WEST POINT -- Nothing prepares one for the spectacle of the NYSPHSAA Indoor Track Championships staged at the gorgeous Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. Far and away the nicest indoor track and field venue in New York State, it has been the site of the extravaganza for the past few years and is slated to be home to the event for the foreseeable future.

Featuring the top athletes from the state's 11 public school sections in addition to NYC's Public School Athletic League (PSAL), the Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) and the Independent Schools Athletic Association (ISAA), the report of the starting gun throughout the day on the track signals the races that will produce the NYSPHSAA and Federation medalists and champions. Federation medalists and champions include the combined league contestants.

This year Sullivan County is sending five talented athletes to vie for medals in their events.

Monticello freshman hurdler Taina DeJesus finished second in the state qualifier with a time 8.63 to earn her berth at states. She will first run in the preliminaries and hopefully qualify for the finals. She is an outstanding competitor with a virtually limitless future. This spring she will excel in the 400 hurdles.

Monticello is also sending two athletes in the 1600 in Steve Bello and Evan Waterton. Bello finished second at the state qualifier in 4:30.08. Waterton reached the state as the third finisher who had met the state standard. His time was 4:30.72.

Fallsburg's Dolce McPherson continued her stellar season by taking second in the 300 with a time of 41.98.

Rounding out the county quintet going to states is Sullivan West's Roan Gillingham whose second-place time at the state qualifier of 36:11 constitutes a new school record.

See the March 10 issue of the Sullivan County Democrat to find our how these fine athletes did. Congratulations to Sullivan County runners, jumpers and throwers who competed at the state qualifier including Tri-Valley's Devin Mullen, Andrea Decker, Adam Furman, Daniel Rush, Sullivan West's Paige Parucki and Emily Bair, Eldred's Jaxon Stutz, Liberty's Brooke Roth and Fallsburg's Gisella King all of whom placed in the top 12 of their events at the state qualifier.