Syosset edges Baldwin for Nassau AAA title

With the Nassau AAA championship down to the final event, it was fitting that the championship came down to a near photo-finish of a race between Baldwin and Syosset. And when the dust settled, it was Syosset who saved its best for last.

Syosset took second in the 4 x 100 in a season-best 45.3 seconds to take home its first Nassau Class AAA title in seven years Thursday at Westbury. The Braves had 96 points to edge Baldwin (91). Uniondale (66) was third.

Hewlett won the AA championship with 94 points, and Valley Stream North scored 122 points to take the A title. Syosset led Baldwin 88-87 entering the 4 x 100 -- the final event of the evening. The team of Nick Ouassil, Jatan Anand, Gregory Vartanov, and Angelo Hunter took second, edging fourth-place Baldwin (45.7 seconds) to take the team championship.

"I just kept my eyes open and my head up high," Hunter said. "I didn't feel any pressure at all."

Simon Nwana took first in the 1,600 (4:27.2), while the 4 x 800 team of Nwana, Michael Wilkens, Dale Mittelman, and Ouassil won in 8:06.2. Wilkens also won the pole vault at 13-0, and the throwing trio of John Aronson, Evan Kappatos, and Brian Sheng went 2-3-4 in the shot put for the Braves. "This one was a lot more balanced than our title from 2005," Syosset coach Bart Sessa said.

North Shore girls win again. Call it a triple triple-crown. North Shore took home the Class A championship at Westbury to complete their third straight triple crown -- county titles in cross-country, indoor track, and outdoor track. The Vikings scored 126 points. Valley Stream North (95) took second.

MacArthur won the girls AAA championship with 111 points. Garden City won the girls AA title with 155 points.

SEE PHOTOSNassau track and field championship

Brianna Nerud (4:37.3) and Samantha Nadel (4:48.2) went 1-2 in the 1,500, while Elizabeth Caldwell took the steeplechase in 7:09.3. The 4 x 100 team of Lea Farrell, Erin Sheerin, Brittany Farkouh, and Taylor Farkouh won in 52.4 seconds for the Vikings. "Everybody just feels really accomplished, like all our hard work is paying off," said Nerud, who also won the 400 hurdles on Wednesday. "It just shows how our team is so cohesive, that we can do it in all three sports."