6 Photos
Maizie Poulakis of Hampton Bays made the podium and earned All-State honors in the pole vault. MICHELLE MALONE PHOTOS
Timothy Kraycar of Hampton Bays competed in the shot put at states.
Westhampton Beach's Max Haynia finished 10th overall in the 3,200-meter run at states.
Westhampton Beach's Max Haynia.
Maizie Poulakis of Hampton Bays made the podium and earned All-State honors in the pole vault. MICHELLE MALONE PHOTOS
Bryona Hayes of Hampton Bays in the 400-meter race.
Hampton Bays junior Maizie Poulakis was hoping to break her personal record in the pole vault, and while that wasn’t an option for her at the state track and field championships at Cicero North Syracuse High School on Saturday, June 11, with a clearance of 9 feet, 6 inches, the junior finished tied for third in Division II.
“She had a great day overall,” head coach Kevin O’Toole said. “She was moving the pole very well, and continues to get better with each competition.”
The placement earned Poulakis All-State honors. The vault matched her personal record set at the state qualifiers a week prior at Comsewogue High School in Port Jefferson Station.
“She went upstate hoping to get a shot at 10 feet to tie the school record, but the progression had the bar going from 9 feet 6 inches to 10 feet 6 inches, making it challenging to notch another PR for the season at this meet,” her coach said.
Four Baymen in total left their mark at the sate competitions. Senior Bryona Hayes placed ninth in Division II in the 400-meter dash, blowing away her No. 13 seed she entered the race with. She clocked in at 1 minute, 1.56 seconds.
“Conditions were not ideal — the wind was whipping in all directions and fighting through that was tough, but her strength brought her through and she placed second in her heat, only about a second off of her PR from last week at the state qualifiers,” O’Toole said, referencing her 1:00.68 finish at Comsewogue. “This was a great performance for her.”
Freshman Asha Pensa-Johnson placed 12th in Division II with a throw of 96 feet 8 inches in the discus.
“Although not a PR for her, just getting to the state meet as a freshman is an enormous accomplishment, and one that should be celebrated,” O’Toole said. “She has a long career ahead of her, and I know that she will be back up to the state championships ready to go again soon.”
Senior Timothy Kraycar, who competed in the shot put, hurled the ball 39-06.75, good for 14th place.
Westhampton Beach junior Maximus Haynia, who also took part in the state meet, placed 10th in the 3,200 run with a time of 9:20.14.
