These Long Island high school track and field stars were determined to win state titles

BOYS TRACK & FIELD STATE CHAMPS

Aidan Peterkin, Elmont, Sr., NYSPHSAA Class B 200 meters & NYSPHSAA Class B 400 meters & Federation 400 meters

It was a monster weekend in Webster for Peterkin, who won the Class B 400 in 46.99 seconds on Day 1, then won the Class B 200 in 21.42 and the Federation 400 in 47.36 on Day 2. He was also on Elmont's winning 4 x 400-meter relay.

Part of that performance was an unloading of frustration from the winter, as he was the state’s top-ranked 300-meter sprinter for most of the season, but got sick towards the end of it, which derailed him. He placed fourth in the 300 at the indoor state meet, which he did not forget.

“Getting sick shortly before states was brutal and it stunk to know I wasn’t able to run with my full potential,” Peterkin said. “It definitely lit a fire in me to not have the same thing happen again, so I took how I prepared for training days and meet weeks more seriously.”

Evan Fraser, Patchogue-Medford, Sr., NYSPHSAA Class A 400 meters

Fraser was a part of a Long Island onslaught in the 400. There were no winners from Long Island over the first hour and a half of Day 1, but then Peterkin broke the ice in the Class B 400. Fraser followed him by winning the Class A race in 47.66. Then the girls’ turn to run it came, starting with Class C, where Port Jefferson senior Alexa Jacobs won her title, followed by Hewlett senior Nylah Phillips winning the Class B race.

Four consecutive events won by Long Islanders. Nobody was prouder to be part of the area’s representation than Fraser.

“Long Island isn’t here to play around,” Fraser said.

Brandon Thweatt, Baldwin, Sr., NYSPHSAA Class A 110 hurdles

After winning the high hurdles state title indoors (which is a 55-meter race), Thweatt dropped a 13.98 on everybody to win the Class A high hurdles championship outdoors.

“It honestly feels great to get this one under my belt and to close out the season with two state titles,” Thweatt said. “Breaking 14 seconds was also a huge milestone for me, so to accomplish both means a lot.”

Nigel Harris, Copiague, Sr., Federation 110 hurdles

For short-distance events (sprints and hurdles), the state has three separate championship races, broken up by class size (A, B and C). After those races are completed to determine the NYSPHSAA champions, the top eight combined finishers across the three classes run in Federation championship race.

All field events and distance races double as both a NYSPHSAA and Federation championship, and the top compiled finisher wins both their class and the Federation.

That interesting twist allows for the non-winners of some state championship races to redeem themselves in a more important race for all the marbles. In Harris’ case, he was Thweatt’s runner-up in the Class A 110 hurdles and was one of the top eight finishers across the three classes, giving himself a shot for a higher-stakes title.

He wound up winning it in 14.08.

“I was decently upset, but I wasn’t worried because I knew exactly what went wrong, and my faith was stronger,” Harris said. “I immediately focused on the final and sharpened everything up.”

Jordan Peck, North Babylon, Sr., Federation 400 hurdles

In the same fashion as Harris, Peck was the runner up in the Class A 400 hurdles on Day 1. He came back the next day to win his second consecutive Federation 400 hurdles in 52.98.

“You’ve got to win where it matters,” Peck said. “Sometimes, you understand that it’s not your time, or it’s not your day, but today I felt I had to force it to be my day. I just made sure to do it when it really mattered: on the biggest stage. I had that badly-executed race playing in my head all night, and I could barely sleep, so to be able to come back on the track and make up for my mistake made me want it even more.”

Braeden Jackelow, Manhasse t, Sr., NYSPHSAA Class B 3,000 steeplechase

Jackelow had experienced a state title when Manhasset won the team public school Class B cross country championship in 2024, but he had never lived the individual glory. However, by running 9:23.51, he placed first among Class B competitors.

“It’s definitely relieving, and I feel accomplished,” Jackelow said. “I’m very proud.”

Alex Molter, Connetquot, Sr., NYSPHSAA Class A & Federation pole vault

In his final three high school meets, Molter broke the all-time Suffolk pole vault record — indoor or outdoor — three consecutive times. He cleared 16 feet in the Class B county championships on May 28, 16-1 at the state qualifiers on June 5 and 16-2 on June 14 at the state championships.

“I take a ton of pride and I feel like I’ve earned everything I’ve done,” Molter said. “I wasn’t gifted everything. Everything I’ve done was from straight blood, sweat and tears.”

Michael Muoio, Valley Stream North, Sr., NYSPHSAA Class B pole vault

He cleared the bar on his first four attempts, ultimately finishing at 14-6 to top all Class B contestants.

“I can’t believe it finally happened,” Muoio said. “Last year, I came in third, and I knew I wouldn’t be happy this year unless I got first.”

Anthony Pisciotta, Commack, Sr. NYSPHSAA Class A & Federation discus

He was in contention to win the indoor state title in the weight throw, but wound up dislocating his shoulder playing pickup basketball several days before the meet. That embarrassment and frustration pushed him to redemption, which he reached by throwing 171-2.

“I wanted this badly after how the winter season ended, and being able to come back and win a state title made up for it,” Pisciotta said.

