Rewriting the Smithtown East Record Book

Boys Winter Track Team Sets Seven New Marks This Season

Story and Photos By Jay Beatty

(click on photos to enlarge)

(Additional Photos Courtesy of MileSplit NY)

Sophomore Daniel Claxton leaps en route to a new Smithtown East indoor High Jump record o 6’-6” at Suffolk County Community College.It’s cold outside, but the Smithtown East Boys Track team is red hot!  And just in time for the championship meets for the League, County, and State Qualifer.

Led by a talented group of seniors, the East runners, throwers, and jumpers, the squad has combined to shatter seven school records – some marks more than once this season..

“Saying goodbye to our seniors will mean a huge hit next year, but we’re focused on this year,” said East Coach Kathie Borbet.

“The last time we had a season even close to this was 2006-200077 when we won the counties…and this team has been taking out records from 1997-1998 when my sons were on the team and the 2006-7 teams; and those two teams were combined [Smithtown East and West.]”

“This is probably the best team Smithtown East has ever seen.  For Smithtown East alone to break seven records held by combined teams is pretty amazing.”

Seven Records

At a Suffolk Crossover meet, the East squad (l-r) of Shane Harris, Eric Herrmann, Matt Whalen, and Will Claxton set a new school Winter Track record in the 4 x 400 meter RelayThe record-setting events include the High Jump, the Shot Put, the 300 Meter Dash, the 600 Meter Run, the 800 Meter Run, the 4 x 400 M Relay, and the 4 x 800 Meter Relay.

Senior sprinter Shane Harris broke the 300m record in 36.20 st Suffolk Community College, and proceeded to lower the mark to 35.69 at the Armory.

Senior Matthew Whalen broke both the 800m record and 600m in times of 1:57.8 and 1:24.78.  He also lowered the 600m mark.  

Junior Dominik Oramas broke the shot put record and currently has the best throw on Long Island at 53’7”.25. 

Sophomore Daniel Claxton broke the high jump record in 6’6” and currently has the best jump in the state, with his winning leap at the Stanner Games of 6’-7”. 

The 4 x 400 Meter Relay team of seniors Will Claxton, Matthew Whalen, Eric Herrmann and Shane Harris ran 3:29.83 at the Armory, just missing qualifying  for the Millrose Games with this time.  They had previously broken the mark with a 3:32 at SCCC.

At the North Shore Invitational at the New Balance Armory on December 26, the 4 x 800 Meter Relay squad of (l-r) Eric Herrmann, Patrick Teese, Marius Sidlauskas, and Matthew Whalen set a new school record of 8:14.41 en route to a Gold Medal win.The 4 x 800 Meter Relay squad of seniors Eric Herrmann, Matthew Whalen, Patrick Teese and junior Marius Sidlauskas set a new time at 8:14.41 in winning the Gold Medal at the North Shore Invitational at the Armory.

Standout Athletes

“Whalen  can cover everything from the 400m to the 3200m, “ said Borbet.  He has records in the 600m, 800m,  4x400m and 4x800m relays.

“Matt is totally versatile with speed that comes from I don’t know where.  Whatever he’s eating , everyone else should start eating!”

“Harris has done an amzaing  job with his 35.69 in the 300 meter dash.”

“The boys mix and match really well.  Tthe 800m kids can mix in the 400,m. the 400 m in with the 200,  We’re probably one of the few teams in the counties that might be able to scoie in all three relays.  Pretty good matchups to be excited about!”

“All the seniors are going to be irreplaceable; they’re the heart of this team.  As coach, you’re only as good as th4e athletes you have and these kids are amazing.”

Scholars, Too

The talent on the East team extends beyond the track.

“Academically,  the boys are  incredibale , said Borbet.  “These are kids with GPAS over 4.0 They’re  all National Honor Society, and other honor societies.  They have  intelligence arcross the board and the colleges they looking at tremendous…Ivies and more.”

Borbet noted with anticipation for the championships that some of the marks are not just SHSE records but among the best marks in the county and state.  League Championships are this coming Sunday at Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood.

Spring Season

Coach Borbet is looking forward to more, especially the spring season to come!

“Winter track is tougher to run, even if we do have the banked track at the Armory; the new track surface at Suffolk Community College is really good and we’re seeing faster times this season from last year.”

“It’s also harder to train outside in the cold weather,” Borbet noted.  “In the spring, as the season progresses, it’s easier to run outside.  The teams are also running on a 400 meter track as opposed to 200 meters, which makes a big difference.”

“I expect many of the boys will run even better in the spring, meaning we can expect even better times,” she concluded.