Townsend Harris High School of Queens scored well, prevailed, showed its strength in some events, and Tuesday captured the Queens Public Schools Athletic League (PSAL) outdoor borough championships. Harris picked up 118 points and host Bayside High scored 94 for second place, almost 30 more than Springfield Garden’s third spot of 63 in a field of 18 scoring schools on a delightful, slightly windy afternoon.
A few athletes did extremely well by posting doubles with their parents cheering them on.
“We had some fast times during a good meet,” said Garrett Lynch, in his fourth year as director of the PSAL for track and field. “It was a very competitive meet and had exciting performances,” said Lynch.
In particular, the 400-meter run was very exciting and close with four athletes going under 50 seconds in a field of 48 competitors, in six heats.
Franklin K. Lane’s Dan Villaman in an exciting finish won the 400-meter run in a time of 48.60 to 49.10 in the sixth and fastest section.
Villaman posted a double as he captured the 400 hurdles in 56.50.
Turning to the field, Syed Rahman of Townsend Harris also posted a double winning the discus throw with a heave of 129 feet 10 inches and by tossing the javelin in 136-4.
Back on the track, Carl Anderson, one with a great deal of potential during his athletic days at Springfield Gardens High School took the 110-meter high hurdles in 15.4.
“Running here is a very good experience,” said Anderson. “And the race was very competitive.”
The father of the student athlete and mother originally hailed from Jamaica, West Indies.
Carl, Sr. is not into running but is involved in another sport, for he is a trainer of horses in both Jamaica, West Indies and ere in New York, as well.
“Most of his work is in Jamaica,” the runner said. “I started running at the age of five in Jamaica, and lived in Jamaica until I was 15 years of age. I entered school in my sophomore year at Springfield Gardens.”
The PSAL, along with the coaches and athletic director at Bayside High, made the event possible as they do annually. It is the only facility in Queens where is is possible to stage all the events.
Now the athletes are waiting for the City championships of all five boroughs later this month.
Some of these student athletes have already signed letters of intent for a college while others still have to prove themselves for such an offer. This will all come possibly in the City Championships.
