The Livingston High School boys’ winter track and field team had a busy first week of competition, as the team prepares for its conference championships in early January.
The Lancers traveled twice to Garfield, on December 16 and 21, where the shot put throwers and high jumpers competed. Returning seniors Karim Barakat, GraysonAlpert, (41-09), and co-captain Jack Burach (40-00.25) all hit the over 40 mark, with Barakat throwing a personal best (43-01.5) at the second meet. Newcomer Abeel Paul threw 37-11.5 to place second in the novice division. In the high jump, Sean Tesoriero returned to form with a jump of 5-6. Freshman Kai McClean won the freshman division with a jump of 4-8.
The boys’team traveled to the Nike Armory in Manhattan on December 16 to compete in the Spiked Shoe Holiday Festival. The focus of the meet was on the novice athletes as well as training for some of the varsity athletes on an indoor track. Highlights included Raalu Madubukko’s first place finish in the 55m high hurdles varsity division with a time of 7.77 in the prelims and 7.81 in the finals. SenJun Lu placed second (5:09.11) with co-captain Ryan Kropac (5:10.01) third in the novice 1600. In the 55 meter dash, freshman Tremayne Major collected a sixth place medal in his division, with a time of 7.51. Aidan Zotti placed fifth in the freshman 200, with a time of 26.68. The team ended its week at the Essex County Track Coaches Association Season Opener Invitational at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex in Staten Island. Junior Corey Leavy and sophomore Nick Gemellaro both competed in the 400 meter dash races. Leavy crossed the finish line with a 49.74, earning second in the race. Gemellaro placed fifth with a time of 51.70. Gabriel Lopez-Simpson hurdled his way to a fifth place finish in the varsity division, with a time of 8.11. Abeel Paul finished seventh in the varsity 55m, with a time of 6.70 for his first race as a Lancer. Jesse Kaufman excelled in the novice division, winning the 55 meter dash (6.92) and third in the 200 (23.80). Also in the novice division, Morgan Haber was third in the 55 meter (6.95) and fifth in the 200 (24.19). Jinay Veera placed seventh in the Novice 800 meter run (2:14.41). Ending the long night of competition, Danny Wang, Ricky Romero, David Flores, and Sean Tesoriero finished seventh in the varsity 4x400 meter relay.
The squad continues to train over the winter break with two more meets before the close of 2024, including the Cliff Back Invitational at Drew University on December 27 and the Coach Glynn Holiday Carnival at Ocean Breeze on December 28.
