By Christopher Hunt
photos by Jacob Bergmeier
WHITE PLAINS – It wasn’t a tactical race. It was a waiting game.
Liverpool’s Zavon Watkins goes out hard. So does Columbus sophomore Strymar Livingston. Mike Quercia of Marcellus has the best credentials of them all.
But Quercia was waiting for Watkins or Livingston to lead. Livingston waited for Watkins or Quercia. Watkins did the same. So they trotted along in an uncomfortable pack until Watkins decided to pull away and string things out.
A 56-second first lap turned into a mad dash at the bell lap. Watkins tried to hold them all off but Quercia simply followed Watkins then moved on the home stretch to win the 800 meters at the Loucks Games in 1:51.09 at White Plains Friday to lower his state-leading time.
“I knew I just didn’t want to lead,” Quercia said. “I figured it would just take it easy and then unleash my speed with 200 left.”
The only thing that showed more patience than than Quercia’s first lap was his right arm, which was completely covered in tattoos – temporary tattoos. Before a dual meet Wednesday, Quercia, who committed to the University of Texas, spent two and a half hours applying 110 temporary tattoos, which included multiple Spiderman tattoos and Disney characters. The tattoos went from his shoulder to his wrist.
“I thought it would be fun,” he said.
Watkins finished second in 1:52.55, three-hundredths of a second off the sophomore state record. Livingston was clocked at 1:52.22 but was called for interference after pushing passed Watkins on the inside on the home stretch and was disqualified. The sophomore state record is 1:52.25 set by Guilderland’s Brian Rhodes-Devey in 2005.
In the shot put, Morristown (N.J.) junior Nick Vena shattered the meet record, tossing 70 feet, 8 inches on his last attempt to win the shot put. Vena was coming off a career best meet at the NW Jersey Athletic Conference championships, where he tossed a junior class national record 72-10.50 Wednesday, the best throw in the country this season.
Most of his throws ranged around 66 feet Friday, until he unleashed the 70-footer on his last try.
“I wouldn’t say it was a rough day,” Vena said. “I managed to get the ball straight today. Even when I threw 72 feet, the ball was still going off to the left. So that’s something that was good. I just need to continue to work on things and improve.”
Vena normally hasn’t been able to attend the Loucks Games because it conflicted with his conference meet but without the conflict this year, Vena crushed the meet record of 64-11.75 set by Tappan Zee’s John Hickey in 2005 and was even able to sign a few autographs before he left the throwing area.
North Babylon’s Berfrantz Charles was the only double-winner Friday. Charles, who has been dealing with a troubled hamstring and ailing knees, only took two attempts in the long jump. His first one, 22-8, was enough to win.
“I was just waiting to see if someone beat that jump,” he said. “I knew I didn’t want to jump anymore because my knee was hurting and I wanted to concentrate on the 100.”
His plan worked. Charles also won the 100 in 10.93 just ahead of Bellport’s Jaquan Holland, who was second in 10.94 and Darnelle Mickens of Westbury, third in 10.97.
“I had a good start but Jaquan was right there next to me,” Charles said. “I knew he would be coming and he was right there. The faster he went, the faster I went. I’m just happy I could hold him off before the finish line.”
Greene’s Chad Noelle lowered his state-leading time, winning the 3,200 in 9:07.95. Owen Skeete of Westbury was second din 9:14.68.
Reach Christopher Hunt at chunt@armorytrack.com.