The Mineola boys' track and field team had a very successful 2007-2008 season. The boys finished fourth among 10 teams in Conference VI with four All-Conference athletes.

Junior captain Joe Wellbrock (second in the 1000-meters), junior captain Greg Lapin (third in the 600-meters), senior Chris D'Meza (first in the high jump) and sophomore Derek Cole (third in the high jump and second in the 300-meters) all earned All-Conference honors. Senior captain John Englis finished fifth in the 600-meters and led off the third place 4X400-meter relay team, which also included D'Meza, Lapin and Wellbrock. The same four boys placed fourth overall at the New York State qualifying meet, running 3:46.8 and beating their season best time by over seconds.

The Strive for Excellence Award winners for this year were the following athletes:

Tom Satalino - Tom had a very successful freshman year, improving his times in the 55-meters and 300-meters by significant amounts and was among the hardest working athletes at practice this season. He will be a key member of the spring track and field team in the 4X400-meter relay.

Brendan Maloney - This was Brendan's second year on the track and field team. Although he battled injuries for most of the second half of the season, Brendan still ran personal bests in the 400-meters and 600-meters this season. We look forward to seeing Brendan running at 100 percent next season.

Nick Gallina - This was Nick's first season on the track and field team and the junior showed incredible improvements this season running 10 seconds faster in the 600-meters and six seconds faster in the 400-meters since the beginning of the season. Nick should be a major contributor in the 4X400-meter relay this spring season.

The Coach's Award winner for this year were the following athletes:

Joe Wellbrock - Joe set two new program records this season, eclipsing the previous records by three seconds in the 1000-meters (2:45.0) and 10 seconds in the mile (4:47.85). More amazingly, Joe's best times last year were 3:03 in the 1000 meters and 5:20 in the mile so the future looks bright for this spring season and for next year.

Chris D'Meza - Chris is a very versatile athlete who excelled in the high jump and the 4X400-meter relay. His best high jump (5'6'') and 400-meters (55.5 seconds) should improve even more in the spring season, which would put Chris among the jumpers and runners in Nassau County.

The team says good-bye to the following senior athletes whose leadership will be sorely missed:

John Thomas - John has been a member of the track and field team for three years as a shot-putter and in the 4X200-meter relay. John improved his shot put throws by nearly three feet this season and was always willing to run in a relay if the team needed him to do so.

Pedro Vieira - Pedro has also been a member of the track and field team for three years. In the past, Pedro was exclusively a runner, but this year he discovered the shot put. Pedro threw his best at the conference meet, clearing 33 feet. Now that injury woes are behind him, Pedro looks forward to contributing in the running events as well as the throwing events in the spring.

Chris D'Meza - This was Chris' first and only year on the track and field team, but he has accomplished a great deal. Chris was the conference champion in the high jump and a key member of the very successful 4X400-meter relay. Chris looks forward to building on these accomplishments in the spring season.

David Lopez - David has been an integral member of the track and field team for the past three seasons as a sprinter and as a key member of the 4X200-meter relay. This year, David served as captain and left his most indelible mark on the team, mentoring several of the younger athletes on the team. Coach SantaMaria credits David with helping a majority of the new athletes on the team learn how to down-start in the sprint events. His leadership and positive attitude will be greatly missed next year.

John Englis - John has been a member of the track and field team for four years and was on the team when there were only six members. John also served as a captain and showed outstanding leadership this year by running lead-off in the 4X400-meter relay. This season, John improved his time in the 400-meters by four seconds, 600-meters by seven seconds and 1000-meters by 30 seconds. His accomplishments and service to the team the past four years earned him the Nassau Coaches Association Medal.