Clinton's boys and girls sweep PSAL track championships.

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Author: Benjamin, Barbara1

DeWitt Clinton's boys and girls track & field teams have earned the bragging rights that come with being the 2004 PSAL Track and Field champions. It's two years in a row for the girls, as they racked up 56 points to best A. Philip Randolph, who finished with 50 points. The Clinton boys had 57 points, seven better than second-place East New York Tech's 50 points.

Clinton's Danete Wright contributed 20 points to the girls' win with her outstanding performance in both track and field events. She earned 10 first-place points, running 8.34 in the 55m hurdles and another 10 points with her winning 5'4" in the High Jump event.

DeWitt's dynamic duo of Dwight Crooks and Jamel Williams got 14 points in the 300m dash on Dwight's 34.53 win, including four points from Jamel's fourth-place 35.13 finish. They both ran legs on the 4x400 relay, joining Charles Phipps and Jeremy Alvarez in a first place 3:18.36 finish over South Shore's 3:18.87. South Shore still holds the PSAL record of 3:17.49, which they set at the 2001 championships.

Most of the drama at the Armory is drawn to the track events. Everyone watches for that moment when a runner comes from behind to challenge the lead runner and surges ahead for the win. So while all eyes were elsewhere, in the center of the track, Shane Smith from Lafayette H.S. quietly soared to a record-breaking height of 14'3" in the pole vault competition.

Noteworthy performances were put in by the girls from Murry Bergtrum. The girls epitomize what track and field is all about. Their speedy junior Jessica Clarke won the 300m dash at 38.73, then returned to run the leadoff leg in the relay team's win in the 4x200 at 1:43.01. For the happy quartet, winning is good, but it's not everything. They echo each other in saying they appreciate and enjoy the spirit to work hard to rise to the competition, noting the support they get from each other and other teams.

"More importantly," said Shana Brown, who anchors the team, "sharing this experience is where lifelong friendships begin."

The four girls see running as a stepping-stone to earn college scholarships. "I'm looking forward to the outdoor season, and then it's off to college," smiled Shana. "I want to be a psychiatrist and work with young children in early child care."

As high school competition is coming to an end for Shana, the baton is being passed to freshmen like Chanelle McGregor of Boys and Girls H.S. Chanelle's mother Aliza ran for John Adams and her father Michael ran for his school in Kingston, Jamaica. They know firsthand the benefits the competition of track can bring.

"I'm looking forward to just getting better," said Chanell who ran a 5:01.28 to win the 1500 meter run.

PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): A.P. Randolph's Natasha Hastings' absence from the PSAL Indoor Championships was felt by her team, who finished six points behind Clinton. Natasha was in Boston, where she ran to make the U.S. National Indoor Team. The team is in Budapest competing in the World Indoor Championships. Meanwhile, Dwight Crooks of Clinton was a big winner in the 300 meter dash, setting a new PSAL record of 34.53, breaking Melville Rogers' (Transit Tech) 2002 record of 34.54.

PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Basil Leslie of Grady makes a hard drive to the hoop as Pristan Jobity of Jamaica tries to slow him down. Grady beat Jamiaca 88-45 to advance to this Saturday's quarterfinal game against Tilden at St. John's.

PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): Jean Pierre of Tilden, after missing five layups, made this one count in overtime as his last-second shot helped Tilden slide past Frederick Douglas Academy 56-54.

PHOTO (BLACK & WHITE): The Murry Bergtrum girls winning (1:43.01) 4x200 meter relay team. From left: Jessica Clarke, Cassie Harris, Ashley Pringle and Shana Brown.

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By Barbara Benjamin