Plainview, NY - Representatives from the Nassau and Suffolk County Track Coaches Associations, NSCHSSA and USATF Long Island have come together to select the All Long Island athletes for the outdoor track and field season. Performances throughout the season were analyzed, debated and discussed with an emphasis placed on achievements in the championship meets (County/Intersectional, States, Nationals).
Three athletes were selected for each individual running and field event to comprise 1st, 2nd and 3rd team All Long Island. Athletes who could have qualified for selections in multiple events were assigned one selection in their most outstanding event, although some exceptions were made for athletes who were substantially ahead of the next possible selection. The committee has also awarded 1st, 2nd and 3rd All Long Island selections in the 4x100, 4x400, 4x800, shuttle hurdle, sprint and distance medley relays. The 2017 outdoor track and field season was an extremely successful one for Long Island, highlighted by the committee's selection of the three most outstanding athletes.
Daniel Claxton (Smithtown East HS) retains his honor from the indoor track and field season, as the most outstanding male athlete. On the female side, the committee has chosen to have co-most outstanding athletes with the honors going to Paige Keefer (West Babylon HS) and Katherine Lee (Shoreham Wading River HS).
Daniel Claxton culminated his outstanding high school career with an individual national championship in the high jump off his clearance of 7-0 ¼. Besides the Penn Relays Invitational, where he placed 4th, Claxton was undefeated this season in his signature event. At the Suffolk County Championships he had his season best with a launch of 7-1 ¾ and surpassed the seven-foot barrier on four different occasions. Claxton also reigned as the New York State Champion in the high jump (7-0) and possessed the seventh highest jump of anyone in the United States this season.
Much like Claxton, Paige Keefer saved her best for the end of the season where her 2:05 800m leg anchored West Babylon to the National Championship in the 1600 Sprint Medley Relay. If there weren't enough, she then had an encore in the 4x800 relay also anchoring her team to a 5th place finish and All American status. When analyzing her amazing season, being successful in multiple events was a staple of Keefer's. At the New York State Championships, she was victorious as a member of the 4x400 relay, while also capturing All State honors in the 800 (3rd) and 4x800 (4th). Rounding out her season were individual division championships in the 800 and 1500, as well as a victory in the always hotly contested St. Anthony's Invitational 800.
Katherine Lee, a junior, was also one amassing tremendous success on the National level with impactful anchor legs on the National Championship 4x800 (8:51.43) and 4xMile (20:00.59) relays for Shoreham Wading River. Each of those relays finished with the fastest time run in the United States this season, with the 4xMile relay combining for the 4th fastest event time in high school history. Individually, Lee had a pair of All-State performances with her 2nd place finish in the 1500 (4:23.48) and 3rd place showing in the 3000 (9:26.78). Those times were the fastest in the United States by an 11th grader in this season and provide a glimpse into more extraordinary accomplishments to come next year during her senior campaign.
The Long Island Track and Field Coaches Association would like to congratulate all of these outstanding athletes on a memorable and successful outdoor track and field campaign. Future All Long Island selections for cross-country, indoor and outdoor track and field will be made annually after the conclusion of each season.