VSC's Imbert wins state high jump title

ITHACA, N.Y. - Joanne Imbert said she came to the state track and field championships at Cornell University Saturday with a lot of nervous energy.

If she had any jitters, you couldn't tell by looking at her face.

The Valley Stream Central senior took home the Federation title in the high jump in stoic fashion with a burst of 5 feet, 8 inches.

It was the second straight Federation title for Imbert, who captured the outdoor high jump last spring. "I try not to show the emotion," Imbert said. "As soon as I show it, it starts messing me up."

Imbert cleared every jump until the bar was raised to 5-9. But by then, she already was crowned the champ. Schuylerville's Sarah Palmer, who finished second, missed on all three attempts at 5-8.

Winning was an important achievement for Imbert, who hadn't been jumping well lately.

"I haven't been clearing 5-8 lately, so this is very exciting for me," she said.

Imbert was joined in the winner's circle by Harborfields' Kelsey Margey, who won the 1,500 meters in 4:34.34.

Margey's strategy has always been a simple one. Run with the pack and start the final kick on the final lap. That wasn't the case Saturday for the junior.

"A couple of races this season I outkicked everyone at the end," Margey said. "I didn't want to risk that today."

Margey took control of the race with three laps to go and held off North Shore's Brianna Nerud, who finished second in 4:36.28. "I ran cross country for the first time," Margey said. "I felt like I had more endurance than speed, so I tried to use that to set the pace."

Shoreham-Wading River's Danielle Opatovsky added to Long Island's list of winners with a first-place finish in the 1,500 walk.

Opatovsky finished in 6:51.59, ahead of Bay Shore's Jennifer Halloran and Molly Josephs of Garden City, who finished third and fifth, respectively.

In other races: North Shore's Samantha Nadel continued her fine season with a second-place finish in the 3,000 (9:33.41), ahead of Ward Melville's Mary Kate Anselmini, who was third (9:48.85). Holy Trinity's Colleen Schmidt finished fifth in the race in 10:03.77.

Michelle Anthony of Kellenberg finished second in the 55 hurdles in 8.15, Uniondale's Britney Webley finished fifth (8.39), and Freeport's Danielle Martin finished third in the 300 in 40.66.

Elmont's Valencia Hannon took third in the 55 meters (7.13), followed by Essence Rogers of Bay Shore (7.24) and Manhasset's Emily Easton (7.26).

St. Anthony's Olicia Williams finished third in the 1,000 (2:52.77), Shoreham-Wading River's Shannon McDowell was fourth in the 600 (1:36.22), and Rachel Paul of Sachem East was fifth in the 1,000 (2:53.39).

In the field events, Northport's Sara Ronde was fourth in the long jump (18-31/4), Longwood's Imani White finished fourth in the shot put (39-81/4) and Farmingdale's Jennifer Cajou was fourth in the triple jump (37-81/4).

North Shore finished second in the 4 x 800 relay in 9:16.15 and St. Anthony's was third (9:20.25). St. Anthony's led all Long Island teams with a second-place finish in the 4 x 400 (4:00.18), and Garden City took third in 4:00.8.

In the 4 x 200, Bay Shore (1:44.72) and St. Anthony's (1:44.74) were third and fourth, respectively.