Nassau's Best Star at State Track Qualifier

Traditional powers Uniondale and Garden City dominated the Nassau Track and Field State Qualifier at Westbury High School on Tuesday and Thursday. But this meet was all about the individual -- and great singular performances abounded.

The top boys and girls athletes from schools across Nassau competed for the right to go to states in two divisions. The top finishers advanced to the NYSPHSAA championships June 10-11 at Caledonia-Mumford High School near Rochester.

The meet was originally scheduled for back-to-back days, but due to the tornado watch in the area on Wednesday, the meet was postponed to Thursday.

Port Washington's Sidharth Kakkar placed third in the 1600 meter race, finishing at 4.30.69.

Other Port Washington participants included Taylor Titcomb, Laura Brooks, Jenny Aguiar, Ryan Schwartz, Paolo Bertolotti, Jackson Lathrop, Sara Giraldo, Samuel Kim, Sarah Shlafmitz.

North Shore's Samantha Nadel and Emily Osman were neck and neck throughout the 1,500 meters until Osman pulled out in the end and finished 34 tenths of a second in front of her teammate. 

"This year, we really came together as a team," Osman said. "Our results are getting better and better as a team," she adding, noting that focusing on the team rather than just each individual seemed to be working. 

Osman thinks she hit her best at 4 minutes, 44.26 seconds.

Garden City's Michelle Rotondo took the top spot in the 400 intermediate hurdles. Her strategy was to "try to go the first 200 as fast as [she] could" and then she pushed hard at the end. After not participating in indoor track season, she came back this season and anticipates that she has gotten in "better shape than ever."

In the girls pentathalon, Massapequa's Heather Sweeney, who came in first in the 800 with a time of 2:26.19, noted that this is her second 800 race ever. 

"I was just trying it out," Sweeney said, adding, "I have another season coming."

She noted that Calhoun's Paige Vadnais, who came in second in the 800 with a time of 2:26.19 "put up a great race" and that the two fought neck and neck the whole way.

Vadnais hoped at the end of her race that her time, just tenths of seconds behind Sweeney, was enough to land her a spot in states. She added that she has had a good season and hit a lot of her personal bests during the season.

In the boys pentathalon, Hewlett’s Lamar Letts took the 800 with a time of 4:28.32.  

After winning the 400, Garden City's Taylor Hennig said that though she didn't race her best she "did what [she] needed to do."

Of her season, Hennig said that she has gotten progressively better throughout what she called a "good season" and had a personal record at counties.

"Hopefully I'm peaking at the right time," the Garden City junior said.