Ashley Carillo's victory in the Nassau AAA 3,000 comes after disappointing 1,500

The tone of Ashley Carillo’s afternoon was set by a disappointment, at least at first. The Port Washington freshman thought she had won the 1,500 meters at the Nassau Class AAA track and field championships. But, it was not to be.

“I thought I had it and, at the last second, (Great Neck South’s Isabella Spagnoli) passed me,” Carillo said. “It came out of nowhere.”

After an eighth-place finish in her next race, the 800, Carillo was determined not to lose again. The breakthrough finally came in the 3,000, when she rode an afternoon of frustration to an 11 minute,  6.7 second victory.

“I really just had to restart and get my mind into a different place,” Carillo said. “I think (the losses) helped. It made me more focused to run.”

Port Washington won the team championship with 82 points, a strong follow up to their indoor championship in the winter.

On top of being extremely good, Port Washington is extremely young. When they won their indoor title this year, 53 of their 92 points were scored by freshman or eighth graders. As one of those freshman, Carillo had no idea that success would come quickly — or at all — during her first year as a high schooler.

“I did not think that was possible at all,” Carillo said of winning a county championship as a freshman.

Elsewhere in AAA, Spagnoli won the 800 in 2:22.26, the 1,500 in 4:54.92, and the 2,000 meter-steeplechase in 7:11.76.

Baumiller bursts toward 3k win

Sayville’s Mullane Baumiller won the 3,000 at the Suffolk Class B Championships in 10:36.51, over 15 seconds ahead of the field.

“After the first mile, the girls started to fall back,” Baumiller said. “I thought ‘OK, I can really push it here.’ I just took off and ran as hard as I could.”

There was, in this race at least, at bit of a fitness gap. As the field fell, Baumiller said she felt as good as ever.

“At the halfway point, I felt like there was a lot left in me, so I just kicked it,” Baumiller said. “I was really excited for the race, so I had a lot of adrenaline….I’m always stressed before a race. So, on the line, I was scared because I knew the girls were good. But as the race went on, I was feeling better about myself, so I kept going. I felt really good so I was able to push.”

East Islip won the Class B team title with 134 points. Jenna Scandale won the 400 in 59.42 and Danielle Simonetti won the 2,000-meter steeplechase in 7:26.90. Olivia Simonetti won the high jump, clearing five feet, four inches.

Elsewhere in Class B, Westhampton’s Valerie Finke won the 200 (26.93), the 100-hurdles (16.6), and the 400-hurdles (1:05.64). Rocky Point’s Alexandra Kelly won the long jump (19-1) and triple jump (41-3). Kelly’s triple jump was the best in the state this season, as of Saturday afternoon, according to milesplit.com.

Three more for Macchia

Zariel Macchia, the Floyd freshman who has a firm grip on the ‘best distance runner on Long Island’ moniker, won three more races at the Suffolk Class AA championships. Macchia won the 800 in 2:20.18, the 1,500 in 4:54.38, and the 3,000 in 10:23.05.

Traditional powerhouse Bay Shore won the Class AA team championship with 118 points. Mia Grassia won the 100 hurdles in 15.73 and the high jump, clearing 5-4.  Zariyah Braxton won the triple jump, flying 37-9 ½. 

North Babylon won the Class A championship with 93 points. Samara Lawrence won the 100 in 12.47 and the 200 in 25.73.  Shannel Sibblies won the 400 in 57.34.

Mount Sinai won the Suffolk Class C title with 141 points. Kate Del Gandio won the 100 hurdles (14.72) and the 100 (12.44), Kyra Franks won the 400 (56.91) and the 200 (24.95). In the field, Casey Campo won the long jump (16-11).  

Paul gets two for VSN 

Ariana Paul won the 100 in 12.89 and the long jump, flying 17-4 ¼ at the Nassau Class AA championships. Her team, Valley Stream North, won the team title with 88 points. Paul’s teammate, Moanna Thelusca, won the discus with a toss of 98-7.

North Shore won the Nassau Class A team championship with 96 points. Jill Feuerborn won the shot put, tossing 32-2.