NHS track athletes going to States

Four members of the Newark Indoor Track & Field team qualified for the New York State Championships this past Saturday at the Section 5 Meet of Champions at Hobart College.

Jennifer Stevens (pictured), Lois Jenkins, Dwyane Parker, Jr., and Bill Barcomb will compete March 7 at Syracuse University's Carrier Dome.

Stevens, who a week earlier won the Class B Sectional title in the 3000, won the Meet of Champions in the same event. Stevens, who broke the school record at West Point earlier in the season with a 10:40.8, won the State Qualifter in a time of 10:49.9. Last Fall Jennifer became Newark's first-ever Sectional Cross Country champion and competed in the State Championships in that sport. "Jennifer has a real streak going," said Coach Joe Contario. "We've had a few kids go on to the State Meet in both Cross Country and Indoor Track, but never had ayone win both."

Both Jenkins and and Parker placed third in the 55 meter Dash but met a qualifying standard to get into the State Meet. "Most people assume that New York City has the best sprinters in the State. Actually, Section 5 has won the short sprints in the State Championships, both indoors and outdoors, probably 10 of the last 12 years. For an athlete to qualify from Section 5 they have to be really good!," commented Contario. Jenkins (a 10th grader) ran the 55 in 7.4 seconds, while freshman Parker covered the distance in 6.4.

Barcomb placed third in the 1000 meter run. At the State Meet he will run on the Intersectional Relay made up of the third-place finishers from the 300, 600, 1000, and 1600 meter races. He qualified last year for the same relay. "I'm really excited to be going to the State Meet again. It's a great experience."

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