Mount Sinai's Kate Del Gandio wins 100-meter hurdles, 200-meter dash

Kate Del Gandio was out of sync from the start. It was just one of those days – an early meet, a bit of a late arrival to the track, and a quick starting event – it was almost too much to bear. But, as the top hurdler in the state, it was nothing that the Mount Sinai senior couldn’t handle.

“My warm-up was very rushed because we got here a bit late, but that was out of our control,” Del Gandio said. “I just didn’t get to do all of my pre-race rituals. I just felt very rushed today and, honestly, a little nervous.”

Yes, even state champions get nervous.  But, Del Gandio, who won the indoor state championship in the 55-meter hurdles in March, showed that, even with a few hiccups, there isn’t much slowing her down these days. She won the 100-meter hurdles in 15.39 seconds and the 200 meters in 26.05 at the Suffolk Coaches girls track and field Invitational at Bay Shore High School Monday.

Del Gandio’s 200 time was the eighth-fastest in the state this spring. She already has the top 100-hurdle time in the state, running a 14.68 in Port Jefferson earlier this month, according to milesplit.com

Del Gandio is no different from any high-performing athlete who likes the conformity of a routine.

“When I warm up, it’s the same order of drills every day,” she said. “I only do three run throughs, no matter how they are. I can’t do more than that. I even have to wear the same leggings and socks every single time. It’s just how I am.”

The routines clearly work and, even when they don’t, Del Gandio showed Monday that she’s still pretty fast.

“I just made sure that I took a lot of deep breaths, try to shake it out and calm the nerves a little bit,” she said.

Elsewhere. East Islip’s Olivia Simonetti won the 400-hurdles in 1:09.91 and the high jump, clearing five foot, two inches. It’s the fifth-fastest 400-hurdle time in the state this spring and tied for the fourth best high jump clear, according to milesplit.com.

“Before the race, my coach came up to me and told me I had to try to get out fast and hold on for the last 200 meters,” Simonetti said. “I went out and was focused on getting in a good spot.”

Simonetti began running the 400-hurdles last spring, she said.

“I wanted to run that race to get more experience, since it’s a newer race for me,” she said.

Bay Shore’s Ella Lehmann won the 1,500 in 4:50.51, the senior’s first win at an outdoor invitational since she joined the track and field team in eighth grade, coach Steve Borbet said.

Lehmann changed up her usual strategy Monday, trailing the lead and kicking late in the race  instead of taking it out in front and trying to hold on.

“Last week [at the Nassau Coaches Invitational], I led the whole race until the last 600 (meters),” Lehmann said.  “The girls passed me, and I didn’t go with them. So, I’ve been trying to work on that. I’ve been staying in the back, instead of the front pack ,and then go and chase.” 

Smithtown West’s Laina Friedmann won the 800 in 2:25.01.