Valley Stream North's Paige Fessler wins 100-meter hurdles, high jump, and long jump at Nassau Class A track and field championships
Paige Fessler of Valley Stream North races to victory on her home track in the girls 100-meter hurdles final during the Nassau Class A track and field championships at Valley Stream North on Thursday. Credit: James Escher
Paige Fessler soared from two silver medals to triple gold in a matter of months.
The Valley Stream North sophomore dominated the Nassau girls outdoor track and field Class A championships on her home track Thursday, winning the high jump, 100-meter hurdles, and long jump in a breakout performance.
“I had my coaches telling me I progressed so much throughout the season, and I would be able to succeed,” Fessler said. “Their confidence in me gave me my own confidence in myself.”
After finishing second in both the high jump and 55 hurdles at the indoor county championships—losing the latter by .02 seconds—Fessler came back with fire in her spikes. She cleared 5 feet, 7 inches in the high jump, her personal best.
“Once I jumped, I knew it felt like I had never jumped that high before. It felt new,” Fessler said. “Once I found out, I was really excited to know I had a chance to win.”
She added a victory in the 100 hurdles (15.63 seconds) and captured the long jump with an 18-1.5 leap.
“Me and the other competitors pushed each other to be our best and get our best times,” she said.
At 5-9, Fessler is already proving to be one of the most dynamic athletes in the county.
“I pushed myself to my best ability to...push myself faster,” she said of her hurdles win. “It felt amazing.”
Fessler credited her older sister, Brooke, a former jumper, as part of her motivation.
“I gave high jump a shot once my older sister, Brooke, left last year,” she said. “She always encourages me to jump higher and trust my abilities.”
Another triple threat was Malverne senior Nicea Jones, who left no doubt in her final county championship appearance. She swept the 200 (25.84), 400 (55.46) and led the Mules’ 4x400 relay team of Savannah Green, Khayla Pinnock and Dolapo Olaniyan to a commanding win in 4:02.18.
“It’s my senior year and I wanted this to be the last one, best one,” said Jones, who is committed to Syracuse.
Jones, a two-time defending state champion, continues to chase personal records in every race, attacking each lap with strategy.
“I race model my race and talk to myself during my race until I’m done,” she said. “I tell myself to pace myself and when I turn, it’s time to go.”
“I finished last year as a two-time state champion and I PR’ed each year, so that’s my goal again this year—to get another personal record.”
In distance events, North Shore junior Joanna Kenney pulled out two victories, claiming gold in the 1,500 (4:50.14) and 3,000 (10:23.18). Kenney used a late push in both races to separate from the pack and cruise to the finish line.
“I took the lead in the second half because I knew I had to keep pulling away and keep going,” said Kenney, who also anchored North Shore’s winning 4 x 800 relay (10:28.63). “I feel like my endurance has improved. I train every day, really, more like eight days a week. It feels great to get the medals.”
Other standout performances included Madison O’Donnell (North Shore) winning the 800 in 2:22.48, Cassidy Wendt (Seaford) claiming the 2000 steeplechase in 7:27.60, and Danielle Demillio (North Shore) clearing 9-6 to take the pole vault title. Makayla Boubert (Malverne) threw 34-5.75 to win the shot put, and Mecca Laradji (Island Trees) captured the discus crown with a 90-4 toss.
North Shore captured the team title with 40 points. Malverne finished second with 29.
