New York City produced some of the top athletes in the nation and state.
Columbus’ Whitney Fountain and Cardozo’s Chamique Francis continued to put their names with some of the best athletes in the country. Fountain, leaves a legacy of success that will be tough to match, while Francis, a junior continues to add to her lore, which included another set of PSAL indoor and outdoor titles for the Judges. Midwood’s Imani Oliver was the state’s best triple jumper. Dalton, which does not have a home track, took home its second Ivy League title in three years.
Athlete of the Year: Whitney Fountain, Christopher Columbus
Fountain ended her high-school career as one of the most accomplished athletes ever in New York City history. The Clemson-bound star owns the indoor state record in the 55 meter dash, the 200 and the pentathlon, which she shattered this season. She ran the nation’s fastest time in the 300 meters and the 55 dash indoors, which was also a PSAL record, and the state’s best mark in the 200 outdoors. She won PSAL titles in the 200, 400 hurdles and the pentathlon outdoors.
Coach of the Year: Gail Emmanuel,
Benjamin Cardozo
The Judges have become the standard for success in the PSAL under Emmanuel, but this year’s route was different. Cardozo, which is nationally ranked, won its fourth straight indoor crown and third consecutive title outdoors, but did so with its usual core of stars surrounded by young talent that Emmanuel helped develop. In a year where Medgar Evers was believed it could have pushed the Judges, both championships were won convincingly.
ALL-CITY FIRST TEAM
Adrienne Alexander, Bishop Loughlin
The sophomore was the city’s premier shot putter. She won the CHSAA intersectional championship both indoors and outdoors, and was ranked third in the state in both seasons. Alexander placed third at the Penn Relays in the event.
Chamique Francis, Cardozo
The star junior led the Judges relay to indoor and outdoor PSAL city titles and was the anchor leg of their national champion 4 x 400 meter relay. Francis ran the state’s fast time in the 400 meter both indoors and outdoors and in the 100 meters dash. She placed second in the 400 at the New Balance outdoor national championships
Phyllis Francis,
Catherine McAuley
The Oregon-bound senior won the 800 meters at the National Scholastic Indoor championship in 2:07.54, the state’s fastest time. Francis won CHSAA intersectional titles in 300 and 600 indoors and placed third in the women’s 400, in a field of former Olympians at the Millrose Games.
Malekah Holland, Bishop Ford
The senior won the CHSAA intersectional title in the 400 meters in a personal best time of 55.72, also the fifth fastest time in the state this season. Indoors she placed first at the Brooklyn/Queens championships in the 300 and was second in the 1000.
Ahtyana Johnson,
Cardozo
Cardozo wouldn’t be celebrating two city titles and a national championship 4 x 400 relay without the junior, who ran a stellar second leg all season. Johnson ran the state’s fastest 400 time indoors and outdoors. She also ran the state’s ninth best mark in the 55 meter dash indoors.
Imani Oliver,
Midwood
The Princeton-bound senior, who is striving to compete in the next Olympics, was the state’s premier triple jumper. She swept the Brooklyn, PSAL and state championship in the event. Her season best jump was 41 feet 9 inches to win her the PSAL outdoor crown. She placed seventh at the National Scholastic indoor championships.
Lateisha Philson,
Cardozo
Philson battled through injury late in the season, but the freshman still had a fine year. Philson won the indoor state championship in the 55 meter hurdles in 7.94. She won her second straight PSAL 100 meter hurdles titles and ran the state’s second best time in the event, 13.79, in the preliminaries of the New Balance Outdoor Nationals.
Alaine Tate,
Bayside
Tate, who will run at Hampton next year, excelled during all three seasons. She finished third at the PSAL cross country championships. She swept league’s 1,500 meter titles, running the state’s eighth fastest time of 4:39.45 indoors. Tate also claimed the PSAL 1,000 meter crown indoors.
ALL-CITY
SECOND TEAM
Akayla Anderson,
Benjamin Cardozo
The freshman placed second at the PSAL city championships in the 55 and 100 meter hurdles, the second giving her a top five time in the state. Anderson was also fourth in the 100 hurdles at the outdoor state meet.
Kadecia Baird,
Medgar Evers
Only a ninth grader, Baird placed second in the 100 meter dash in the ninth fastest time in the state at the PSAL outdoor championships. She was also a member of Medgar Evers’ national level 4 x 400 and 4 x 200 relay teams.
Melissa Caddle,
Canarsie
The senior won the 55 meter dash at the PSAL indoor championships and clocked the seventh fastest time in the state. Caddle came in third in the 100 and 200 outdoors.
Camille Edwards,
Medgar Evers
Edwards won the PSAL city title in the long jump indoors and placed second in the event outdoors. The junior was also third in the 55 meter dash at the outdoor city championship meet.
Amanda Spoto,
St. Joseph Hill
The Dartmouth-bound senior won the CHSAA intersectional title in the discus. Spoto won the discus and the shot put at the Mayor’s Cup and placed fourth in the shot put at the indoor state championships.
Brittany Spoto,
St. Joseph Hill
Spoto, a freshman, was by far the best javelin thrower in the state. Her throw of 120 feet 8 inches was five feet better than the next best. She won the CHSAA intersectional and Mayor’s Cup titles.
Corrine Williams, Bishop Ford
The senior won CHSAA intersectional titles in the 100 and 200 meters outdoors. During the indoor season, she placed first in the 55 dash and was second in the long jump at the intersectional meet.
HONORABLE
MENTION
Mariah Claudio, St. John Villa
Katherine Currier, LaGuardia
Shanique DaSilva, Bishop Ford
Rachel Leeke, Medgar Evers
Rene Lewis, Midwood
Jalilissa Marcus, Bishop Loughlin
Alexis Murray, St. Francis Prep
Daniella Olusoga, Christ the King
Terese Thompson, Health Professions
Jillian Williams, Dalton
