North Babylon's Charles qualifies for states in three events

North Babylon's Berfrantz Charles went home Friday evening after winning the long jump (24-1/4) and running the qualifying rounds of the 100 and 4x100 races. Exhausted, he took an ice-cold shower and went to bed at 10 p.m, a good "four or five hours earlier than usual."

Saturday, during Day 2 of the Section XI state qualifying meet, Charles won the 100 (10.90) and ran the anchor leg of the winning 400-meter relay team (42.76).

After a whirlwind two-day event, Charles will compete in three events at next week's New York State Federation Championship in Vestal, N.Y. After battling nagging injuries all season, the reigning state long jump champion appears to be rounding into form.

"I'm still a little injured, but with me trying to help get my team to states, the adrenaline was just there," Charles said.

"Pain or no pain, I ran through it and just kept pushing myself."

The most conspicuous absence at the meet was that of sprinting ace Jaquan Holland of Bellport. Holland is Suffolk's top-ranked runner in the 100, 200 and 400-meter races. He planned on running the 100 and 200, but he hurt his hamstring in the qualifying heat of the 100 on Friday.

After attempting to warm up for the 200 and continuing to feel discomfort, he and coach Don Nelson decided to pull him out of the meet altogether.

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The plan is to rest Holland for the New Balance Outdoor Nationals (June 17-19) in Greensboro, N.C.

"He's going to bounce back, no doubt about it," Nelson said.

But with the ever-tenuous nature of hamstring injuries, there is no guarantee he'll compete in the Nationals.

"We're not here to injure these kids and run them into the ground," Nelson said.

Holland's injury opened the door for Charles to run away with the 100-meter title.

"I won it for Jaquan," Charles said. "It made it easier, but at the same time, I wish he was there because he would have pushed me to run faster."

Ward Melville's Quinn Raseman continued his dominance of the Suffolk distance scene, although this time, the win was not easy. Raseman won the 3200 in 9:18.92, withe Connetquot's Zach Krause second at 9:20.93.

Riverhead's Michael Smith obliterated the shot put field with a throw of 57-10 ¼. His nearest competitor, Shaun Blackman of North Babylon, threw 51-11 ½.

Junior Sancho Barrett of Amityville won the 110 high hurdles in 14.19 seconds.

In a minor upset, Justin Williams of Longwood (6-6) defeated Copiague's Tyrek English (6-4) in the high jump. English broke the 7-foot barrier earlier in the season.

Joe Livote of Kings Park won the 3000-meter steeplechase in 9:47.85.

Bayport-Blue Point's 4x800 team (Zach Flood, Connor Crowley, Dan Denis and Mark Castilletti) won a tightly contested race in 7:56.47. Bellport was the runner-up in 7:57.60. Castilletti also won the 400-meter intermediate hurdles (53.91).