Northport track tries to knock Longwood out of top spot

Suffolk Division I is bound to go right down to the wire this spring. After a head-turning winter season, Northport will look to continue its dominance in the spring. The Tigers have a strong crop of distance runners. James Dickinson, Chris Odin, David Hatch, Tim McGowan and Mike Brannigan all run the 1,600. McGowan and Brannigan also compete in the 3,200. Hatch, Odin, and Dickinson can score in the 800.

Longwood enters the season as the three-time defending Division I champion and is, once again, loaded with talent.

Senior Mike Engesser stars in the 800. He is the defending Division I champion, running a 1:56.56 at last season's divisional meet. Longwood is strong in the field events as well. Dennis Russell is a stand-out shot putter and discus thrower. Dashawn Taylor returns as the Division I long jump champion.

Bay Shore was the Division I runner-up last season. They return jumpers Kareem Roberts, Malik Hinds and Bradley Pierre. Throwers Andrew Nelson and John Mirabito add depth to the strong field unit. Matthias Eato will sprint for the Marauders.

Smithtown West returns as the Division II champion. Mike McCann is a top high jumper. He won the winter state championship, jumping six feet, 10 inches earlier this month. Devin Mirenda is also an expert high jumper, finishing second to McCann in last spring's Division II meet. Ben Bonhurst can score points in the shot put.

Bayport-Blue Point and Amityville battled it out for both a league and a county championship in the winter season and more of the same can be expected in the spring.

Bayport-Blue Point is the defending Division III champion. The senior-heavy group is highlighted by Harry Martin. Martin specializes in the 400 and 800, but can score in anything in the 100-1,600 meter range. As if that isn't enough, Martin also can long and triple jump.

SEE PHOTOSBoys and girls track athletes to watch

Amityville won the winter small schools championship and fell by only four points to Bayport-Blue Point in last spring's Division III meet. Senior Vincent Jackson specializes in the 400. Robert Stafford joins Jackson in the 400, along with sophomore Travon Duncan. Triple jumper Jahmal Burt and hurdler O'Neil Armstrong will also contribute.

Sayville's Christopher Belcher, fresh off a winter state 55 title, will be a force in sprinting events.

In Nassau Class A, it's all about Valley Stream North. Not only have they won six of the last seven county titles, they are 99-0 in league meets in the last seven seasons, according to coach Tim Boyens.

The quest for another county title will start with the performance of five key seniors. Joseph Cafaro and Leonardo Puerto can shine on the track. Cafaro is a hurdler and Puerto excels in middle distance events. Demesvar Destin and Curtis Mensah will lead Valley Stream North in the long and triple jumps. Paul Acosta can score in throwing events.

Hewlett won Class AA last season. Senior Kevin Dehaney competes in the long, high and triple jump. Brian Chambers and Dimitri Baptiste excel in the 1,600 and the 800. Windell Blake runs both the 200 and 400. Senior Ago Akinnowanu can throw both the discus and the shot put.

In the CHSAA, Chaminade will look to ride the momentum of a winter Intersectional Championship to a solid spring season. Sean Kelly, Thomas Slattery, and Gunnar Nolan lead a talented crew of Flyer distance runners.