Kate Voelker, Nylah Phillips, Valeria Paez star at Nassau Class AA outdoor track and field championships
Valeria Paez of Hewlett crosses the finish line first in the 1,500-meter run at the Nassau Class AA track and field championships on Monday at Roslyn. Credit: Michael A. Rupolo Sr.
The Nassau track and field community will remember Monday night’s Class AA championships meet at Roslyn for a long time. Discussions about it may lead to debates over who the most impressive athlete was.
Was it Manhasset senior Kate Voelker, who broke the all-time New York State outdoor high jump record? Was it Hewlett senior Nylah Phillips, who ran the fastest 400-meter time in the state, then later beat Roosevelt senior Esmia Thomas — the 100 champion — to win the 200? Was it Phillips’ junior teammate, Valeria Paez, who ran 6,500 total meters to win three individual titles?
The correct answer is: there is no right answer.
Voelker cleared 6 feet, 1 inch, breaking the former outdoor record of 6-3/4 set by Glen Falls’ Shelly Choppa in 1990, per the NYSPHSAA record book. The jump tied Allison Smith of Clarence’s overall record from 1987, when she cleared 6-1 indoors.
“It’s really exciting to see all of my hard work pay off,” Voelker said. “Putting it all together and getting myself up to these bigger heights — it was scary — but it’s amazing to see it all come together. This really was my goal of high school, so to finally get that is awesome.”
Phillips won the 400 in a state-best 54.39 seconds, then later took the 200 in 24.16. She also ran the second leg of Hewlett’s champion 4x100-meter relay team, which collectively posted a 49.89.
“I’m so happy that I got to be a part of all the great things that happened today,” Phillips said.
Paez won the 2,000-meter steeplechase in 7 minutes, 26.16 seconds. She followed with victories in the 1,500 (4:56.23) and 3,000 (10:50.37).
Her and Phillips’ performances helped Hewlett win the girls team title with 116 total points.
“My body felt tired, but my mind didn’t,” Paez said. “I just kept running because my brain told me to — my legs didn’t. I’m very grateful I didn’t listen to my legs.”
Manhasset won the boys team championship with 89.
Roslyn senior Paul Lee threw the disc 165-4 to win by almost 10 feet. Academy Charter sophomore Joshua Buckley and Elmont senior Aidan Peterkin ran the state’s two fastest times in the 200: Buckley’s 21.32 earned him the gold medal, while Peterkin’s 21.43 reset his personal record.
Buckley also ran the second leg of Academy Charter’s victorious 4x100 squad that finished in 43.09 seconds.
“I can’t tell you how amazing it feels,” Buckley said. “[Peterkin’s] been beating me all season. He’s crazy. It just feels so good.”
Mike Anderson is a high school sports reporter who has covered 12 sports so far at Newsday. He was the sports editor of Stony Brook University's campus newspaper for two years.
