Northport's Tim McGowan takes state 3,200, 3 others win titles, 5 relay teams triumph

ITHACA, N.Y. -- Teeth gritted in determination, Northport's Tim McGowan triumphantly crossed the finish line and ran straight into the waiting arms of his coach, Jason Strom. It's been quite a month for the senior. Just two weeks ago, he won the high school mile at the Millrose Games. Saturday, he won the 3,200 meters in nine minutes, 7.80 seconds at the state indoor track and field championships at Cornell.

"It's been pretty amazing," McGowan said. "I didn't think I had either race in me. Since I was a sophomore, I've known I wanted a state title. I've been really blessed these last three weeks."

After the first mile, McGowan was stuck toward the back of the field, wondering if he had enough in the tank to make up the necessary ground.

"I just took it one guy at a time and tried to pick them off," he said. "By the last lap, I was up front. I just made like there were foot steps behind me and wanted the win."

St. Anthony's Patrick Tucker finished fourth in 9:14.97. Tim's twin brother, Jack, was sixth in 9:17.96.

The McGowan's teammate, Mike Brannigan, finished second in the 1,000 in 2.27.70, 0.07 seconds behind Liam Purdy of North Rockland. The time broke the Suffolk record of 2:28.64, set by Northport's Kevin Tschirhart in 2005, according to longislandxctf.com.

Smithtown West's Ben Bonhurst, who broke the state shot put record last Friday, won the state title in the same event, throwing 63 feet, seven and a quarter inches.

"I was pretty lethargic in the circle on my first few throws," Bonhurst, who will attend Florida State in the fall, said. "But, on my last thrown, I got pretty hyped up and pulled one out."

Lynbrook's Luke Germanakos won the 600 in 1:21.31, narrowly beating Norwich's Matt Murray, who finished in 1:21.55.

"It went out pretty fast," Germanakos said. "I started to get the feel for the race. The second lap is where I really woke up. People started passing me and I felt a little boxed in. But, on the third lap, and felt really strong. I knew I could out-kick [Murray], so I just went for it."

L.I. dominated the relay portion of the championships, bringing back five titles, both federation and public schools.

Farmingdale, composed of Michael Tristano, Michael Outing, Nico Fratto, and Anthony Bellacosa won the 4 x 200-meter relay in 1:33.02. St. Anthony's Mozai Nelson, Marlon Montague, Louis Santelli, and Sebastian Pierre won the 4 x 400 in 3:23.70. The 4 x 400 state title was the first in the history of the school, coach Tim Dearie said. Baldwin's Kevin Atkinson, Malik White, Pascal Bastien, and Tyshawn Harris won the 4 x 400 public schools title in 3:29.56.

Chaminade's Sean Kelly, Andrew Dorritie, Gunnar Nolan and Tom Slattery won the 4 x 800 in 7:55.80. Syosset's Eamon Sheerin, Ryan DePinto, Tyler Italiano, and Simon Nwana won the public school title in 7:57.82.