Elmont's Ashley Fulton a double winner at Nassau indoor track state qualifiers
Ashley Fulton is victorious in 300 meters in 39.86 at Nassau title meet/state qualifier at St. Anthony’s on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Elmont senior Ashley Fulton’s versatility was on full display Monday night during the Nassau indoor track and field state qualifier meet at St. Anthony’s.
Fulton, the reigning state champion in the girls 300 meters, will have a chance to repeat in March after winning Monday’s race in 39.86 seconds. Fulton also claimed the 55 crown in 7.01 seconds, just edging Baldwin’s Sariah Doresca — last year’s state champ — by .01 seconds.
“It feels good,” Fulton said. “It’s my first time winning two at the state qualifiers. I hope I can do it again at states.”
Fulton will attempt to become the state champion in the 300 for the second straight year on March 2 at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. (Fulton ran 39.58 seconds in last year's state meet.)
Fulton took pride in the versatility needed to win two separate races. She said both her 55 and 300 times were the fastest state qualifier meet times she has had, setting a new personal record in the 55.
“I’ll put in work for the next two weeks, stay consistent, hopefully do the same thing at states,” Fulton said.
Elmont also represented in the boys 55 dash, with Isaiah Davis winning in 6.49 seconds — 0.1 ahead of Mepham’s Dominic Inzerilla.
Freeport senior Jordon Quinn also earned the chance to defend his state title in the 55 hurdles.
Quinn won Monday’s 55 hurdles in 7.37 seconds. Baldwin’s Tristan Brown finished in second at 7.59 seconds.
Freeport’s Jordon Quinn wins Nassau 55-meter hurdles in 7.37 on Monday, Feb. 12, 2024.. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
“After winning, it tempts the chip on my shoulder,” Quinn said. “I put myself to a higher standard than I did last year, so it really is kind of a little more difficult.”
Quinn’s time Monday beat last year’s state-winning time by .05 seconds. Quinn did not feel like he had a complete performance in the state qualifier, but he was still able to secure the win by .22 seconds in a field that had three other hurdlers reach the state standard of 7.94 seconds.
“Honestly, the final, I didn’t get out as well as I wanted to,” Quinn said. “I hit the first two hurdles, but I was able to keep my composure and maintain it.”
Calhoun senior Logan Schaeffler is another reigning state champion who held his ground Monday night.
Schaeffler powered through the boys 1,600 meters in 4 minutes, 27.77 seconds to secure first place and his spot in the state championship. He won last year’s 1,600 at the state championship in 4:13.51.
Logan Schaeffler of Calhoun wins the 1600 meter race in a time of 4:27.77 at the Nassau track and field championships and state qualifiers in South Huntington on Monday, February 12, 2024.. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Said Schaeffler: “With the expectation of that I would most likely win, me and my coach were like, I should take it out fast, get a big gap and then see how much I can come down with at the end so I’m not using all my energy.”
Manhasset’s Thomas Sheerin finished second in the 1,600 in 4:28.56, also meeting the state standard of 4:28.74. Schaeffler was also named Newsday’s Nassau Runner of the Year following the fall 2023 cross country season.
“I felt like there was a lot of pressure,” Schaeffler said. “But my coach (David Hendler) is really good with reassuring that whatever I do is good enough, and I should just be happy with how good I’ve done this season.”
Port Washington sophomore Samantha Benson-Tyler won the girls 1,500 walk in 7:21.11. Benson-Tyler is currently third nationally in the Nike speed walk rankings.
Samantha Benson-Tyler of Port Washington wins the 1500 meter race walk at the Nassau track and field championships and state qualifiers in South Huntington on Monday, February 12, 2024.. Credit: Peter Frutkoff
Baldwin, the reigning state champion in the girls 4 x 200 meter relay, won Monday’s relay in 1:44.54. Breanne Barnett, Doresca, Jahzara Emeli and Kelys Walker made up the squad.
On the field side, Valley Stream North senior Nattaly Lindo claimed two events. Lindo won the girls shot put title at 38 feet, 2 inches, and the girls weight throw title at 48-4.75.
Calhoun and Valley Stream North also had two athletes win field titles. Senior Sophia Hines cleared 39-0.25 in the girls triple jump, and senior Max Jose cleared 44-2.75 in the boys triple jump. Senior Noah St. George won the boys high jump at 6-2, and senior Matthew Corrigan won the boys pole vault at 13-0 for Massapequa.
Ben Dickson joined Newsday’s high school sports staff in 2023 after graduating from Maryland, where he covered several of the Terrapins' teams.
