Longwood's Fuller knows work paid off

Long Island produced seven champions at the state track and field championships at Cornell last month.

There were four individual state champions and three relay teams in the winner's circle.

Longwood's Joe Fuller, who ran the anchor leg and helped the Lions win the Federation 4 x 400-meter relay championship, overcame a deficit in the final two legs to pull out the victory.

Fuller, with Shane Cruz, Joe Payton and Soba Vincent, ran to a first-place finish in 3:24.38.

"The hard work really paid off," Fuller said. "I knew I would be able to pass them on the final lap. This is big for the program."

Fuller's teammates had no doubts they would be able to achieve that goal, despite trailing after the first three legs.

"If he has the baton and he's close, we know we have a shot," said Payton, who ran the first leg for the Lions.

SEE PHOTOSNew Balance Indoor Track & Field Nationals

Central Islip's Ryan Satchell was the only Long Island boy to win an individual title as he took home the state public school triple jump championship (47 feet, 4 1/2 inches).

Harborfields junior Kelsey Margey won a Federation indoor title for the second straight year, claiming the 1,500 meters in 34.34 seconds.

Margey won the 1,000 indoor title in 2010.

Joanne Imbert of Valley Stream Central continued her dominance, taking the Federation high jump championship with a leap of 5-8. Imbert didn't miss an attempt in the event until she tried to clear 5-9.

SEE PHOTOSNYSPHAA Track & Field Championships

But by then, she already had the championship in hand.

"I've cleared it before," the senior said at the time. "It just didn't happen today."

Like Margey, this isn't the first taste of victory for Imbert, who is the returning outdoor Federation high jump champ.

Shoreham-Wading River's Danielle Opatovsky was the third individual winner among the girls as she won the walk title in 6:51.59.

The real thrill for Long Island came during the Intersectional medley relay races as Nassau's team of Chris Eduoard (Valley Stream North), Sean Grady (East Meadow), Joshua Salmon (Uniondale) and Nino Tunoco (Mineola) took first in the event in 8:56.98.

The Suffolk girls Intersectional relay team of Christine Hagan (Kings Park), Melanie Notarstefano (Sachem East), Catherine Sandkuhl (North Babylon) and Olivia Schumann (Mercy) followed suit and ran to a first-place finish in 10:28.63.