Sachem East track and field's Bella Galeas wins three titles at Suffolk large school indoor championships
Sachem East’s Bella Galeas wins the 300-meter dash during the Suffolk girls indoor track and field large school championships on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026 at Suffolk Federal Credit Union Arena in Brentwood. Credit: Kathy M Helgeson
Though the soccer season has been over for a while, that has not stopped Sachem East junior Bella Galeas from pulling off a hat trick.
Galeas had a historic performance at the Suffolk large school indoor track and field championships at Suffolk Federal Credit Union Arena on the campus of Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood on Saturday, winning three events. Her least-dominant performance of the day was her first, where she still managed to win the 55 meters in 7.32 seconds. Later, she broke the meet record by taking the 300 in 40.62, passing Whitman’s Gianna Paul’s 40.77 from 2019. Galeas wrapped up her championships by flying 18 feet, 3 1⁄2 inches in the long jump, finishing 3-for-3 on a day when no one else won more than one individual event.
Galeas, who plays soccer in the fall, originally got into track to keep in shape. Once she realized all the different skills she can show off on the track, and in the field, her athletic priorities changed.
Last year, she won the county titles in the 300 and long jump during the indoor season, then won Suffolk’s 400 hurdles and long jump championships during the outdoor season. With her trio of victories and broken record on Saturday, the girl whose first love was soccer is turning into one of the most dominant and well-rounded track athletes in Suffolk history.
“It feels great to put my name in the Suffolk County record book,” Galeas said. “Since my freshman year when I started track, I realized this was what I really want to do. It’s great to know that everything is paying off and that I can be a part of the greats, too. I’d love to be there one day.”
Brentwood senior Gabriella Asare also broke a meet record, as she won the 55 hurdles in 8.16, narrowly breaking Bay Shore’s Avianna Goode’s 2016 record of 8.17.
“It makes me emotional,” Asare said. “It’s crazy. Like, I did that. I’m just really proud of myself, and it’s amazing. I never expected this ever, but expect the unexpected.”
Deer Park senior Kayla Beaumont had waited a long time and put in an excruciating amount of effort to restore her former glory. During the spring of 2024 — her sophomore year — she had gone as far as 38-2 in the triple jump and later won both the Suffolk II-A and sectional championships in the event.
Things were looking up for the multitalented athlete, who is also a cross country runner and a tournament-winning tae kwon do fighter. However, in early November 2024, while competing in a tae kwon do tournament, Beaumont dislocated her knee and tore her medial patellofemoral ligament.
Her surgery was delayed until that January, and she was on crutches until March. She needed to relearn how to walk.
“I was so excited for last winter season, and I was just thinking that everything was over and that I would never be the same again,” Beaumont said. “I used to go from school, to practice, to tae kwon do. I had to start going from school straight home. I felt so lazy. I was so close to giving up, but I feel that everything happens for a reason.”
She refused to let that be the end of her athletic endeavors.
Once she shed her crutches, Beaumont aggressively pursued her comeback in physical therapy sessions until June.
She rode the exercise bike frequently, while also doing band work and forcible knee-bending exercises.
Then, to further strengthen the repaired ligament, she ran cross country in the fall, putting it through the strains of Sunken Meadow State Park’s infamous hills.
After surviving the rigors of rehabilitation and cross country, her recovery was completed.
Healthy again, Beaumont has gone 38-2 this winter in the triple jump, matching her personal record from 2024. Her comeback tour continued Saturday when she flew 37-9 3⁄4 to win the large schools triple jump title.
“I can’t take the smile off my face,” Beaumont said. “I’m just happy my hard work showed.”
Connetquot won its first team championship since 1989 by scoring 83 points. Senior Luna Valencia won the shot put with a throw of 33-10 1⁄4, freshman Angelina Guzman claimed the high jump title by clearing 5-1, and senior Olivia DiGaetano took the 1,500 in 4:46.79.
Mike Anderson is a high school sports reporter who has covered 12 sports so far at Newsday. He was the sports editor of Stony Brook University's campus newspaper for two years.
