Jazmine Fray wins two events to propel Kellenberg girls to league title

Kellenberg's Jazmine Fray said she was tired as she rounded the final turn of the 400 meters Saturday at the Catholic League championships at St. Anthony's High School. But for Fray, who has oozed enthusiasm and drive for the duration of her decorated high school career, being tired wasn't a good excuse to let an opportunity pass through her fingers.

That opportunity was a league championship in her final season as a Firebird.

"I trailed back in the first 200 meters," Fray said. "But then I saw my coach and my teammates cheering for me. I knew I had to pick it up."

And pick it up she did, coming from behind to win in 58.47 seconds. The victory was her second of the day. She won the 1,500 in 4:49.41 earlier in the meet, a grueling race that contributed to Fray's fatigue. The senior had to battle St. John the Baptist's Kate McCormack down the final straight. McCormack finished second in 4:49.70. A move past McCormack and Kellenberg teammate Deidre Lewin, who finished third in 4:53.33, led Fray to victory.

"My coach, [Marty Brown], and I have been working on speed and endurance," Fray said. "I knew at that last 300 meters that I could go and stay strong as long as I could toward the finish line."

Fray's two individual victories, along with relay wins in the 4 x 800 (10:06.42) and 4 x 400 (4:04.03), helped Kellenberg take home the team title, scoring 77 points. St. John the Baptist was second with 70.5 points.

Kellenberg's Bridget McNierney won the long jump, flying 17 feet, 3 inches.

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McCormack came back after the 1,500 to win the 800 in 2:16.77. She was named track MVP of the meet. McCormack said she passed Lewin, who took second in 2:17.44, with 150 meters left.

"I didn't let my mind get to me," McCormack said. "I just kept going as fast as I could . . . Your mind is always telling you to slow down, but you have to push through the pain and just go."

St. Anthony's Halle Hazzard won the 100 in 12.43 seconds and the 200 in 25.64 seconds. Her teammate, Alyssa Yeboah-Kodie won the 100 hurdles in 15.12 seconds and the high jump, clearing 5 feet.

Holy Trinity's Kristina Insingo won the shot put, tossing 45-10 1/2, the discus (125-0) and was named field MVP of the meet. Her shot put broke her own New York State Catholic School record of 45-8, Holy Trinity coach Justin Renna said.