It’s been a long time since local indoor track teams have competed locally on a regular basis.
Teams haven’t competed regularly at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point since before the COVID-19 pandemic, but this year, area teams will be back at West Point for regular league meets.

The season-ending NYS qualifying meet will remain at the NYC Armory.

The Valley Central boys’ team sent the 4x200-meter relay team to the state meet last year and will enter the season this year having lost Azaziah Marshall, Shaun Brown and Jude Remenar to graduation.

Returning athletes include Derek Vincent and Kyle Grimaldi. Newcomers include Ayden Smith and Aaron Frias.

The Vikings are looking to win their division, qualify another relay team to the state meet and qualify three individuals for the upcoming state meet.

“We’re a young team and getting better each day and meet,” Valley Central coach Patrick Kemp said. “It’s exciting to watch everyone, especially our young distance runners.”

The Valley Central girls’ team sent Ava Carsley to the state meet last year, where she played seventh in the Division I 1,500-meter run. Catherine Primavera was an alternate for Section 9 intersectional relay.

Carsley has graduated, along with her sister, Sophie Carsley, and Riley Conan and Angelina Vargas.

Returning athletes include Ayla Andrews, Grace Burns, Sarah Del Pilar, Isabella Dinino, Emily Frank, Mackenzie Lennon, Kaelyn Marcano, Zialyse Mosely, Samantha Norman, Primavera, Sydney Remenar and Isabella Wade.

Kelsey Burke, Azzuriah Cozard, Grace Del Pilar, Lennon, Primavera, Rebecca Sibley and Wade are seniors.

“These athletes have been with our program for numerous years, have shown great leadership and have helped make the program as successful as it is today,” Valley Central girls’ coach Allison Borriello said.

The Vikings have sent female athletes to states in each of the last three years and are looking to bring those same athletes – and possibly more – back to the state championships.
“Our goal this season is to be a competitive team within our section,” Borriello said. “We have a great blend of accomplished upperclassmen and incoming freshmen that are ready to compete.”

Pine Bush
The Pine Bush boys’ team, which finished second in the division last year, lost quite a few athletes, including Alex Kozlowski, Jared Urena, Jack Mooney, Dan Gray, Ethan Heit, Elijah Cruz, Aidan Steele, Colby Zupetz, Logan Ceiley, Mat Kadanthod, Jacob Crawley, Xavier Bacchus, Kyle Zelonis, Lavon James.

Returning are Nicholas Burgess, Andres Martinez, Plexico Brooks, Luke Broadbelt, Jake Schorling, Shawn Riquelme, Nathan VonDeben, Josh Dymond, Jaden Robertson. Javon Davis, Justin Moses and Jack Fowler will be new to the team.

Third-year coach Anthony DiMarco said the team’s goals are to continuously improve every athlete and build off last year’s success.

“We want to continue to make a name for ourselves as one of the most competitive programs in Section 9,” DiMarco said.

With their vast array of graduated seniors, the Bushmen will have a different makeup with a lot of freshmen and sophomores that DiMarco believes have a lot of potential.

“We are certainly going to have to work harder than ever to keep up with the upperclassmen that we will be competing against,” he said. “I firmly believe my team will be up to the task.”
The Pine Bush girls’ team was third in the division, second in Section 9 and had three girls competing at the state meet.

Sienna Hunter, Jada Falu and Alina Zanetti graduated from last year’s team and three standouts returners: Pole vaulter Ella Galloway, jumper Madison Williams and distance runner Shaylen Goslar.

Courtney Flynn, Kenania Rutty and Alana Gooden are new to the team.

“Our team has some very talented and ambitious athletes,” second-year coach Robin Renahan said. “Our captains are setting a strong example of what it means to be a committed varsity-level athlete. I am very proud of the progress we are making on our team in terms of dedication and attitude. These girls are amazing.”

Wallkill
No Wallkill Panthers qualified for last year’s state meet and one of the goals for coach Leo Sladewski – in his 30th year – is to get some athletes there this year.
Sladewski coaches both the boys’ and girls’ teams.

Distance runner Jake Craypo, sprinter Rey Robinson, thrower Connor Bruschki and hurdler Aliyah Gaston have graduated off last year’s teams.

Returning for the girls team are distance runners Caitlyn Murphy and Maria Morales, sprinters Giada Post and Miranda Padilla, and jumpers Leah Martini, Elena Sindt and Mayah Simon, and thrower Ariceli Ospina. Sprinters Jason Collazo, Gifford Austin, Zion Davis and Uriel Wright; jumpers Nagen Evans and Mason Birdsell; thrower Harold Brugemann; and distance runners Josh Craypo, Mario Verruto, Luke Fragetta and Finn Reiter return for the boys.

Distance runners Emma DiLemme, Emma Haughian and Ruth Weinmann will join the girls’ team along with sprinters Brianna Merrill, Alyson Mazariego; hurdlers Ella Russell and Jessie Foster. Jumper Jayden Boafo, distance runner Ryder Kilpatrick and sprinter Jamison Warren will join the boys’ team.

Sladewski said the girls team has a lot of talent coming off last year’s modified team, while much of the boy’s team is returning. The boys will look to improve on last year’s division and section finish.

The Panthers also will add two new coaches in distance coach Richard Samuels and sprint coach David Melick, both recent collegiate runners and graduates of SUNY Cortland. They will join assistant coach Jennifer Gravelle.

“It will be awesome for athletes to have so much experience added to our program,” Sladewski said.