Stillwater High School’s varsity indoor track and field team reached new heights at the Puma International Showcase in Staten Island on Jan. 24-25. Fourteen student athletes competed, setting four school records and achieving numerous personal and seasonal bests.
The team showcased their talent in several events, beginning with the 200-meter dash. A total of ten athletes competed in the boys’ and girls’ races, each setting a new personal best. Four runners surpassed the previous school record of 25.34 seconds, set by Stillwater alumnus Nelan Sanchez in 2019. Senior Tyrese Julien claimed the new record with an impressive time of 23.88 seconds, followed by senior Nehemiah “Neo” Costine (24.24 seconds), sophomore Carson Monell (24.56 seconds), and junior Tim Oliver (24.80 seconds). In the girls’ race, junior Bridget Coon led the way with a time of 27.70 seconds, with close finishes by fellow juniors Brooke Coon (28.16 seconds) and Lucy Rubinstein (30.07 seconds).
Ranked among the Section 2 Top 10, Brooke Coon and senior Izzy Mack demonstrated their elite status with outstanding performances in the girls long jump. Brooke achieved a new personal best, hitting 17 feet for the first time, while Izzy reached 17 feet, three inches. The boys also delivered exceptional performances, with junior Eziyon Medina jumping a personal best of 18 feet, nine inches and Tyrese Julien hitting 18 feet, four inches.
In the boys 400-meter dash, senior and team captain Myles Marinello won his heat and set a new personal record of 56.73 seconds. Juniors Tim Oliver and Jonathan Patrick also achieved personal bests in the 800-meter dash, with Oliver breaking the previous school record set by Joe Yusaitis in 2019. Oliver’s success continued in the 1600-meter dash, where he won his heat and placed third overall with a time of four minutes, 34 seconds. In the same event, freshman Alex Oliver delivered his best performance to date, finishing in five minutes, 41 seconds. Adding to the team’s accomplishments, senior Anthony Zzzaro shattered his own school record in the boys’ invitational 1600-meter run, coming in ninth place with a time of four minutes, 26 seconds.
Lastly, Neo Costine, Carson Monell, Jack Haney and Tyrese Julien delivered a record-breaking performance in the 4×200 meter relay. Their time of one minute, 35 seconds surpassed the previous school record set in 2017 by Jake Tyler, Joe Conti, Max Lautenburg and Dan Foley (1:37.94) and could potentially earn them a spot at the state championships.
The Puma International Showcase was a resounding success for the Stillwater varsity indoor track and field team. Showcasing incredible talent and determination, they shattered several school records and achieved numerous personal bests. Fueled by unwavering dedication and grit, the team’s performance served as a testament to the program’s strength, generating excitement for the remainder of the season.