Welch, Nerud lead North Shore to girls track title

The North Shore girls track team has become a program for all seasons.

After making its mark as a team dominated by distance runners, the Vikings have proven they also can compete in field and sprint events.

Led by Duke-bound senior Brianna Welch and sophomore Brianna Nerud, North Shore won the Nassau County Class A track and field championship at Mitchel Athletic Complex Wednesday. It was the third county title this school year for North Shore, which took the Nassau overall cross country crown and the Class B indoor championship.

"Our girls are very versatile," said Welch, who won the 800 (2:21.3). "Brianna Nerud ran the 400 hurdles, the steeplechase and ran amazing in cross country."

Nerud won the 2,000-meter steeplechase (7:08.5) and the 400 hurdles (1:06.9). North Shore's Charlotte Manogue won the 1,500 (4:55), Samantha Nadel took the 3,000 (10:16), and its 4x800 relay team (Gabriella Vezza, Elizabeth Caldwell, Jessica Donohue and Danielle Muoio) and 4x400 team (Emily Osman, Welch, Manogue, Nadel) also won.

In girls Class AAA, Massapequa's versatility helped it to a first-place finish over a resurgent Uniondale team. Massapequa's winners included Lauren Kappleman in the triple jump (36-4¼), Emily Marchini in the 1500 (4:44.6), Shannon McBrien in the 800 (2:18.4) and Heather Sweeney in the long jump (16-7 ¾).

Uniondale was led by Vanessa Martin in the 200 (25.7). Hempstead's Tinique Samuel won the Class AAA shot put (35-5 ¾).

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In Class AA, Garden City finished on top as Emily Menges won the 400 (56.1) and Emma Gallagher the 2,000 steeplechase (7:44.2).

Roslyn's Emily Lipari won the 1,500 (4:40.6) and 3,000 Class AA titles, Westbury's Marlene Ricketts won the triple jump (40-2¾), and Elmont's Valencia Hannon won the 100 (12.2) and was part of the winning 4x100-meter relay team.

The heat played a factor as several runners acknowledged feeling dehydrated.

"It was very difficult today," said Seaford's Joe Lasher, who took first in the boys Class A 3,200 (9:28) on Tuesday and first in the 1,600 (4:27.9) Wednesday. "I definitely ran way slower than I wanted to. The heat affected everybody, so I got a little lucky."

MacArthur's Matt Granata also felt the heat. After winning the Class AAA 800 on Tuesday, Granata sprinted to a first-place finish in the 400 in 48.1 Wednesday.

"It was tougher today," Granata said. "But hearing the crowd on the last stretch was a boost."

Floral Park's Justin Wilson cleared a career-best 6 feet, 10 inches to win the Class A title in the high jump.

Other Class A winners included Wheatley's Josh Haghighi, who took the discus (169) and shot put (54-2) championships and Locust Valley's Marc Mauro, who won the 200 (21.3) and 100 (10.8).

Westbury, led by Owen Skeete, repeated as Class AA champions. Skeete finished first in the 3,200 (9:30.6) and 1,600 (4:27). Westbury's other winners were Jair Edwards in the long jump (20-10¼) and triple jump (44-2½), Hugh O'Brien in the discus (148-8) and Darnelle Mickens in the 100 (10.9) and 200 (21.4).

Farmingdale took home the boys AAA title, led by Vincent Fratto in the discus (156), Morten Chambers in the long jump (21-6¾) and Jezeil Roman in the pole vault (13-0).

Massapequa's Andrew Valenski took first in the Class AAA 3,200 in a school-record time of 9:30.6.

Mineola (73) edged Valley Stream South (71) for the Class A title.