STATEN ISLAND – It is a fact of life that when it comes to talent, everything is relative. Nowhere is that more apparent than at a state championship event like the one held at Ocean Breeze Athletic Center, the site of the New York State Public High School Athletic Association (NYSPHSAA) Indoor Track State and Federation Championships, featuring the best of the best from across the Empire state. 

Hopes ran high for the five Sullivan County athletes who earned a trip to this annual clash among the New York State’s elite runner, jumpers and throwers. Truth be told, the indoor track season, which pits Section IX athletes mostly against one another, offers only partial preparation for what they will encounter when the starting guns go off at states. Most, if not all of the five, evinced their personal best at the state qualifier, but the competition at the state meet evinced their relative place in the state hierarchy. 

That included the county’s best athlete, Tri-Valley’s Adam Furman who hoped his performance in the 3200 would be yet another milestone in his storied career. But alas, it was not to be. Furman finished 11th with a time of 9:20.89, nearly two seconds slower than his 10th place finish a year ago in 9:18.85 and considerably below his PR time of 9:12.39 at this year’s state qualifier. 

The race was won by Furman’s familiar foe Colin Gilstrap of Monroe-Woodbury who clocked a blistering time of 8:58.66. His time of 8:57.39 clocked at the state qualifier afforded him the fourth fastest time in the nation this winter. 

Furman had qualified for the 1600 as well but chose not to run. His intention now is to rest up and gather his strength and determination for spring track after an exhausting winter. Though he qualified for Nationals, he will forego that as well, putting this winter behind him. Knowing his fierce intention and self-discipline, plus the advantage in spring of going up against the Class D field instead of the entire array of state athletes, a promising coda to his literally miraculous career looms ahead. 

For three of the other county competitors, namely Monticello’s Taina DeJesus in the 55 hurdles, Homestead Collaborative College’s Gabriela Armonte in the 55 dash and Fallsburg’s Gabriella King in the 300, their hopes of vying for a top eight medal expired in the preliminary heats. DeJesus missed the finals with a tenth-place finish and a time of 8.74 which was a PR for her, eclipsing her best time this season of 8.91 recorded at the state qualifier. 

Last year at states DeJesus ran an 8.92, a 34th place finish. Look for her this spring to turn heads as she vies in the 400 hurdles. Armonte finished in 26th place overall in the 55 dash with a time of 7.50. She had turned in a PR time of 7.37 in the prelims at the state qualifier which had ranked her 33rd in NYS. To give you a sense of the relative speed of the competitors, Sariah Doresca of Baldwin H.S. sped to a 7.02 finish, the state’s fastest time in the event this year but 19th in the nation. The fastest time in the nation is held by Shawnti Jackson of Granville, NC, an uncanny 6.67. 

Fallsburg’s Gabriela King finished 31st in the 300 prelims with a time of 43.08. She had turned in a PR of 42.22 at the state qualifier. Relatively speaking, like most of the other county competitors, King was up against the state’s elite. The race was won by Gabrielle Cummings of James Madison H.S. in a time of 39.17. Cummings beat out the state’s number one ranked 300 sprinter Ashley Fulton of Elmont Memorial H.S. whose time of 38.48 at a prior meet was the state’s fastest time this winter. 

Tri-Valley shot putter Armaan Butler, who had qualified for states with a throw of 44-00.50, fouled on all his throws and sadly did not register a place in the event. Butler’s prior throw distance would have availed him a 14th place at states had he been able to repeat it. The event was won by Matthew Auble of Warsaw with a throw of 58.1.25. Auble holds the state’s best throw this year, a mighty 60-65. The nation’s best is far better, recorded by Bishop Strang H.S in Massachusetts by Jacob Cookingham at 67-4.50. 

When it comes to greatness in track and field, as in other walks of life, clearly everything is relative. Kudos to our five local standouts for their great efforts and success. In the final analysis, the measure of success is how well a person does against their own prior level of achievement. In that regard, these five are champions beyond the pale. Now it’s on to spring and a fresh chance to rise to the occasion.