2020 All Long Island Track and Field Team Released

SELECTION OF THE 2019-2020 ALL LONG ISLAND INDOOR TRACK AND FIELD ATHLETES

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 2019-2020 indoor track and field season. Performances throughout the season were analyzed, discussed and debated with an emphasis placed on achievements in the season's championship meets (County, Intersectional and State) along with the Long Island Elite Invitational.

Three athletes were selected for each individual running and field event to comprise 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd team All Long Island. Athletes who could have qualified for selections in multiple events were assigned one selection in their most outstanding event. The committee has also awarded 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd All Long Island selections in the 4x200, 4x400, 4x800, sprint and distance medleys and the shuttle hurdle relay.

The 2019-2020 indoor track and field season was another strongly successful campaign for the athletes of Long Island and was highlighted by the committee's selection of the two Most Outstanding Athletes of the Season in Andre Leslie (Farmingdale) and Analisse Batista (Huntington).

With his 6.30 second victory in the 55 at the Long Island Elite Invitational, Andre Leslie broke the Long Island and New York State Junior record for the event. His season also included victories at the Nassau County A Championship and Section VIII State Qualifier, along with a 2^nd place finish at the State-Federation Championships. Analisse Batista also captured a runner-up finish in the State-Federation Championships, running to a 1:32.05 finish in the 600. This capped off an impressive season of victories at the Suffolk County Championships, Section XI State Qualifier and Long Island Elite Meet, all in the 600, to go along with 56.79 victory in the 400 at the Ocean Breeze HS Invitational. Both of those times ranked as the fastest on Long Island this season.

In regard to the Most Outstanding Sprinter of the Season, the committee selected a pair of 300 meter New York State Champions who each possessed the fastest time run on Long Island this season in Cavel Campbell (Hempstead) and Gianna Paul (Walt Whitman). Campbell saved his best for last with his 34.44 performance in the State Championships at Ocean Breeze. His season also included victories at the Nassau County A Championship, Section VIII State Qualifier and Long Island Elite Meet. Paul mirrored those accomplishments with victories of her own at the Suffolk County Championship, Section XI State Qualifier, Long Island Elite Meet and Bullis Speed Invitational. Likewise, her fastest time of the season, 39.15, was attained in the State Championship Final.

For the Most Outstanding Distance Runner of the Season, the committee went with a duo of Suffolk County athletes in Michael Danzi (Smithtown) and Sarah Connelly (Mt. Sinai). Danzi's season highlight was attained at the State Championships when he went to the lead early in the 1000 and led until breaking the tape at the finish line in 2:29.96. That time was the fastest this season by a Long Islander and joined his victories in the Suffolk County Championships in the 1000 and 1600. Connelly's season ended with a pair of All State performances in the 1500 (7^th - 4:41.25) and 3000 (3^rd - 9:38.10) to add even more accolades onto one of the best high school track and field careers in Long Island history. This season Connelly came away victorious in both events at the Suffolk County Championships and Section XI State Qualifiers to go along with victories at the Ocean Breeze Holiday Festival (2 mile), Stanner Games (3000) and Long Island Elite Meet (1500). Her times in the 1500, mile and 3000 all rank as the fastest on Long Island from this season.

Finally in the field component of the sport, the committee honors Nicholas Pisciotta (Commack) and Soledad Jean (Half Hollow Hills East) as the Most Outstanding Field Event Competitors of the Season. Pisciotta's weight throw launch of 75-6 won the State Championship by four feet and was the furthest throw of the season by a Long Island athlete by an astounding thirteen feet! This season he also captured victory at the Long Island Elite Meet, placed as the weight throw runner-up at the prestigious Millrose Games and was the Suffolk County Champion in the shot put. Jean claimed a nearly perfect record in the high jump winning 8 of the 9 times she competed in the event this season and highlighted by a 5-8 victory at the State Championship. That leap was the highest on Long Island this season and completed a season where she also claimed victories at the Suffolk County Championships, Section VIII State Qualifier, Long Island Elite Meet and two high quality invitational meets held at Ocean Breeze.

The Long Island Track and Field Coaches Association would like to congratulate all of ourAll Long Island athletes on their memorable and successful indoor track and field campaigns. Future All Long Island selections for track and field will be made annually after the conclusion of each season.