Delencio Blanco-Holstead is one of the top sprinters heading into the outdoor season at Valley Stream Central High School. He turned in a decent senior season on the indoor or winter team. He will officially end it in the upcoming New York State Scholastic Meet this weekend.
He qualified for the championships when in the State Qualifier he ran a tremendous 55-meter dash.
At first when the race was over he thought that he had won it. Even though he did not, he still made the team because the runner-up also qualifies for the select squad.
In preparing for the race, Coach Jason Nappy and his staff worked on his start and his form “He has gotten so much better this season (which has been) unbelievable,” Nappy said. “He has a great work ethic and attitude and is a great kid to work with.”
Because he runs a little bit odd, Nappy and his coaching staff are trying to get him to relax more. “He’s relaxing and opening up a little bit,” continued Nappy. “And he’s shown it. He went out straight and finished straight (in the State Qualifier). It’s a wonderful thing for a wonderful kid.”
Holstead finished second in 6.72 seconds to Wantagh’s Pat Quigley, who recorded a winning time of 6.68 in the Section Eight Qualifier, held at St. Anthony’s High School indoor track and field facility.
Delencio is the son of Dwight Holstead, who grew up in the Caribbean and was a former runner there. Now Dwight is a business man as he owns night clubs in Brooklyn.
A native of Antigua, Dwight teaches his son to push himself and never to give up. It seems that every time he losses he does give up.
“I got to always be ready to push myself all the time,” Delencio said.
The student athlete is also a football player at Valley Stream Central where he played both on offense and defense on its teams in three of his four years. In addition to practicing and playing football during the fall, he trained for the indoor track team and worked hard every day as he is not a long distance runner.
A four-year athlete at Valley Stream Central, the 18-year-old youngster pushed hard every day in the workouts.
It all paid off as he was clocked for the indoor 55-meter dash in 6.72 in the State Qualifier. His best time is 6.54 set in the Conference meet also at the same venue. Holstead also thanks his coaches and his hard work and training for where he is today.
He said that he does what he has to do, when asked about his style of running.
“I go out and push my hardest,” he added.
During the outdoor season, he will run the sprints and will also compete on the relay teams with his teammates, and in the long jump.
He is looking forward for a track scholarship in college. His first or primary sport is track, but he may consider playing football also in college. His goal is to attend a Division I College in track.
