Laray Smith had a day to remember on an afternoon where the best track stars in New York City were showcased.
The athletically gifted Smith, also a running back on the Xaverian football team, scored two victories on Saturday at the NYC Mayor’s Cup at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. Smith’s first win came in the 100 meter dash when he beat out six others, including Cardinal Hayes running back DeQuan June, with a personal best time of 10.73. Smith followed it up by besting seven others in the 200 meter dash with a time of 21.64.
“I’m just real proud of myself and the achievement,” Smith said. “I’m just gonna keep grinding and hope I can continue the success.”
Despite winning two events, Smith was disappointed in his time in the 200.
“I was kind of expecting to win the 200 because it’s one of my main events,” he said. “I was expecting a better time than that, but it’s alright. It’s decent but I wanted to run lower.”
While Smith had a big day, Bronx Science’s Adam Yohanan also scored a victory, though he admitted it was tough to stay focused since he was on spring break. Yohanan beat out 32 others, clocking in at 1:56.27 in the 800 meter.
“I’m happy to be at the Mayor’s Cup but it’s been a rough week for me,” Yohanan said. “Spring break during senior year there are a lot of distractions. I just got a good night’s sleep last night and showed up ready and focused.”
Yohanan paced himself throughout the race and came from behind to win the 800.
“I wasn’t worried about time, I just wanted to keep up with the leaders,” Yohanan said. “In the 800 it’s not about the first six but about the last two. That’s where the race was won. My legs were moving and it was all instinct at that point.”
Yohanan said he thrives off of coming from behind to win races. The senior kept pace and eventually overtook the lead to win the race.
Comebacks were a theme throughout the afternoon as Thomas Jefferson’s Sidgie Greene came from behind to win the boys 1,600 meter run.
Greene completed the race at 4:21.43, finishing off a huge comeback victory. Stuyvesant’s Jack Stevenson was in the lead for virtually the entire race before Greene surged ahead and crossed the finish line ahead of him.
“I had to give it my all,” Greene said. “All I had left is what I gave out there.”
He felt like he had a chance to gain the lead on Stevenson once he got to the 200 meter mark, and it led to a Mayor’s Cup victory for him.
“I saw that [Stevenson] kept looking back so I thought that if he was looking back he must be tired so I ran for it,” Greene said.
Added Stevenson: “[Greene] and I have been racing against each other forever. I knew there were runners behind me and you never know what everyone behind you is going to do.”
Greene, along with Smith and Yohanan, left Randall’s Island knowing that they are the best in the city.
Xavier’s Demitri Zaccarello can also say that after wining the 3200 in 9:47.37 to help his team win the meet with 30 points, beating out Farrell (25). Rudje Beckford of Clinton won the 100 hurdles is 14.99 and teammate Jeremiah Obeng won the 400 version of the race in 53.66. Francis Lewis’ Michael Delligatti was the 3000 steeplechase champ with a time of 9.37.93.
Samuel Juene of Lincoln was first in the high jump (6 feet), Farrell’s Joe Crispi was the pole vault champ (13-03) and Truman’s Michael Hall won the long jump with a leap of 21-00.25. Teammate Romario Gordon was the shot put champ with a toss of 48-04.00, Lehman’s Fillan Lee place first in the triple jump (44-09.00) and Xavier’s Chris Magnowski was the discus champ in 129-07.