Justin Mahoney and Owen Skeete accumulated perfect scoring and took home special awards in the 20th annual Friendship Games track and field meet for Section Eight schools at Nassau Community College. All the athletes regardless of Conferences their schools belong to saw action in the same section.
The frosh and sophs and open athletes had their own meet on the morning of the championship events. The girls frosh and sophomore and open meet followed the championship one.
The field events were contested on different dates. The Friendship Games were held three times – meet one, meet two and meet three.
In addition, Baldwin’s Mahoney and Westbury’s Owen Skeete took home special individual trophies and really stood out on the track.
They will be serious threats for the county and then the state qualifier meets, which all the athletes shoot for and they really want to advance in their career.
Mahoney accumulated a perfect 55 points, 10 in week one, 10 in week two, and 35 on the fourth meet in the 300-meter race.
Nyder Chardonette of Uniondale accumulated the same number of points in the 55-meter high hurdles. And Skeete did the same in the 1000 meters and mile. Other athletes who had the identical points included Oceanside’s Ryan Rauch in the 3200 meters, and Jaquan Smith of Elmont in the 55-meter dash.
Chardonette, who ran a 7.8 showing in the 55-meter high hurdles, will now be headed toward the Millrose Meet Friday at the Garden. Originally from Haiti, who came to the United States when he was in the seventh grade, Nyder has high hopes to attain a soccer scholarship to college. Nyder played two sports during the fall, as he was a kicker on Uniondale’s football and then soccer teams.
“Running in the Garden is another world,” Uniondale’s Coach Dennis Kornfield said. “Running here at Nassau Community College is a good warm-up because of the sharp turns.
Meanwhile, Skeete, whose father Denis comes from Jamaica, was surprised at receiving the outstanding performance award after he won the 1000 meters in 2:36.50 and the mile in 4:32.90 to score 55 points in both events.
Awards and letters are nothing new for Skeete.
“I was surprised because I didn’t think I was that outstanding in all these meets,” said Skeete, who focuses on training.
Justin Mahoney, whose father Dennis Mahoney, attended Kingston College high school in Jamaica, received a ‘Morris Leon Brandon memorial award, after he won the 300 meters in 37.5 in this third Friendship Games this year.
“I was honored to receive this award,” Justin, who also played soccer, said.
