Westhampton Beach Boys, Girls Track Return Strong Teams This Spring

One of the first things John Broich was quick to mention about the Westhampton Beach girls track team last week was his roster — he opened the season with over 80 student-athletes — an impressive number given the state of girls sports in the spring at the school that boasts strong girls lacrosse and softball teams as well. It’s also one of the biggest squads Broich has entered a season with in his 30-plus years of coaching.

The girls not only have numbers, though, they have talent returning in just about every event as well. One thing those numbers have seemingly helped, though, is the throwing group. For the first time in quite a while, the Hurricanes have a strong throwing group of about a baker’s dozen or so, led by Lucy Mansfield and Kylie Way. Mansfield took second place in the discus in the Hurricanes’ season-opening 96-44 victory at home over Comsewogue on Friday.

Halle Geller is a returning All-County sprinter and will be ranked among some of the top runners in the county once again this spring. Twin sisters Annabelle and Evangeline Wasser will help out in the sprints as well as the hurdles. Madison Phillips will continue to compete in the hurdles also, and when it comes to invitational and postseason meets, she’ll continue to compete in the pentathlon. Broich said Phillips is also gearing up to compete in the heptathlon at the 19th annual New York Relays on April 21 and 22.

Anabel Velloso will continue to run in the short distances, such as the 400-meter dash, and Sydney Beardslee and Emily Tully will continue to compete in the 1,500-meter race walk. Beardslee took a big step forward this past winter, competing in numerous postseason meets in her main event.

Lily Strebel is poised to have a big spring after a big winter in which she qualified for both states and nationals in the 1,000- and 1,500-meter races. She’ll compete in the 800 and 1,500 this spring. Broich said Strebel has been entered into the prestigious Penn Relays set for April 27-29.

Oona Murphy and Jamie Kelly will continue to run long distances for the Hurricanes and Hollie McAllister will look to steal some points for the girls in the pole vault.

Westhampton Beach will compete in League V this season with Comsewogue, East Hampton, Eastport-South Manor, Half Hollow Hills West and Hauppauge.

“We’ve got the target on our backs and everyone will be looking to run their best against us since we were county champs in the winter,” Broich said. “So we can’t overlook anybody.”

The Hurricane boys this spring will be led by a pair of strong distance runners in Trevor Hayes and Max Haynia. Haynia is on record stating his goal in his final athletic season is to once again qualify for both states and nationals, which would make it all three seasons (cross country, indoor track, outdoor track) in which he accomplished that feat.

Hayes is coming off strong fall and winter seasons as well, where he reached states in both seasons. Last spring, he competed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the state qualifier for just the second time ever and wound up placing second. He’ll run the steeplechase at invitationals and postseason meets and run in the mile during dual meets. Hayes and Haynia also form a formidable half of a 4x800-meter relay team, one that won a Small Schools title this past winter, along with Ezekiel McCary and Adrian Caumartin. Westhampton Beach boys head coach Joe Mensch expects the team to be in contention at postseason meets this spring as well. Marcus Haynia, Max’s younger brother, saw a big improvement during the winter and should help add depth to the mid to long distance runs.

Nick Simonetta will be a strong sprinter in the 200- and 400-meter dashes for the Hurricanes this spring. Edward Barr-Forget reached the county meet in the hurdles last season and is returning. And Mensch likes the throwers he has returning in Jordyn Brown, Jack Henderson and Jack Kelly. One key loss, Mensch said, was losing pole vaulter Colbie Mason to graduation.

Like the girls, the boys will compete in League V this season with Comsewogue, East Hampton, Eastport-South Manor, Half Hollow Hills West and Hauppauge. Their first meet was Tuesday at Comsewogue and then they host East Hampton/Pierson/Bridgehampton on Wednesday, April 5.