In a tightly contested meet on the 15th of January, Ossining’s varsity girl’s and boy’s winter track teams placed third and fourth, respectively, at the league meet in Manhattan. In what many consider the most difficult league in Section 1, Pride runners competed and were often victorious against annual powerhouses such as Fox Lane and Yorktown.

The boy’s team turned in an impressive 59 point effort, placing behind Horace Greeley (105 points), Yorktown (77 points), and Fox Lane (64 points). The girl’s team scored 51 points, third to Yorktown (133 points), and Fox Lane (99 points).

Leading the charge for both teams were the captains: Patrick Saint Ange, Thomas McBride, Jhada Francis, and Jakira Cole. Saint Ange led the mile wire-to-wire, turning in a first place finish and a time of 4:40. He also ran the 3200, or 2 mile, and an impressive kick in the last 2 laps launched him into first yet again. McBride, a middle distance runner, blazed into fourth place in the 600 meter run with a time of 1:28.43. He finished third with a time of 37.31 in the 300 meter dash. Francis, a sprinter, won the 300 meter dash in 44.68 seconds, over a full second ahead of the second place contender. She took first in the 55 meter dash as well, clocking in at 7.45 seconds. Cole, a thrower, won the shot put event with a throw of 33-06.75 feet.

The captains weren’t the only ones who turned in impressive efforts however. Nicholas Lividini, a sophomore, and Juliana Thompson, a freshman, the only two hurdlers on the team, both qualified for the finals after having learned hurdles in only three weeks. Sophomore Brandon Raysor won the 300 meter dash, the 55 meter dash, and placed fourth in the long jump. For the girl’s team, Jacalyn MacDonald finished a close fourth in the 1000 meter run, and Ryann Englebracht, Kiara Taveras, and Somari Davis placed 7th, 8th, and 9th out of 27 girls in the final heat of the 600 meter run.

Many of Ossining’s points were won through team, rather than individual, events. In the relays, the boy’s team placed first in the 4×800, third in the 4×400, and third in the 4×200. The girl’s team placed third in the 4×800, second in the 4×400, and third in the 4×200 relay.

Given that the young Ossining team – the majority of the runners are freshman and sophomores – turned in such an impressive overall effort, as well as stellar individual efforts, it seems likely that a new period of dominance in track is beginning. Perhaps consecutive state championships are just around the corner…