The first track meet of the spring, outdoor season was hosted by the Jericho Jets at the Jericho High School on April 21. Over 150 boys and girls, some as young as 4 years old and ranging up to high school age (with some master's competitors on the track for good measure) ran, jumped and threw in spectacular fashion. While the weather was somewhat "brisk", that did not dampen the enthusiasm of the participants who started arriving at 9:00 a.m. Track athletes from Nassau and Suffolk counties, and some from Queens as well, made good use of Jericho's new "state of the art" all weather track. The Jericho Jets had many sparkling performances both on the track and in the field events, as well.

In the boys 1500 meter run, 12-year-old Mat Sherman ran a sparkling 5 minute and 51 second time for first place. Mat, who captured both the 800 meter and 1500 meter Long Island indoor titles in March, is pointing for the regional junior olympic competition to be held on Long Island in June.

Thirteen-year-old Gina Perno had a busy morning, capturing the silver medal in the 400 meter dash in the time of 72.5 seconds, another silver for second place in the 200 meter dash in the time of 31.1 seconds and first place gold in the long jump with a leap of 13 feet 1/4 inch.

Alyssa Degenaro and Josephine Savarese, covered 100 meters with 7 year old enthusiasm and came away with the silver and bronze medals. Josie's sister Katherine also captured a silver medal in the 9 and 10 year old bantam class 100 meter dash. Mollie Rosen took first place in the midget class girls 100 meter dash with a time of 15.7 seconds while twin sister Hannah took second place and Erin Sinnott third.

In the sub bantum boys 100 meter dash 8-year-old Cory Bogdan continued his winning ways with a first place finish in 17 seconds flat. Cory and Mollie Rosen returned to the track to run the 200 meter dash with Cory coming in first in a time of 35.8 seconds and Mollie taking second in the girls midget class with a 34.1 second time. Jacob Somers ran a gritty 800 meters for the Jets. In the girls midget class 400 meter relay Katherine Savarese, Erin Sinnott and Mollie and Hannah Rosen carried the baton around the track in a fast 69 seconds for first place. But perhaps the outstanding running performance of the morning belonged to 11-year-old Michelle Bogdan who, running all by herself, covered 3000 meters (just short of two miles) in a sparkling 15 minute 7.5 second time. With the crowd applauding her each time she passed the stands, Michelle broke her personal record by more than 2 minutes.

In the field events, the Jericho Jets turned in some outstanding performances. Seventh grader Max Rosenberg, who last spring traveled to California to compete in the Junior Olympic Finals in the high jump, won his specialty with a leap of 4 feet 5 inches. Max showed his versatility by capturing the long jump with a jump just an inch shy of 14 feet. Max also captured the triple jump by "hop-step-and jumping" 23 feet 9 inches and took second in the "turbo javelin" by throwing a fine 76 feet 3 inches.

Max Rosen (no, he and Max Rosenberg are not the same person) took second place in the long jump in the youth class and took first in the shot put with a throw of 22 feet 7 inches. But Max saved his best performance for the "turbo javelin" where he hurled the implement 100 feet 7 inches, a distance that ranks him high among eastern competitors in this event. David Fusco took third in the "turbo javelin" with a throw of 60 feet 7 inches and also captured the silver medal in the shot put with a throw of 18 feet 7 inches. David also threw the discus 45 feet 10 inches for first place.

Continuing the Jets fine field event performances, Erin Sinnott and Hannah Rosen took first and second in the girls midget class long jump while Jacob Somers came in second in the long jump in the boys bantam class.

Even two Jericho Jet dads got in on the action. Chet Bogdan made his debut in the mens ' shot put, taking first place with a throw of 29 feet 9 _ inches while Dick Rosen took time off from his duties as Jericho Jets coach and meet director for this track meet to take first place in the mens 100 meter dash (55 to 59 year old masters class) with a time of 14.2 seconds.

The meet featured many exciting races and some excellent performances considering that the weather was chilly and that it was early in the season. The track season will continue with four more track and field meets, culminating with the Region One Junior Olympic Championships to be held June 21, 22 and 23 at Mitchell Field. More than 5000 young athletes will be coming from all over the northeast to compete at this meet with the goal being qualification for the Junior Olympic National Championships.

The Jericho Jets will be continuing their training at the Jericho High School track on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. and on Sundays at 1:30 p.m.. For further information please call Richard Rosen at 931-0771.