WHITE PLAINS — The timing, Ryan Sykes said, “was not ideal.”
When the Horace Greeley junior stepped to the starting line of the boys 3,200 Friday during the 58th Loucks Games at White Plains High School, he was tired.
Earlier in the day, he’d taken not one but two college advanced placement exams. With history and macroeconomics behind him, he had eight laps in front of him and Sykes wasn’t sure what to expect
“I told myself to try to do my best,” he said.
Sykes did exactly that.
With 28 competing in the 3,200 he ran a two-second personal-best 8:49.71 to win.
The time is No. 2 in the state among high school boys.
The win is another rebound step from a fall and early winter Sykes will best recall for what he wasn’t doing — running.
Sykes was laid up by injury and illness — sometimes one, sometimes both.
“I was actually doubting myself (when out),” said Sykes, who has been one of the area’s and state’s best distance runners since his freshman year.. “I was kind of in my head a little bit. But I’m just really grateful to be back It was hard not running and training and being out there. I’m proud of how I’ve come back and handled that adversity.”
Sykes, who said he’s fully recovered, is scheduled to run the boys mile and 4×800 relay during Loucks’ main and final day on Saturday.
More winners and strong performances
This year’s Loucks Games has attracted athletes from 10 states and two Canadian provinces.
Winning and even placing are a big deal, since this is one of the nation’s premier outdoor high school track and field meets.
With a long — and, unfortunately, probably wet day ahead Saturday — area athletes have already won multiple medals and even a few winning statuettes.
Locals dominated the 46-athlete boys long jump.
Sleepy Hollow’s Dariel Llitera Picardo jumped 23-4.25 for the win. Teammate Brayden Richardson went 23-0 for silver
North Rockland’s Carlos Eliezer (22-8.5) was third and Iona Prep’s Marko Matesic (22-3.75) was fourth.
Hen Hud senior Chloe Howard captured the girls 1,600-meter racewalk in 8:04.62. Clarkstown South’s Kelley Ivancich was fourth (8:25.54).
Scarsdale’s Adriana Pettinelli ran 2:08.4 and Horace Greeley’s Malina Santee ran 2:10.44 to finish second and third, respectively, in the girls 800.
The boys 200 medal list was peppered with local names.
Poughkeepsie’s Nahzy Avent finished third in 21.64 with Nyack’s Asa Signorile fourth (21.92).
Scarsdale’s Labrown Browne also ran well in sixth at 22.06 to beat Fordham Pre’s Kaiden Rusk (seventh place, 22.39) to the line.
Sophomore buddies Sophia Savatgy of Hen Hud and Elisa Crisp of New Rochelle medaled in fourth and fifth place, respectively in the girls 200, clocking 24.55 and 24.59.
Clarkstown South’s Connor Sullivan was fourth out of 44 starters in the boys shot put at 56-5.
Hastings’ Danae Morgan threw a better than two-foot personal best in taking third in the girls shot put.
Suffern’s JD LLoyd McKenna was fourth out of 64 in the boys 400, running 1:52.43.
Thursday’s opener
The Loucks Games is a three-day meet, although, Thursday’s opening day had only limited high school varsity events.
But that didn’t mean the day wasn’t noteworthy. Multiple meet records were set during this year’s Loucks Games and one belonged to Masters.
Christopher Possible, David Morris, Mason Rosenblatt and Henry Frasca combined to run a meet-record 3:27.91 in the boys East Coast sprint medley relay.
Suffern’s Jamarih Cantave, Jake Tarrant, William Lynch and Micheal Cromwell clocked 3:33.3 for third. in that event
New Rochelle’s Alexis Smith, Alivia Smith, Olivia Solomon and Elisa Crisp ran 4:04.62 for second in the girls East Coast SMR.
Hackley, which has emerged this year as a strong program, also had a big day.
Caitlin Morrow, Ashley Hollingsworth, Emma Curran and Macey McLane captured silver in the girls distance medley relay in 12:19.89.
Teammates Michael Baez, Will Patrick, Alfie Adams and Henry Prescott ran 10:38.43 to medal in fifth place in the boys DMR.
While not a varsity race, the women’s masters mile had a distinct high school tie. Charlotte Rizzo, 63, the mother of four former Bronxville runners, won in 6:31.09.
Nancy Haggerty covers sports for The Journal News/lohud.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Greeley’s Ryan Sykes wins 3,200 in personal best at Loucks Games
Reporting by Nancy Haggerty, Rockland/Westchester Journal News / Rockland/Westchester Journal News
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