GIRLS WINTER TRACK: Proud tradition for Longwood shot putters

BY Joe Werkmeister  |  SPORTS EDITOR

To throw the shot put at Longwood is to join a track and field sorority. They're a group often unto their own, rarely competing in other events, but always delivering the same results.

As years pass, the torch continually gets passed from one girl to the next, a bond that lasts long after graduation.

"They come and help us in practice," said Longwood junior Imani White of the team's former shot putters. "It really helps a lot. Especially when they come to the meets. For me it helps with my confidence."

As a freshman White picked up the sport in the shadow of Symmone Fisher, Caitlyn Kamer and Diane Etienne. As a sophomore last year in the large school county championship she threw 29 feet, 5 1/2 inches, a long way away from the top competition. Now a year later she's throwing nearly 10 feet farther, the newest leader of a group that can always be counted upon to score points in a county championship.

At Monday's large school championship White took a back seat to teammate Jaelisa Rehal. A first-year shot putter, Rehal, a senior, placed second by throwing a personal best 37-05 1/4. White placed third by throwing 37-03 1/2, off her previous best of 39 1/2 from the league championship. The 14 total points in the event helped lift the Lions to third place in the championship as they finished with 62. Bay Shore won its 10th straight title, clinching the meet on the final relay to surpass Northport. Bay Shore scored 81 points and Northport tallied 73.

With North Babylon's Vanessa Stewart throwing 46-03 3/4, the Lions' only hope was to finish second and third. They didn't disappoint.

The most consistent event for Longwood over the past 10 years -- they've scored points in it at the county meet every year -- has become a point of pride for the Lions. The success helps yield future success as the girls often encourage classmates to try the event. In gym classes at the ninth- and 10th-grade level all students try out track and field events, including the shot put.

"Basically we're recruiting people in the school," White said, keenly aware the tradition must continue after she graduates in 2011. "In gym class we do shot and see who does pretty well. I'll go up to them or my coach and say I see this girl, she's pretty good. So we ask them to come out. Sometimes they come out, sometimes they don't."

Longwood track coach Doug Roenbeck teaches gym at the 11th- and 12th-grade level, but always keeps his eye out for who might be coming up from the lower grades. The ninth- and 10th-grade classes are separated by gender, which Roenbeck said is helpful from a coach's perspective.

"We have a lot of good athletes at Longwood , but a lot of them are multitalented athletes," he said. "They're on a lot of teams."

There's no better example than Rehal, who has competed on the varsity level in five sports: track, soccer, football (kicker), basketball and softball.

Rehal played on the hoops team last year before deciding to try the shot put this winter.

"At first it was like I'm throwing a really heavy ball and I'm not really going to throw it far," she said. "But you do all the stuff the coaches ask you to do."

The result has been a rapid improvement that has her among the best in the county.

Along with Rehal and White the Lions had three other shot putters compete at the championship with Star Sykes, Amanda Saunders and Kyonna Williams, all of whom are juniors. Sykes had the best throw of the group, finishing eighth overall at 32-10 3/4.

Having a large group only helps each girl during the meet, as they'll talk with each other about what looked good and what didn't.

"It helps when you help someone else out," Rehal said. "Then you know what you need to improve and what to fix the next throw."

While White didn't throw her best at the county meet, part of that could be attributed to her focus being shifted on another event prior to the meet. White competed at the Millrose Games Friday at Madison Square Garden, placing third in the weight throw. It was the first year the Millrose Games had the weight throw for high school athletes.
She threw 46-06 3/4 to finish behind Karen Henning of St. Anthony's and Angela Onye of Classical.

White said she liked the atmosphere, which was quieter than the typical meet at the Armory.

"I could get my focus," she said.

White started throwing the weight last year.

At Tuesday's state qualifier White and Rehal will find themselves vying for their first trip to the state meet. With Stewart a near lock to win the event, it leaves little wiggle room for the remaining athletes.

"The state quals I'm definitely trying to be more focused," White said.

joew@northshoresun.com