By Christopher Hunt
WHITE PLAINS – They had to know it was coming. Alex Leuchanka said he figured Arlington’s John Muller had to know. They’ve raced each other enough times.
That’s why Muller tried to drag the kick out of Shenendehowa’s Leuchanka with 600 to go. That’s what Leuchanka needed though. He needed to be in the race it became frantic because he knew – they knew too – that he had the best leg speed in the bunch.
“Kyle (Satterwhite of Western Albemarle) made a move with two to go and then John (Muller) passed him pretty quickly. I figured they knew I was gonna kick.”
Leuchanka followed. He followed Satterwhite’s move and then covered Muller’s, poising himself for a monster kick that gave him the win the in 3,200 meters at the Loucks Games in 9:10.68, the second-fastest time in New York State this season.
“I’ve been working on that kick for three years,” Leuchanka said.
Great Neck South’s Terrance Livingston didn’t need to go into a frantic kick but he also needed to work his way from behind en route to winning the 800 meters in 1:52.50. Livingston has made no secret about his intentions to break 1:50 this season but after a slow start – 56 seconds at the 400 mark – Livingston had to change his priority.
“After I saw that, I knew it wasn’t going to happen so I just went for the win,” he said.
Eric Fontanez of Hilton took the pace-making duties from the gun with Livingston and Iona Prep’s Sean Halpin relegated to the rear of the pack after the first 100 meters. Livingston worked his way into second, 10 meters off Fontanez, while Halpin made a strong surge on the far curve on the first lap to catch up.
“My legs just didn’t’ have the spring at the start,” Livingston said. “I felt like I was going to feel good today but once I warmed up and started doing strides I just felt heavy. I wanted to (run fast) but I can’t fight my body.”
Livingston said he never went into an all-out kick and was encouraged by a strong finish where he held off a charging Halpin at the end. Halpin finished in 1:53.61. Livingston will compete in the 400 meters today.
St. Anthony’s senior Michael Mastanduno struggled to secure a legal attempt in the long jump, only having two legal jumps out of six. He did manage to get a measurement on his first attempt though and he made it count. Mastanduno won the long jump in a personal best 22 feet, 10 inches.
“I’m very happy,” Mastanduno said. “I’m a little disappointed because of the fouls but that’s my best jump by six inches. I feel honored to even be here.”
Ossining senior Jesse Drinks, who committed to Connecticut two weeks ago, won the 100 in 10.98 through a -3.3 headwind. Drinks, knowing he’s run faster, was satisfied with the race considering that it could have been over almost before it started.
“I stumbled out of the starting blocks,” he said. “I dropped back to fourth or fifth and for a split second I thought, ‘Oh no, it’s over.’ But I knew I just had to fight my way back into it.”
Much the way he did when he won the race last year, Drinks chopped down the lead and edged ahead of Sachem North’s Anthony Quezada just before the line.
“I saw myself catching up and I just gave it once last jolt,” he said. “I just gave it all I had.”
Commack senior Mike Levine also set a meet record in the discus, tossing 185-2, topping a 1997 record of 180-0 by Sal Gigante of Iona Prep.
Reach Christopher Hunt at chunt@armorytrack.com.