Faldermeyer throws big, Arlington breaks record
By Christopher Hunt
photo at left by Tim Fulton
NEW ROCHELLE – Alec Faldermeyer knew he popped a good one. Or at least the throw felt good. So he waited for confirmation.
“I saw them run out of tape,” the Minisink Valley sophomore said.
Faldermeyer won the hammer throw in 200 feet, 11 inches, his personal best. The tape measure officials used maxed out at 200 feet. So they needed to find a new one for Faldermeyer’s throw.
“It was awesome,” Faldermeyer said. “I knew I could do it so I just had to keep working hard and get it done.”
The sophomore said he had been throwing 200 feet and farther in practice but his success hadn’t transferred over into competition yet. But he kept his throws Saturday over 190 feet consistently and finally produced the toss he coveted.
“I tried to contain myself,” he said. “I definitely feel like I can throw farther. I just need to get in the weight room. That’ll make the difference.”
On the other end of the field, Arlington junior Sean Reilly also topped a barrier he’d been seeking all season. He won the high jump in a personal-best 6-9 on his second attempt. He didn’t miss an attempt until his first try at 6-9.
“I’m pretty happy,” Reilly said. “My first attempt was pretty close. I knew I would make it. I’ve been stuck at 6-8 for a while.”
Reilly heads into the state meet at one of the top competitors in the high jump. His jump is the second best in the state. Reilly though, says he’s confident of his chances at a state championship.
“My jumping consistently gives me an advantage over those guys that jump big height once and never do it again,” he said. “I’ve been pretty consistent all season.”
Arlington also won the 4x1 mile relay in a 17:48.52 with Dan Kane (4:40.1), John Mueller (4:23.3), Jared Leslie (4:22.1) and Adam Doherty (4:22.9). The time is a Dutchess County record. They said they were aiming for the Section 1 record of 17:45.15 by Byram Hills set at Easterns last year.
“We ran pretty well,” said Leslie, who put Arlington in the lead after Mueller closed a big gap on Iona Prep. “We wanted to get a good time. This was like a test run for nationals. It was good given the conditions.”
The conditions didn’t seem to bother Terrance Livingston of Great Neck South. He ran a personal best, 48.07 while winning the 400 meters. The race served as some last minute speed work before Livingston races in the 800 at states.
“I wanted to run the fastest time in the state,” he said. The state leader is currently 47.72 by Troy Faulkner of Curtis. “it felt slow to me in the beginning. In the end I felt like I had a good kick. I’m ready to bring it at states.”
Livingston will be among the favorites in the 800. O’Neill’s Robb Quiller will also be one of the top competitors in the pole vault. He won the event in 15-2. It was only his second time taking his full approach in the pole vault this season.
“I say any day I don’t get injured is a good day,’’ he said.
A nagging hamstring injury hasn’t allowed him to vault in practice at all so most of his training has been geared toward the 400 hurdles. He finished second in the 400 hurdles as well in 56.37. He’ll compete in the pole vault, 400 hurdles and 4x400 at states.
“I think I can pull it off,” he said. “I’ll have to play it by ear and see what time permits. Hopefully events don’t overlap like it normally does.”
New Rochelle’s Chris Rones won the 110 hurdles in 14.67. Somers senior John Turro won the 1,600 in 4:23.20.
Reach Christopher Hunt at chunt@armorytrack.com.