It was quite a year for Brooklyn.
Sheepshead Bay won its first-ever PSAL title indoors by edging Midwood. The Hornets returned the favor outdoors for their second ever city crown. Robeson’s O’Neil Sandiford dominated at the state and national level in the high jump and Midwood’s 4 x 100 relay team won a state title outdoors.
Over in the CHSAA, Fordham Prep claimed its third consecutive indoor intersectional title and Cory Duggan was one of the nation’s best pole vaulters.
Athlete of the Year: O’Neil Sandiford,
Paul Robeson
A year ago, Sandiford’s brother David warned of O’Neil’s endless potential. It was realized this season. The Robeson junior became the state’s elite high jumper, one capable of competing on the national level. He won the state and PSAL titles in the event in both the indoor and outdoor season. His best jump of the season, 6-feet 11 inches, gave him the victory at the prestigious Penn Relays. Sandiford twice cleared on his final jump in order to stay live in the competition. He became the first athlete from New York City to win it there since 1973.
Coach of the Year:
Marc Cohen, Midwood
Cohen remembers taking over as head coach four years ago when his current, special group of seniors were freshmen. That’s what he thought about when the Hornets rallied and persevered to claim their first-ever PSAL outdoor title and just the second track city crown in school history. Midwood, which saw its 4 x 100 outdoor relay win a state crown, also won a Brooklyn indoor championship along the way. Cohen got the most out of a group he has helped groom for so long.
ALL-CITY FIRST TEAM
Kareem Crawford,
Curtis
The senior only began hurdling last spring, but it didn’t stop him from developing into one of the state’s best. The Coppin State-bound Crawford’s smooth technique allowed him to win the PSAL titles in the 55, 110 and 400 meter hurdles this year. He finished the season with the state’s best time in the in the 55 and 110 hurdles.
Cory Duggan,
Monsignor Farrell
The UConn-bound senior followed in his long family tradition of great pole vaulters by clearing 16 feet. Duggan won the state indoor title, was second at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships and claimed the CHSAA intersectional crown indoors and outdoors.
Chukwuebuk Enekwech, Francis Lewis
The junior let his talent shine in the spring. He won the PSAL outdoor title in the shot put with a toss of 52 feet 10.25 inches and dominated the discus. Enekwech placed third at the state outdoor meeting with a toss of 158-4, the eighth best distance in the state this season.
Eddie Owens,
Packer Collegiate
The junior was one of the city’s most accomplished distance runners. He won the NYSAIS cross country championship and the indoor and outdoor titles in the 3200 meters. Owens however, shined in the 2000 steeplechase. His season-best time of 6:00.28 placed him third at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals.
Donald Williams,
Midwood
The SUNY Albany-bound senior was the consummate leader. Running hurt he led his team to the PSAL outdoor title, by winning the 100 meters. He placed second in the race at the state championships and led the school’s 4 x 100 team to the state crown. Williams also was the PSAL champion in the 55 dash.
Jason Stapleton,
Curtis
Stapleton overcame an injury plagued junior season to have a fine senior campaign. He won the PSAL and Mayor’s cup cross country titles. Indoors, he was the league champion in the 1600 and 3200 meters and helped Curtis claim the PSAL Staten Island crown. In the spring, he was the PSAL city champ in the 3000 steeplechase.
John Thomas,
Sheepshead Bay
It was an up and down season for the South Plains College-bound senior. Thomas though put it together outdoors. He won the PSAL championship in the 200 meters with the state’s third fastest time of 21.24. Indoors he led Sheephead Bay to their first PSAL title, by placing second in the 55 dash and third in the 300.
Daniel Zaccariello,
St. Joseph by the Sea
Zaccariello has a laundry list of accomplishment. He won the CHSAA Intersectional title in the 1600 meters in both the indoor and outdoor season. He also claimed the league’s 1000 crown indoors and was second outdoors in the 3200. Zaccariello was the anchor leg of Sea’s 4 x 800 relay that ran the state’s third fastest time indoor at 7:49.03.
ALL-CITY
SECOND TEAM
Richmond Ahadzi,
Sheepshead Bay
One of the state’s premier hurdler ran his best time in the 55 meter hurdles indoors. It helped lead Sheepshead to a PSAL city championship.
Rolyce Boston,
Sheepshead Bay
Boston won the PSAL outdoor title in the long jump with a leap of 23 feet 8 inches. It was the third farthest in the state and tops in the city.
Sean Collins,
Archbishop Molloy
The Stanners senior on the 110 and 400 meter hurdle titles at the CHSAA outdoor Intersectional championships. His time of 14.54 was sixth best in the state placed him second at the Eastern States Championships.
Andre Jordan,
Medgar Evers
The junior placed second in the 300 meters indoors and the 200 outdoors at the PSAL city championships. His best 300 time of 34.08 was good enough for third best in the state.
Strymar Livingston,
Columbus
The sophomore finished third in the PSAL championships and fourth at the state meet indoors in the 600 meters. He ran the sixth-fastest time (1:53.65) in the state in the 800 outdoors.
Winston McCormack, Mount St. Michael
The senior won the CHSAA intersectional titles in the 100 and 200 meters. McCormack also recorded a third-place finish at the intersectional meet indoors.
Olukayode Owolabi, Midwood
The senior was the city’s premier triple jump winning both the PSAL indoor and outdoor titles. His season-best leap of 49 feet 6 inches helped the Hornets win their first outdoor city title.
Davion Wint,
Columbus
The junior won the PSAL title in the 300 meters indoors with the state’s fastest time of 33.94. Wint was also third at the city championship meet outdoors in the 200.
ALL-CITY HONORABLE MENTION
Shevoy Bleary, Thomas Jefferson
Adam Civitano, St. Joseph by the Sea
Jose Farley, Sheepshead Bay
Bryant Gordon, Packer Collegiate
Jeremiah Kobena, Cardinal Hayes
Michael Lester, Fordham Prep
Jason Mathews, St. Francis Prep
Andy Nicholas, Midwood
Daniel Simon, Boys & Girls
Will Weinlandt, Regis
