Sachem North track breaks four school records

Sachem North boys winter track athletes Anthony Coccia, Isaac Garcia-Cassani, Jonathan Lauer, and Michael Kearns all set Sachem North winter track records at Saturday’s “Elite Meet” at St. Anthony’s.

The Long Island Track and Field Invitational was created so that athletes from Nassau and Suffolk Counties would have an opportunity to stay sharp during the long layoff between the State Qualifying meets and the State Meet.  The time between the meets was usually three weeks and hence, the new “Elite Meet” came to fruition and is held at the indoor track facility on the campus of St. Anthony’s in Melville, New York.

Coccia – fresh off signing his college letter of intent with Adelphi – broke the Sachem record for the 1,000 meters previously held by Frank Fezza during the 2008—09 indoor track season.  Coccia’s time of 2:32.60 broke Fezza’s mark of 2:33.20.  Coccia’s time has qualified him for Nationals where he will run the 800 meters and again go for another Sachem record—but not before running the 1,000 meters again at the State meet next Saturday.

Garcia -Cassani became the first Sachem indoor athlete to go below 4:25 in the 1,600 as he smashed the record previously held by Pat Gildea during the 1997—98 indoor season.  Garcia—Cassani broke the 16-year-old record by nearly 4 seconds with a time of 4:21.76.  Next up for the record holder is representing Suffolk County in the same event in the Intersectional Relay at the State meet during the first weekend in March.

Jonathan Lauer capped off an incredible freshman campaign that saw him set Sachem Freshman standards in the 1,000 meters, the mile, the 3,200 and 1,600.  His time of 4:32.02 in the 1,600 at “Elite” was a seven second personal best and he was the top freshman runner at the meet.

Kearns – who will be throwing for Sacred Heart in Fairfield, Conn. next year – set a Sachem mark for the indoor weight throw with a heave of 47’4” which garnered him a sixth place finish overall at “Elite.”  Not bad considering it was Kearns’ first time competing in the event.  Breaking records is nothing new for Kearns as he broke the indoor shot put record several times this year finishing with a best of 55’5”.

-Submitted by Sachem North coach Joe Zarzycki