Indoor Track: New Hyde Park 2011 Preview

 The  boys and girls indoor track teams feature a determined second-year coach and a roster stocked with several new additions. The goal for each is to compete for a Nassau Conference III championship, which means outperforming rival powerhouse Garden City.

It's a tall task, but one these Gladiators are eager to accept. Here is how the teams stack up:

Coach: Bill Buith (second year).

Top Athletes:

Girls:

• Neigelle Francisco, senior, sprinter
• Sara Seper, eighth grader, distance runner 

Boys:

• Gabe Skugor, sophomore, distance runner
• James Walker, senior, hurdler 

Team Breakdown: The girls are led by Neigelle Francisco, who placed second in the Nassau Class A championships in the 55-meter dash, running it in 7.48 seconds. 

"Neigelle is our sprinter and we have our new girls doing middle distance," Buith said of his mostly fresh-faced girls team.

With some veterans and young Sara Seper taking care of long distance events such as the 1,500 and 3,000, the only voids in the team are in the hurdles, jumping events and shot-put.

With only one girl jumping hurdles, one or two in the long jump and no one in the triple jump, Buith recognized that the Gladiators girls may be "a little weak" in that regard, but he also indicated that "we have three solid girls who can clear four feet in the high jump."

Senior hurdler James Walker adds the seasoning for the boys squad while rising sophomore Gabe Skugor gives New Hyde Park a bit of excitement. Skugor ran 38th of 168 runners at the Nassau cross country championships in November. He's expected to build on a strong fall by competing hard this indoor season.

"We have some young shot-putters who learned a lot from [the graduating seniors]," Buith said. "And now they are taking the healm."

These shot-putters – one returning and two new – can all reach the 36-foot mark. The Gladiators' jumpers are also expected to excel this season, having two guys who can clear 5-foot, 4-inches.

Expectations: Buith instills the philosophy that, "even if you're not the best, don't let them beat you lying down." With that said, he would be pleased if the girls repeat last season's performance and earn second place in the conference again.

Garden City, the 2010 Nassau champion, features a senior-laden lineup and will be the tough once again. Buith hopes that the Gladiators' sheer numbers will make a difference in the equation.

"If we can give them a run for their money," he said, "then it will be worth it."

While the girls go into the season with high aspirations, Buith has more modest goals for the boys team. NHP simply needs to do better than last year's sixth-place finish. A big difference for the boys is the fact that they are all healthy; something that was lacking last season.

"We are looking for a third or a surprising second place," said Buith, who added that both the girls and the boys will hit the ground running with brand new uniforms. "Now," he said, "they feel like a team."

Key Meets:

• Dec. 14: Conference III meet @ St. Anthony's.
• Jan. 18: girls Conference III championships @ St. Anthony's
• Jan. 20: boys Conference III championships  @ St. Anthony's
• Feb. 8: Nassau Class A championships @ St. Anthony's