Port Jeff's Keresztes reigns in 800

Rain, wind, snow and hail are nothing more than words to be found in a dictionary when it comes to track and field.

Although it wasn't quite a monsoon yesterday, there was enough wind and rain to affect performances of nearly every athlete on Day 1 of the Suffolk Boys division championships at Connetquot.

There were gripes from some parents and a few coaches concerning the weather, but the athletes did what they were supposed to do: compete.

Port Jefferson's Andrew Keresztes, who won the Division III 800-meter championship in 1 minute, 56.95 seconds, didn't allow the adverse conditions to faze him.

"I just try to ignore the weather conditions and keep warm before every race. That's about all you can do," said Keresztes, whose time was tops among all three divisions. "Staying loose and warm is the best way to fight the weather."

Rocky Point's Zach LeCates took second in 1:57.41.

Longwood's Joe Fuller won the Division I 800 championship in 1:57.73. He edged Northport's Tim Odin (1:57.4) in a photo finish.

SEE PHOTOSSuffolk Boys division championships

Half Hollow Hills East's Greg Perrier won the Division II 800 in 1:57.71 ahead of Hills West's Kyle Sammis (1:59.29).

The runners weren't the only ones who had weather issues as the discus throwers also had to find a way to overcome the elements.

Shoreham-Wading River's Mike Clancy apparently had no problems.

The senior won the Division III discus title with a career-best toss of 141 feet, 2 inches. He won the event on his last throw of the afternoon.

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The outcome had been in doubt for Clancy, whose previous throw of 133-9 placed him in a three-way tie with Port Jefferson's David Grier and Kyle Sanders of Amityville.

"It was kind of weird with all of us having the exact same throw, but I knew all of us were capable of doing better than that," Clancy said. "So I just had to throw hard on that last attempt."

Clancy's previous career best was 138.

Deer Park's Andrew Bylicki won the Division II discus title with a toss of 153-6, edging Huntington's Trayvon Toney (153-3).

In other races, Sachem East's Alex Saavedra ran to a first-place finish in the Division I 3,200 in 9:34.12, Connor Crowley (Bayport-Blue Point) won the Division III 3,200 in 9:38.26, and North Babylon's Kris Moran was the Division II 3,200 champion (9:35.23).

Ryan Satchell won the Division I triple jump (45-81/2). Bay Shore's Kadesh Roberts finished second (43-111/2), followed by Mike Cotton (43-11) of Longwood.

Day 2 of the Suffolk boys division championships is Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Connetquot.

Day 1 of the Suffolk girls division championships is Tuesday at 3 p.m. at Connetquot.