Track & Field Top Honors At State Championships

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Track & Field Top Honors At State Championships

Friday, 15 March 2013 00:00

While athletes were greeted by dropping temperatures and a steady snowfall in Ithaca this past weekend, inside Barton Hall things were just beginning to heat up. As has become tradition at Manhasset, the indoor season culminated at the New York State Indoor Track & Field Championships hosted by Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. The Indians had four individual qualifiers this season, which is twice the number from the previous year. In a sport that has seen an explosion in both growth and depth of talent over the past several years, this alone is quite an achievement. However, the qualifiers sent to represent Manhasset were not satisfied with merely having been given the opportunity to compete - they each came with the goal of stepping up on the podium as an All-State selection.

Junior Tara Belinsky led the way, continuing her dominant season by throwing a career best of 42’10.5” in the shot put to finish as this year’s silver medalist. In fact, Tara reset her personal best three times throughout the competition, throwing her best series ever to earn All-State and All-Federation honors. Tara will look to continue her breakout season when she competes at the New Balance Indoor Nationals next weekend in New York City.

Joining Tara in reaching the podium was Manhasset sprinter Kathryn Hallett. A qualifier in both the 55m and the inter-sectional relay, Hallett has turned many heads this season, as the sophomore sensation is still a relatively new face on the track scene. However, her youthful inexperience was anything but apparent as she burst off the starting line in her first state meet race. Despite not getting out of the qualifying rounds in the 55m, she saved her best effort for her 200m leg of the relay, blazing a 26.0 to put her team in contention. Her Section VIII teammates completed the job to help them earn All-State and All-Federation honors for their fifth place finish.

Joining our two medalists were senior standouts Stephen Bourguet and Katie Connors. Bourguet, who came up just short in his quest for another All-State medal, competed in the 1600 against a formidable field, some of whom own the top marks in the nation this season. Bourguet, who has garnered multiple All-State and All-Federation titles in cross country, got off to a strong start and ran with the lead pack for the first half of the race before fading slightly to finish just out of medal contention. While not making the podium is a bit of a disappointment, it is a minor blemish on another otherwise stellar season for the Brown-bound captain, who captured his 14th and 15th County Championship titles and All-Northeast honors while recording an indoor personal best of 4:22.0 this winter.

Teammate and fellow senior Katie Connors also missed out on a medal competing the 1500m-race walk and nearly matched her season best time in the event. Finding success in the race walk, one of the most technically difficult events in the program, is a tribute to Katie’s persistence and hard work. Connors, who will attend Colgate next fall, was a first-time qualifier for the state meet.

The boys and girls programs will now look to ready themselves for the spring season with increasingly high hopes and aspirations.

News

ERASE Racism Benefit

Saturday, 18 May 2013 00:00

Arda Haratunian An Organizer

Manhasset resident Arda Nazerian Haratunian is lending her expertise and support to ERASE Racism, a civil rights non-profit that advocates for racial equity on Long Island. As a member of its planning committee for the third year in a row, she is helping to organize ERASE Racism’s Annual Benefit Celebration, which will take place on June 5 at the Garden City Hotel.

A strategic communications consultant, Arda has more than 25 years experience in both the private and public sectors. She most recently served as senior policy advisor and communications director to former Nassau County Executive Tom Suozzi and previously worked for New York Governor Mario Cuomo. During the decade between her two careers in public service, Arda was on Wall Street, serving as managing director of global corporate communications for Citigroup’s Corporate and Investment Bank and before that, head of media and public relations at the American Stock Exchange.

Manhasset Florist & Greenhouse

There is a floral treasure in Manhasset, something unique: it’s the greenhouse in front of Manhasset Florist on Orchard Street. “Having my own greenhouse ensures premium plant growth and creates optimum conditions. This allows me to offer the healthiest plants to my customers,” says owner Alexander Otis. Indeed, the plants look truly perfect and a delightful scent of blossoms fills the air of the greenhouse.

“My father bought the business and property 45 years ago. During those years, he opened a total of five flower shops in Nassau County,” said Alex. His father trained him and his sister Aretta in the flower business. “While still attending high school we both helped on Saturdays and during our vacations,” he explains. Alex graduated from the New York Institute of Technology as an architect and worked as an engineer for over six years before returning to his roots to help his father manage his five flower shops and to run one, Garden City Florist. “When my father retired in 1999, I took over Manhasset Florist & Greenhouse and Aretta took over Port Washington Florist.”

Sports

Victorious In Opening Manhasset Valley Park Game

Thursday, 16 May 2013 00:00

Logan Hyde pitching. One of Manhasset’s 12U intramural baseball teams defeated Great Neck in the first game played at the renovated Valley Park field on Saturday April 27. Manhasset’s offense scored 10 runs, including a home run from Devin Callery, while pitchers Logan Hyde, Jeff Torborg, James Marchetti and Grant Petracca combined to limit Great Neck to one hit with 11 strikeouts in six innings. Edward Jarvis, Robert DeCastro, Massimo Abruzzo, Colby Schmidt, Gabriel Cohen, Spencer Kaye and Justin Louie each contributed quality defensive plays. Manhasset raised its record to 4-0 and stands in first place in the inter-town intramural league, which includes 8 teams from Merillon, Albertson-Herricks, Great Neck and Manhasset.

JV Ice Hockey Team Finishes The Season

Wednesday, 15 May 2013 10:34

The Manhasset Junior Varsity Ice Hockey Team finished their season Wednesday night, April 17, beating Bellmore/Merrick 4-3 in the championship game at the Bethpage Community Park Ice Rink. Wednesday’s finale marked the end of an impressive campaign by the Indians which included a 19-1 regular season record and a trip to the New York State Championship in Ithaca.

Manhasset got off to a strong start scoring four times in the first period on goals by Michael Walsh, Michael Brzozowski, Mario De Bueriis, and Matthew Cecchini whose tally would prove to be the game winner. Nolan Behringer, Ryan Kiess, and goaltender Alex Feinstein led the defense in shutting down a powerful Bellmore/Merrick squad, securing Manhasset’s first ever Junior Varsity Championship.