By Joseph Staszewski
Michael Delligatti talked about giving his young teammates something to strive for and live up to when he and his fellow seniors move on.
“We have young teammates now,” Delligatti said. “There are not that many people to lead the team. I just want leave a mark, show them this is where we are at Francis Lewis.”
He was a big reason why that was made possible.
Delligatti won the 3200 meters in a time of 10:11.45, the 1600 in 4:37.71 and was a member of the winning 4×800 relay team with Daniel Urribarri, Victor Ng and Fredis Baires in 8:43.13. He pulled away from friendly rival Felipe Yanez down the back straightaway after running side by side most of the race.
“The last lap we both gunned it,” Delligatti said.
He helped lead the Patriots to their first PSAL Queens indoor boys title since 2009 at the Armory Feb. 20. Lewis scored 98 points. Bayside was second with 71 and Springfield Gardens was third with 64.
“It’s really a feather in their cap for working hard and not giving up,” Patriots Coach Ralph Montanaro said. “I applaud all of them for sticking with it and believing in me that I could bring them a championship.”
One of those who stuck it out was junior John Martinez. He was unhappy with his performance during cross country season after two successful years. Montanaro told him to turn things around or it might be better to leave the team. Martinez won the 600 with a personal best time of 1:26.51.
“I’ve come back to working hard,” Martinez said. “I’ve dedicated myself to running. I’ve been trying really hard in practice and happy it’s paying off for me.”
Adries Mustafa, who has been dealing with a sprained ankle and shin splints, was second in the high jump with a leap of 5-10, behind Forest Hills’ Kenneth Yu (6-00). Yu also won the 55 hurdles with a time of 8.28. Mustafa placed second in the shot put with a toss of 41-09.75. Edison’s Leandro Del Rosario won the event in 47-10.00. Lewis’ Soon Chang took home the pole vault title with a mark of 10-06.00.
“We really were doubting because we lost a lot of people from the team from last year,” Mustafa said. “We were coming into this kind of worried we would not come in first place. Everybody came together.”
John Shepherd of Bryant has been battling a hamstring injury since the Mayor’s Cup in late January. He was still less than 100 percent, but used a late push in the final 10 meters to win the 55 meter dash in a time of 6.68, edging out John Bowne’s Brandon Gooden (6.69). Shepherd ran the 300 trials minutes later and ended up placing second out of the second heat in the finals with a mark of 37.03.
“I wasn’t expecting nothing great,” Shepherd said of the 55. “So I understand the way I started. At the end I am a 100 meter sprinter so I have the second burst.”
The 300 winner, Demar Malcolm, of Springfield Gardens, was unhappy with his time of 36.67, wanting to go 34. He felt he turned it up too late around the final curve instead of before it. He was also a member of the school’s winning 4×400 relay team along with Lionel Holm, Faygon Deans and Jahwun Marshall in 3:37.90.
Felipe Yanez, of Forest Hills, took home the 1000 crown with a mark of 2:35.07 and Bayside’s Oluwatobi Shobitan took home the long jump crown in 21-05.00 and the triple jump in 42-01.00.
