Hackley Track Ready for Federation Championships

Hackley will have some outstanding athletes competing in the Federation championships at Vestal High School on June 11 and 12.   

The Hornets have shown their ability to beat the heat on hot and sweltering days, and have created a team more fit for July then May. That showed at the New York State Association of Independent Schools championships at Icahn Stadium on Randall's Island.   

Hackley coach John Gillard prepared his team for the weather, and because of it both squads excelled, with the boys winning a state championship with the girls taking home a second-place finish.   

Those individuals that place in first in their respective events earned the right to compete for a federation title.   

"I think both teams did an outstanding job," Gillard said. "It was 90 degrees, no shade and they just performed to their peak, which was all we could ask of them to do."   

"You just tell the athletes to hydrate ahead of time," Gillard said. "We told them the day before they should hydrate all day before they got to the meet. It wasn't a question of them being thirsty but making sure they were well hydrated before the meet began."   

On the boys side, the Hornets were propelled by Ian Parnell. Parnell finished first in the 400-meter dash (50.79), second in the 200 and ran in two winning relays, the 400 and 1,600.

"Ian is the most versatile athlete we have," Gillard said. "He can run anything from 100 meters to a mile and can be outstanding in any of those races. That's what makes him so special."   

Parnell's running mates in both the relays were also exquisite. Adam Parker, Kojo Boateng and Javier Paulino ran with Parnell in the 400; and Elliot Grund, Robert Cacace and Luca Ameri were his running mates in the 1,600 on May 26.   

"We have been practicing those relays all year at various public school meets every weekend, we run a 4x1 and 4x4," Gillard said. "That group of individuals had been working on them all year, they were prepared and ready."   

A.J. Wolf also excelled, winning the discus with a NYSAIS record throw of 147 feet and six inches and also placed second in the shot put.   

"A.J. has an excellent technique," Gillard said. "That's what separates him from the rest of the crowd. He has an athletic body and build for the discus."   

Leading the Hackley girls was Parnell's sister, Anjelique Parnell, who placed first in both the 100 (12.26), 200 (25.32), long jump (18-1) and anchored the victorious 400-relay squad (50.9).   

"That's the most outstanding performance Anjelique has had for us," Gillard said. "She had her best times in all her races. The race she anchored, that was a new NYSAIS record."  

Joining her on that relay were Kendra Epstein, Tessa Cavanaugh and Metika Ngbokoli.

Like the winning boys relay squads, Gillard said this group was victorious because of the fact that they had worked together all year with one another.