Somers Puts Team First at League Meet

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On Monday May 4, Somers traveled to John Jay for the league meet, and Kaya Duzynski exemplified team. Running the 800 meter on Friday and the 3000 on Saturday, she persevered through the fatigue. “I wanted to do what was best for the team,” she said, and the overall results weren’t bad.

A third place finish for Duzynski at 11:06, the contribution helped the Tuskers to a second finish.

Still, the disappointment took a little time to abate for the sophomore, which had Coach Vegliante quick to console and explain. “She’s never satisfied with any race, she always wants more,” he said.

Certain the runner will be where she needs to be, the boys were definitely present by taking second, and Aidan See also went long range for Somers in the 3200. “I wanted to get first or second so I could get enough points for the team,” said the junior.

The plan was to glide into the grind and go all in afterwards. “I was going to take it easier for the first mile, then go with whoever was leading the pack and just try to kick it in for the last lap,” he said.

So the plan appeared to be working as the elephant led the way with Connor O’Reilly of Brewster. That is until a John Jay Wolf suddenly appeared in the hunt. “I don’t even know where he came from,” said See. “I saw him by my side, and he was flying by.”

Rohan Patel overtook the pack and finished first. Even so, See was happy with second place (9:56.53) and the silver still had him looking ahead. “The race gave me a nice PR mentality for the postseason,” the runner clarified.

See’s work wasn’t done, though. He batted lead off in the 4x800, which proved a performance that left his teammate in awe. “In the two mile, he broke ten (minutes), and then came back to run a good race here,” said Lenny Novichenko.

Anchoring with Christian Lobasso and Gabriel Cacsire in second and third, the quartet finished first (8:27.28) and then some. A 19 second difference ahead of John Jay, Novichenko didn’t take much to sum up. “We all did our job,” said the junior, and the 100 meter lead really took the pressure off his effort.

But Jack Alessandro was on his own in the 100 meter and being done in the blink of an eye is no problem. “It’s definitely not boring,” said the third place finisher.

Not with the traditional long legs either, he makes do. “I just kick faster,” said the Tusker.

In turn, the sprinter hopes to drop his 11.34 PB to 11.20 and doesn’t complicate the journey. “I got to keep showing up,” he joked.

As for Nathaniel Jen, the same goes, but he’s got to leave the ground to do so. He took second in the high jump of 5’8” and remembers how the event came his way as a freshman. “When the senior high jumper saw me jump, Jen conveyed, ‘yeah, I want that kid.”

Unfortunately, his senior year has seen a lot of injury, but the Tusker’s head remains up. “I’m just looking to finish strong,” said Jen.

Not as high, Kristin Krug’s elevation is more horizontal in the triple jump. Her PR took first with a 33' 7.5” and gave credit upwards and in. “It’s a great weather day, and I had a lot of confidence,” said the triple threat.

Krug also acknowledged a change in mechanics. “I started from further back, so it pushed me into the pit,” she explained.

Krug wasn’t the only girl leaving her feet either and scoring big. Claire Higgins won silver in the 100 meter hurdles (18:48) and explained getting over the fear and pain of crashing the bar. “Once it happens the first time, you get used to it,” said the senior.

The traverse is rote too. “You want to get to that first hurdle as fast as possible and get into rhythm between hurdles,” she said.

Of course, the last is the hardest. “It’s only one more,” she tells herself, “just get over it and sprint to the finish.”

Still, there was one large omission that didn’t break the tape for Somers. Julia Duzynski is currently injured, but Coach Vegliante assures the senior will be back to keep it in the family with her sister. “Both of them work so hard, I know how it’s going to end,” he concluded.

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