OBSERVER File Photo This morning, the Dunkirk/Silver Creek 1,600 meter relay team of Michael Hanlon, Nathan Carlson, Johnny Thomas and Lucas Lowry competed in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association indoor track and field competition at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex. Run in the championship.
STATEN ISLAND — Six local athletes will join festivities across the state early this morning at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Indoor Track and Field Championships at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex.
Although most track and field events are competed individually, the first local athletes tested will work as a team as the Dunkirk/Silver Creek 1,600-meter relay team.
The 1,600-meter relay attempt begins at 11 a.m., with Michael Hanlon, Nathan Carlson, Johnny Thomas, Lucas Lowry and others aiming for their best run of the season. The Dunkirk/Silver Creek quartet advanced to the state championship with a time of 3:28.83 at the Section VI state qualifier two weeks ago, but their best time was a month ago at the SPIRE Scholastic Showcase Meet. It was 3:27.03.
The best time at this year's competition was an astonishing 3:16.68, set by Newburgh Free Academy in Round 9 at the 9th Millrose Games. Other teams with faster times than the Dunkirk/Silver Creek quartet were Suffern in Section I at 3:24.31, Freeport in Section VIII at 3:22.84 and Longwood in Section XI at 3:26.41.
A pair of local individual runners will compete in the 300 meters shortly after Michael Hanlon, Nathan Carlson, Johnny Thomas and Lucas Lowry take to the track for trials.
Emerging as the Section VI champion is Talon Rowland of Falconer/Fruesburg/Randolph/Maple Grove, who posted a first-place time of 35.43 points at Houghton University's Kerr-Pegula Field House. Williamsville South's Oralreus Hicks took second place just behind Rowland, while Jamestown's Jalen Cotter also qualified for this weekend's event with a pace of 36.75.
The state's top time this season was 34.15 seconds, set by Fordham Prep's Jaylin Santiago at the Catholic High School Athletic Association Intersectional Championships.
Roland's time was also faster by Andrew Fason of Somers in Section I with 34.87 seconds, Neil Howard of Taconic Hills in Section II with 34.68 seconds, and Ryan Lauber of Tully in Section III with 34.87 seconds. Braddock Salisbury of Whores Heads in Section IV at 35.37 seconds and Perrion Williams of Benjamin in Section V at 34.99 seconds. Franklin Media Arts had a score of 34.77, Braylin Jimenez of Hempstead in Section VIII had a score of 35.36, Aaron Williams of Middletown in Section IX had a score of 35.00 and Kaiden White of West Islip in Section XI had a score of 34.50. Ta.
Roland and Cotter's trial begins around 1 p.m.
If the local runners qualify for the finals, the 300-meter race will wrap up at 3:10 p.m., and the 1,600-meter relay final will take place about an hour later at 4:15 p.m.
The event will be streamed on the NFHS Network.
