Denis captures two events in meet

By Robert Elkin

Gregory Denis is one of the better athletes on the track and field team at the State University of New York at Farmingdale. During the outdoor season Head Coach Arnie Minkoff is counting a great deal on him for team points in any meet that goes for team scores.

Denis captured two events in an invitational meet that the University hosted on its rather new facility installed about two years ago on its campus in Long Island.

“I love running on this track,” he said. “And our coaches are friendly.”

Tracey Joseph DDS

Dennis captured both the 400 meter dash and the 400 meter hurdles in 52.05 and 58.00, respectively. Overall, there were 13 entrants in the dash and nine athletes in the hurdles.

A senior at Farmingdale University, Dennis is trying to get the college’s 400 meter hurdle record. That is his goal this season, his last one in the Division III college.

“I’d rather run the 400 hurdles than the 400 meters,” he said after the meet.

The student athlete credits his success to the coaches headed by Minkoff and his staff. He is a product of Elmont High School “Minkoff helped me a great deal with my form,” he added.

Besides the record, his goal is also to advance to the NCAA Division III Championships, as well, and become an all-American athlete.

Last year as a junior he came off an injury that set him back a little bit.

But going into his senior season, he recuperated and came back strong. “This year I’m looking for better times,” he went on.

Gregory’s father Jean, who was born in Haiti, where his sport was soccer, does not give pointers to the athlete, as he is more concerned with his diet, than his actual running. In his native land, Jean was a goal keeper.

Denis came to Farmingdale from Elmont High School, where he played football for two years; however, before coming to New York, he lived in Talahasse, Florida. When he arrived in college, he dropped the gridiron sport to concentrate on running.

Meanwhile, on the field, brothers Elston Alexis and Leston Alexis, both juniors at Medgar Evers College, and hailed originally from Grenada, tossed the shot put 12.29 and 11.22 meters, for seventh and eighth place, respectively.

However, they were more successful in the javelin when Elston won the event with a heave of 45.51 meters, and his brother finished second with a toss of 42.22 meters.

Updated 07:42 pm, April, 18 2011:

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