season!"