Edouard heads to Monroe College

Chris Edouard turned in a decent track career and so did his teammates enough for Valley Stream North to run away and capture the team title in the Class ‘A’ Nassau County High School Track and Field Championships recently. In order to come out victorious, Valley Stream North scored well in every event.

Edouard, one of the top middle distance runners around, also landed a spot in the New York State Meet in Rochester and ended his school boy career on a high note.

Valley Stream North’s graduation loss will be Monroe College’s gain come this fall.

“Chris came a long way here at Valley Stream,” said Coach Mike Fraser during the State Qualifying Meet at Westbury High School.

“Fraser helped me to become a better runner,” said Edouard, who is getting ready for cross country in college. “Now I have to become a better athlete as well.

Chris’s mother Yolen comes from Haiti where Chris spent his younger days. And soccer has been the main sport in Haiti.

A two-sport athlete, Edouard had competed in the booter sport for four years while also being a member of the track and field team at VSN. He played right midfield on the soccer squad.

Edouard recently accepted an athletic scholarship to further his academics and running at Monroe Community College located in New Rochelle.

“Coach Michael Goodwin recruited me,” the youngster said. “I want to run and signed the papers (for college). The 800 meters is my favorite event.” He can also run the 200 meters equally as well.

In college he will concentrate on running and probably forget about soccer.

While Valley Stream North won the Class ‘A’ team title with 123 points, Baldwin took the ‘AAA’ crown with 96 points and Westbury won the Class ‘AA’ crown with 123 ½ points.

As for the entire Valley Stream North squad, Fraser was indeed proud of the boys who performed very well for the whole school year both in cross country and indoor track, as well.

“We started to be more of a well rounded team,” Fraser said, adding, “That’s what has given us points.”

Meanwhile, the Class ‘AAA’ County title marked the second time ever in the school’s history for Baldwin with the first such title coming in 2007. In the County meet Baldwin recently took three individual events-the 400 hurdles, 400 run and discus, and the 1600-meter relay

The student athletes trained hard in all the events, especially the throwing ones, under

Field Coach Rich Carroll, who did a tremendous job with the boys.

“It really came together,” said Head Coach Joe Mercado. “We scored well across the board.”

Now the under classmen will stay in shape for cross country in the fall while the seniors move on to the next level.