Friars' Williams a double-winner

Having to choose between which event to excel in on the track is never a bad thing, especially if you are a versatile enough athlete.

Enter St. Anthony's Olicia Williams, who won the 800 meters at the North Invitational Saturday in a meet-record time of 2 minutes, 7.8 seconds. She also won the 200 in 25 seconds.

The funny thing is she may not be running in either event at the CHSAA Intersectional or the state championships.

Williams likely will run the 400 and possibly a relay. Williams won the 400 in a state-best time of 54.27 at the St. Anthony's Invitational last week.

"I'm grateful that my coach has me ready to compete in all these events," Williams said. "I'm hitting my times consistently in my events now.''

Much of Williams' work this spring has been to help build up her speed.

"My coach has me working on speed now so I can be ready for my opponents in the 800 at the junior nationals,'' Williams said.

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Kellenberg's Michelle Anthony is also beginning to hit her marks. Anthony took the 100 hurdles in a meet-record and personal-best time of 14.33 seconds.

"I'm really happy right now,'' said Anthony, whose time is tops among CHSAA hurdlers this season. "By the end of the season. I want to run 13.9.''

In boys events, Chaminade's Mike Rufrano was all smiles after clearing a career-best 6 feet, 6 inches in the high jump. The junior shattered his previous mark of 6-2, set at the Nassau Coaches Invitational at Westbury two weeks ago.

"I just felt better today . . . and loose,'' Rufrano said. "I've been doing more weight training lately and have begun squatting for the first time.''

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Longwood's Joe Fuller also had a career day, taking first in the 400 in a personal-best and school-record time of 48.7. Longwood also had winning performances in the triple jump (Michael Cotton, 42-6½) and the 400 hurdles (Joe Payton, 55.2). Longwood won the 4 x 100 relay in 43.1.

Baldwin had a standout day, too.

Ieshawn Johnson took the discus (165-1), Kinsey Sheppard won the 110 hurdles in 15.5 seconds, and the Bruins' 4 x 400 team of Jarek Babb, Treyvon Mask, Kirk Staine and Justin Mahoney took first in a school-record time of 3:18.5.