Hempstead's Brailyn Jimenez wins 800 at the tape at Nassau track and field state qualifier
Hempstead's Brailyn Jimenez (far right) fends off the competition to win the combined Division 1 & 2 800 meter run during day one of the Nassau track and field championships and state qualifiers in Syosset on Thursday. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
There were nearly 100 meters left between Brailyn Jimenez and the finish line on the Syosset track Thursday in this 800-meter race, and the Hempstead junior wasn’t running in front at the time. But a familiar voice gave him a push.
“I was a little behind,” Jimenez said. “I had the Manhasset kid [Ryan Boldi] right on me. I heard my coach [Lenroy Raffington], super supportive. He said, ‘You have to go. You have to go.’ ”
And he went, passing the leader. He sprinted toward the line and crossed in one minute, 58.32 seconds to claim his automatic ticket to the state meet, winning the Division I event at the Nassau track and field state qualifier by 26 hundredths of a second over Boldi.
“I feel great, feel amazing,” Jimenez said. “I have been to the states for a different event [the 300]. It was a fun experience indoors. But I’m really happy to go outdoors as well.”
Jimenez, who ran a personal-best 1:56.94 in winning the 800 at the Class AAA county championships, will be going to the meet that’s set for June 7 and 8 at Cicero-North Syracuse High School.
“The work just begins now for the state meet,” Raffington said. “You’ve got to step it up another notch now. But he’s going to be a performer up there just based on his work ethic.”
Valley Stream South senior Deven Bernardin was another boys winner, claiming the Division II 800 in 2:01.26.
Thomas Bonsignore is also headed north after quite a showing in the Division I 400 hurdles. The Division senior and Manhattan commit won in a school-record 56.31 seconds.
“I’ve been working at it for a while,” Bonsignore said. “The main thing I was thinking of the whole time was how freshman year I was running 73 and now 56 [seconds], it’s a big difference. So I’m very excited.”
Island Trees junior Patrick Coll finished first in the Division II 400 hurdles in 59.27.
Elmont sophomore Aidan Peterkin took the Division I 400 in 49.03.
Oyster Bay senior Christopher Dean took the Division II 400 in a personal-best 49.61.
“I wanted to go sub-50 [seconds],” Dean said. “I have the super standard [to qualify for the state meet] for the [100] and the [200]. So this was just the cherry on top.
“I’m either going to do all three [events] or maybe just the [100] and the [200]. … I’m looking to win. I’m looking to be all-state [via the top eight]. You’ve got to imagine that happening.”
Jason Kerber won the 3,200. The Division I Oceanside senior crossed in 9:35.54. Oyster Bay sophomore Zach Greene was the first Division II runner to finish in this combined race, coming in at 9:59.52.
Roosevelt junior Jah’rece Mathews’ throw of 156 feet, 1 inch was a winning effort in the Division I discus. Locust Valley senior Charles Kelly was No. 1 in the Division II discus at 131-10.
The Division I pole vault went to Valley Stream North sophomore Michael Muoio at 12 feet. North Shore junior Lukas Costello cleared 11 feet, good for first in Division II.
Clarke junior Christian Destine prevailed in the Division II triple jump at 41-6.
Max Jose won the Division I triple jump at 43-5 3/4. But the Calhoun senior had already qualified via his 46-5 performance in winning at the county Class AA meet.
“I didn’t really need to win because I had the super standard,” Jose said, referring to the 45-5 qualifying distance. “But I didn’t want to come out and not try because I feel like that ruins the point. At the end of the day, there’s a competition.”