Wilson ties career best in high jump

Floral Park's Justin Wilson took a step toward accomplishing a major goal.

The senior tied a career-best mark as he cleared 6 feet, 10 inches to win the high jump Saturday at the Nassau Coaches Invitational at Westbury High School.

Wilson was hoping to clear 7-feet, but missed on three attempts.

"I think I should've taken a step back," Wilson said. "I felt like I was getting to the bar way too fast."

Copiague grad Tyrek English cleared 7-feet last spring at the Smithtown West Invitational.

Wilson, the 2010 NYSPHSAA state indoor high jump champion, was "satisfied" with his jump, but said he has a long way to go. "My goal this year is to get to 7-2," he said.

Wilson said he was helped by Sewanhaka's Isaiah Pollack, who took second with a career-best jump of 6-6.

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"He's like my brother," Wilson said of Pollack. "We both push each other so we can jump higher."

Baldwin's Ieshawn Johnson was a double winner, taking the discus with a career-best throw of 176 feet, 2 inches and the shot put in 48-111/2.

Baldwin had two other winners in Karl Desil, who took the 400 hurdles in 57 seconds and Kirk Staine in the 400 in 49.2.

Westbury's Owen Skeete won the 3,200 in 9:40.01, Uniondale's Brandon Duncan took first in the 110 high hurdles (15.9), and Long Beach's Josh Trone ran to a first-place finish in the 100 in 10.7.

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In girls events, North Shore's Brianna Nerud won the 1,500 (4:43.9) and the 800 (2:16.5), and teammate Samantha Nadel won the 3,000 in (9:54.7).

New Hyde Park's Neigelle Francisco won the 100 (12.3) and the 200 (25.5). MacArthur's Kelly Clifford won the high jump (5-3), and Westbury's Tiara Mitchell won the triple jump in 37-10.