Massapequa claims first Nassau indoor track title in 55 years
The Massapequa boys indoor track team was thrilled after winning the county title. Credit: Kristin Frazer
Fifty-five years had passed since Massapequa’s last county championship in boys indoor track and field, but the drought would not last longer.
Led by senior Noah St. George’s field wins in both long jump (21 feet, 5.75 inches) and high jump (6 feet), Massapequa secured the Class A title with 65 points at St. Anthony’s on Feb. 5. Oceanside was a close second with 60 points.
“We have tremendous leadership in the seniors, and they all did their jobs,” Massapequa coach Rich Degnan said. “It was fabulous.”
Massapequa — which last won in 1969 — had finished second in the county championship meet seven times since 2011, making this year’s win even sweeter.
Massapequa’s 4 x 800-meter relay team of Archie Chesler, James Castoria, Chris Maiorino and Andrey Podskrebkin won in 8:24.01, outlasting Port Washington by 1.81 seconds. Its 4 x 400 relay team — Colin Bresnihan, Chris Cordero, Joe Santaniello and Thomas Stasichin — finished second in 3:35.46.
“(The relays) have been good all year, but they did outstanding that night,” Degnan said.
Podskrebkin finished the 1,000 in 2:39.99 and Matthew Corrigan cleared 12 feet in the pole vault for respective second-place finishes and 16 massive points in the victory.
Manhasset: Class B’s best
Junior Cole Thalheimer was sensational in Manhasset’s effort to win the Nassau Class B meet at St. Anthony’s on Feb. 6.
Thalheimer won both the 600 (1 minute, 24.92 seconds) and the 300 (35.95). He also anchored Manhasset’s winning team in the 4 x 400 relay, which finished in 3:31.64.
“Cole played a huge part, obviously,” Manhasset coach Steve Steiner said. “ . . . He’s been that kind of athlete and performer throughout his career.”
Manhasset's Cole Thalheimer. Credit: Kristin Frazer
Manhasset totaled 99 points — holding off Valley Stream North, which had 95 points — for its first team county title since 2020.
Thalheimer beat VSN’s Sedgeley Duperval by just .01 seconds in the 300 in a notable four-point swing. He also anchored Manhasset’s winning team in the 4 x 400 relay, which finished in 3:31.64.
Junior Tristan Chang, still a “novice” in the shot put, cleared 43-10.75 to win the event by 4.75 inches.
In the 1,000, junior Ryan Boldi finished first in 2:39.16, freshman Nicolas Katsoulis finished second in 2:40.02 and junior John Hogan finished third in 2:40.73 to pick up 24 points.
Hogan, Katsoulis, Tommy Sheerin and Mychal Duffy won the 4 x 800 relay in 8:37.83.
“There’s just a great team camaraderie with this group,” Steiner said. “They’re committed. They show up. They put in all the work. They don’t complain — too much — and they genuinely enjoy being around each other.”
Oyster Bay first in Class C
Oyster Bay claimed its first indoor title on Feb. 7 at St. Anthony’s, winning the Class C championship with 79 points.
Senior Christopher Tardugno displayed his long-distance pedigree, winning the 3,200 in 9:56.01 and the 1,600 in 4:29.09. He was also the anchor of the Baymen’s winning team in the 4 x 800 relay in 9:01.46.
Christopher Tardugno of Oyster Bay wins the 3,200-meter run during the Nassau track and field individual championships and state qualifiers at St. Anthony's on Monday. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
“He’s the heart and soul of our program,” Oyster Bay coach Chris Weber said. “He’s won the 3,200, 1,600 and 4 x 800 for the last two years in a row, which is impressive. We’re in the small county class, so we don’t really see the likes of Chris too often.”
Oyster Bay also claimed wins in the 55, which senior Christopher Dean won in 6.59, and the triple jump, where junior Austin Aschettino cleared 41-8. The Baymen won by more than 10 points, with Clarke finishing in second with 68.50.
“For us to do this, it’s a big deal,” Weber said. “Quite the accomplishment for us.”
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.