While the Sachem North seniors were down in Washington D.C., the boys track and field team had to rely on its underclassmen to fill the void at Saturday’s Suffolk Coaches Invitational. The meet, held at Commack High School, comes at a time in the season where athletes typically start to see running times decrease and field event distances increase.
The meet couldn’t have started any better for Sachem North, when junior Jonathan Lauer won the 3,000-meter steeplechase in a time of 9:37.18. This was the first time he ran the event. Besides breaking the school record of 9:50.54 (Dan Block, 2015), Lauer’s time ranks him first in Suffolk County and second in the Nation for this season!
While Lauer was busy pounding it out on the track, fellow teammate Christopher Fasano was doing just that in the shotput and Discus areas. He threw a personal best in both events, earning him a second place in shotput and a fifth place in Discus.
Fasano’s discus throw of 142 feet and 3 inches added over 7 feet on to his best throw for the season. His shotput was also a personal best which measured 52 feet and ¼ inch. This throw is a ½ inch off of the state standard and ranks Fasano at No. 6 in New York.
Great performances were jumping off everywhere, so it was fitting that Sachem North’s sophomore High Jumper would literally do the same. Connor Pallman was looking to beat his best jump of 5’ 10”. Coach Ryan Stillufsen, Pallman’s High Jump coach had seen him do 6’ 3” in practice and knew he was more than ready. Grabbing a second place medal for the day, Pallman ended up jumping a personal best of 6’ 4”. His mark ranks him third in Suffolk County and fourth in New York, not bad for a sophomore.
As the meet was finishing up competitors approached the starting line for the 3200-meter. Junior, Chris Tibbetts jumped up and down to loosen up as distance coach Billy Holl took his usual position on the back straightaway.
For eight laps Holl yelled out splits and pace commands, helping Tibbetts to cruise to a first place finish time of 9:41.86. That time is the fastest in Suffolk County this season and puts Tibbetts at the No. 11 ranking for New York State.
“The four underclassmen have a really good shot of making it up to the State meet in June,” said Sachem North coach Bryan Rogers.
Lauer, Fasano and Tibbetts all competed in states for winter track, while Pallman would be making his first visit upstate.
-Submitted by Sachem North coaching staff