By Christopher Hunt
They all looked at each other with a mix of excitement and confusion. It was the kind of face that asks, “Did that just happen?”
Mount Vernon rolled out its “B” team in the girls 4x400 in a race that was essentially Suffern’s to lose. The way it was supposed to work was that Suffern would put its best team in the 4x400 and Mount Vernon would stack a team for the 4x200.
Then Kenina Bonner unexpectedly moved with her family to Florida and the Knights were down a leg. Sophomore Tanaya Yarde pulled out of the 300 meters to give Mount Vernon a chance in the 4x400. It worked out perfect for Mount Vernon.
Yarde sprinted by Suffern’s Jen Clayton on the second leg and the Knights went on to upset Suffern in the 4x400 at the Section 1 state qualifier Saturday. Mount Vernon finished in 3:59.43 with Michelle McCrae (60.1), Yarde (56.2), Myla Allen (61.3) and Shantay Beccam (61.8).
“We didn’t know what we were going to,” Yarde said. “Our coach put names on a paper and basically told each of us who we were supposed to run with. We just pulled through.”
Mount Vernon girls coach Walter Hall knew he fielded a solid team but he even expected more from the field.
“I thought we could break four minutes,” Hall said. “But I’m looking at the other teams and I know that can run under four minutes and faster.”
The girls 4x400 was the most unexpected of Mount Vernon’s sweep of the boys and girls sprint relays Saturday. But as expected, Robbi Rodgers, Shamika Mindingall, Lexus Harney and Deajah Stevens won the 4x200 in 1:42.93 for Mount Vernon.
The boys relays were still feeling the effects of two disqualifications at the Class A championships that ultimately cost Mount Vernon it’s first sectional under first-year coach Marcus Green. The Knights would have won both relays at the Class A meet but was flagged for a lane violation in the 4x200 then called for a uniform violation in the 4x400.
“It was a big disappointment,” said Rawle Crawford, who anchored Saturday’s 4x400 then lead off the 4x200 minutes later. “I remember going home that night and thinking about that over and over. We really wanted to come back and prove that we have the best relays in the section.”
And they did. Kareem Anderson (50.8), Nazarene Jones (50.7), Davon Moore (50.7) and Crawford (50.3) won the 4x400 in 3:22.50, holding off Suffern in second in 3:22.69. Then two events later, Crawford, Christopher Winslow, Darrian Burnside and Michael Blake won the 4x200 in 1:33.06.
Blake snatched the baton in third place and engulfed the leaders on the backstretch before pulling away. Blake also won the 300 in 35.46. Crawford said he has no doubt the team can repeat the double at the state meet.
“This is what we train for,” Crawford said.
Mount Vernon’s Kaydon Davis also won the shot put in 56 feet. Clarkstown South’s Joe Fox finished second in 53-4.25. Yorktown’s Carter Humphrey and Manu Kumar both won tactical races that turned into frantic finishes. Humphrey claimed the 600 in 1:23.33 and Kumar won the 1,000 in 2:34.84.
North Rockland’s Tim Mendez (1:59.7), Nick Bien-Aime (2:00.7), Dylan Landry (2:01.4) and Alex Andre (1:59.4) won the 4x800 in 8:01.32. Scarsdale’s Arthur Whyte won the 55 hurdles in 7.61.
Suffern’s Clayton won long jump in 19-6.25 and said she is hoping for another 20-foot jump at the state meet. Peekskill senior Nicole Cummings won the girls 55 hurdles in 8.29 and cleared 17-11.50. Cummings wasn’t pleased with either performance but was confident she could rebound next week.
“I have a lot of bad days and I have good days,” she said. “I think states will be one of the good days.”
Bronxville’s Henrietta Miers dropped a five-second personal best, winning the 1,000 in 2:55.27. Miers worked her way from third before taking over on the bell lap. Jessica Kenzor of Kennedy finished second in 2:56.72.
“It went out really quick,” Miers said. “I wouldn’t say I was uncomfortable but I was a little bit out of my element. I just tried to stay with them and once I got into second I just kept building momentum and I know I have a pretty strong kick.”
It was a similar approach that Arlington’s Haley McMahon took to win the girls 1,500 in 4:36.46.
“At first I wanted to run the 1,000 but my coach thought I should run the 1,500,” she said. “Last year, I ran really well at state quals and then bad at states. I did the same thing outdoors. The 1,500 is more of a real race. My coach (Steve Arnett) and I really feel that I’m ready and that I can run with the big girls.”
Mount Vernon freshman Stevens, gingerly won the girls 300 in 39.24 followed by Mindingall in 40.46.
Reach Christopher Hunt at chunt@armorytrack.com.