Elmont 4 x 400-meter relay (Kaedon Trye, Jr., Jaiden Williams, Sr., Jayson Bhoorasingh, Sr., Aidan Peterkin, Sr.), NYSPHSAA Class B

The Spartans won their state’s class title for the third consecutive year — this time, with a totally different group. Trye, Williams and Bhoorasingh did well in replacing alumni Caleb Harris, R’Len Richards and Dominic Collins, who all graduated after winning it last year. Ultimately, the not-so-secret weapon was Peterkin — the only 2024 and 2025 holdover — who anchored them home to win in 3:16.2.

Manhasset 4 x 800-meter relay (Luke Falco, Jr., Braeden Jackelow, Sr., Nic Katsoulis, Jr., Blake Sealy, Sr.), NYSPHSAA Class B & Federation

They won those titles both indoor and outdoor last year, but lost their streak at this past indoor state meet. However, getting Sealy back after losing him to basketball for the winter season gave them arguably the best 800-meter anchor runner in the state. They won in 7:44.77.

GIRLS TRACK STATE CHAMPS

Nylah Phillips, Hewlett, Sr., NYSPHSAA Class B 400 meters

Many athletes also run for an external club team, or with a training group, to try to get faster. Sometimes, due to time conflicts, those athletes will choose their club team over their school team for a season. Phillips did that as a junior last spring, choosing to run for Sports Performance Group of Lynbrook rather than Hewlett.

It put her future with the team in question, but she ultimately returned to the Bulldogs this winter, and stayed into the spring season.

The decision to return made her a state champion, as she won the Class B 400 in 54.89 seconds.

“I am very grateful to have come back to competing for my high school and putting our name on the map,” Phillips said.

Alexa Jacobs, Port Jefferson, Sr., NYSPHSAA Class C 400

Heading into the week of the Suffolk state qualifiers, Jacobs was the state’s top-ranked Class C runner in all three sprints — the 100, 200 and 400 — by wide margins. She was likely to win three state championships, provided she qualified.

However, the 100 and 200 were old news to her. She wanted a new challenge, so she skipped the 100 and 200 at the state qualifiers and only focused on the 400.

She won the Class C title in 55.79.

“I knew if I was going to tackle the 400, I would have to place all of my focus on it, as it is a very challenging distance for me,” Jacobs said. “I am beyond excited and proud of myself that my decision paid off. It was definitely a risk not sticking with the 100, but I wanted to make a statement at my last state meet, and I think I was able to do that.”

Maddie Laezza, Eastport-South Manor, Jr. NYSPHSAA Class B 800 & Class B 1,500

Laezza capped off her first full calendar year as a distance runner by becoming Long Island’s only female double outdoor state champion. She was a middling sprinter at the start of her high school running career, but now that she has found her athletic niche, she has not stopped dominating.

She won the Class B 800 in 2 minutes, 9.55 seconds, and the Class B 1,500 in 4:22.07.

“Last year, I didn’t even qualify for states, so to come back this year and win two state titles is something I would’ve never imagined,” Laezza said.

Maggie McCormick, Bay Shore, Sr., NYSPHSAA Class A & Federation 1,500

After dominating her way to the 1,500 indoor state title, she somehow got even better and did it again, winning in 4:17.87.

“Living in not only such a competitive state, but also a competitive section, has given me another incentive to completely dedicate myself to this sport,” McCormick said. “I love pushing myself to the limits, and being able to make a mark on state history is an incredible way to end.”

Zoe Amadike, Sewanhaka, Sr., NYSPHSAA Class B Triple Jump

She comes from a family full of basketball players. She only started competing in track last spring.

Now, she is as good a triple jumper as there is in the state, as she flew 40 feet, 3 ½ inches to win the Class B triple jump.

“It still hasn’t fully sunk in yet,” Amadike said. “I’m so proud of myself. I can’t stop smiling. It feels like all of the hard work really paid off.”

Bella Galeas, Sachem East, Jr., NYSPHSAA Class A Pentathlon

Her background as a multi-sport athlete (soccer and track) provides her with elite athleticism, which has made her a force as a sprinter, hurdler and jumper. That made her a natural candidate for the pentathlon, which her coach — Bart Sessa — explained.

She was very adverse to the idea initially, recalling her dominance in her individual events, but she decided to lose that argument.

The decision won her the Class A pentathlon championship with 3,489 points.

“If I’m being honest, I did not want to do the pentathlon at states,” Galeas said. “I really wanted to do the 400 hurdles and long jump … After talking to Sessa and really looking at the scores and seeing where I could place, I realized that the pentathlon would be the best for me and that I could win it. I’m glad I listened to him this time — but just this time.”

Paige Fessler, Valley Stream North, Jr., NYSPHSAA Class B & Federation Pentathlon

She got pushed into doing the pentathlon for the same reason as Galeas, and it worked. Fessler, who won outdoor state titles as a high and long jumper last spring, decided to become a pentathlete, and scored 3,521 points to lead all competitors, regardless of class.

“Being a state champion is something people dream of, and it’s incredible to have accomplished it for the second year in a row,” Fessler said. “I’m really grateful for the opportunity and all the hard work that went into it.”