See this story at BrooklynDaily.com.
By Joseph Staszewski
Brooklyn Daily
Midwood’s Billy Hector wouldn’t be denied the lead twice.
The senior tried to surge past Mohamed Bah of Curtis going into the final turn of the boys’ 1000 meters only to be held off. Hector wasn’t discouraged. He kept coming and eventually pushed pass Bah over the final 40 meters, leaning across the finish line for the win.
“When I finished through I knew I got it,” Hector said. “I kept my running form good and finished at the line. I didn’t stumble. I finished strong.”
He won the race with a time of 2:32.29 in the closest race of the day at the Public School Athletic League indoor track and field championships at the Armory last Saturday. Bah was second with a razor close 2:32.34. Hector was also part of the winning 4 x 800 relay team with Khadeemo Castello, Jacob Zolotarevsky and Ikechukwu Egbunam with a season-best time of 8:07.07. Hector said he worked too hard not to claim gold in the 1000.
“I was training so hard for this, Hector said. “I wanted to be a city champ.”
Kangroos’ Rose takes home two gold medals: Boys & Girls star Richard Rose got to call himself a champion twice. The junior cruised to a victory in the 600 with a time of 1:18.61, the fourth-fastest high school time in United States history. Rose was admittedly tight heading to the 300, but won in 34.07. He held off a valiant effort from Medgar Evers’ Semasa Oni (34.28).
“I made sure I left a little bit more for the straightaway,” Rose said.
Sheepshead Bay’s Deslandes takes home first indoor hurdles title: Sharks junior Powel Deslandes can now consider himself the man to beat when it comes to hurdles in the PSAL. He followed up last year’s outdoor crown with a first-place finish in the 55 hurdles indoors with a time of 7.64. Deslandes pulled away over the final two hurdles.
“Toward the end of my race I get faster,” he said. “I just wanted to keep attacking the hurdles and just finish strong.”
Samuel Tilden’s 4 x 400 relay team of Kyle Baptiste, Paul Clarke, Kwasi Applewhite and Nathan John took gold with a time of 3:23.05. Back on the girls’ side, Paul Robeson sophomore Amanda Crawford won the 300 in 40.0.