Collegiate’s Will Garcia (r.) leads the pack to the finish line in the Independent boys 4 x 400. ( Christina Santucci)
Shane Green was the anchor leg for a reason.
“He does not like to lose,” Erasmus Hall assistant and sprint coach Shawn Benson said. “He will not let anybody pass him. He is tough.”
True to form the senior did exactly that.
Green held off a late charge by Medgar Evers’ Andre Jordon to give the Dutchmen there first win since 2004 in the PSAL 4 x 400 meter boys relay at Friday night’s Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden. Green, Lyndon Samuel, Tyquan Dukes and Jerrel Puckerine won in a time of 3:30.07. The Cougars squad of Jordan, Adrian Lewis, Brent Jules and Michael Betton was second in 3:30.20 and DeWitt Clinton third in 3:31. 20.
“I heard the crowd,” Green said. “The last turn, I just sprinted.”
Erasmus led pretty much throughout. Lyndon grabbed a slim advantage on the final turn of his leg and Dukes, the team’s best sprinter, got out to a fast start only to see Medgar Evers and Clinton close the gap late. Puckerine gave Green a solid lead and it appeared Erasmus, the favorite after the Millrose trials, would claim an easy win.
“I knew I had to give them something to work with,” Puckerine said. “I didn’t want to give him too much to overcome.”
That’s because they knew Jordan, who is known for his electric finishes, was waiting. The senior started his explosive charge on the back straightaway and was right with Green around the final turn. They were nearly side by side, but Green saved just enough to make a push over the final 50 meters.
“I just had to bring it home.” Green said. … “It felt great. We haven’t won in many years.”
Collegiate wins Independent boys relay: The Dutchmen knew they were the favorites after posting the fastest time at the Millrose trials. Third leg Alex McDonald produced what anchor Will Garcia called a cushion, but not one he felt comfortable with. Garcia powered ahead and extended the lead to give the Manhattan school a comfortable win. Isao Anzai, Doug Kim, McDonald and Garcia finished in a time of 3:40.73 and Hackley was second in 3:50. 71.
“When I got the baton I just kind of went for it,” Garcia said. “I was confident in my speed. I felt as long as I focused on my own race we would probably come out ahead.”
Villa falls short of goal: The Staten Island school, which won back in 2009, suffered a big blow when star 400 runner Mariah Claudio suffered a hamstring injury at the Millrose trials, but were hoping for a top-three finish in the CHSAA girls 4 x 400. The Bears appeared to have a chance at the third place when Kellenberg dropped the baton in the early stages of the third leg.
“I got her,” senior Jillian Biagini said. “I tried to keep it. I couldn’t hold it.”
The Firebirds would catch up and the Villa team of Dominique Claudio, Alex Simon, Jillian Biagini and Christine Connelly had to settle for fourth place in 4:17.72.
St. Anthony’s, the defending champion, won in 4:01.95. Notre Dame Academy’s squad of Pariis Garcia, Alison Bohnenberger, Stephanie Van Pelt, and Kerri Butler was fifth in 4:17.72 and Aziza Hawthrone, Sabrina Cammock, Cristina Martello and Kymberly Johnson were sixth for Mary Louis in 4:20.20.
Around the track: Francis Lewis shot putter Chukwuebuka Enekwechi placed fourth in the event in with a toss of 64 feet 7 inches. … Fordham Prep’s team of Lucas Keefer, Mike McNamara, Malik Crossdale and Tony Ross was fifth (8:23.49) in the CHSAA boys 4 x 800 and George Settedacato, Adam Civitano, Paul Brancale, and Alex Civitano were sixth in 8:29.14. … Former A.P. Randolph star and Olympic gold medalist Natasha Hastings won the women’s 400 meters in a time of 53.60.