West Hempstead continues upswing

A few years back, referring to the West Hempstead girls track & field team as a program would have been a great exaggeration. With a roster comprising just a handful of competitors, there were days when having enough for a game of checkers was uncertain.

But, that was then. Fast forward three years into Colin Grey’s tenure as head coach, and the Rams not only have 40 girls on the roster and are represented in every event, they’re sending 16 girls to the county championships. A group that was a no-win team in 2016 is now very competitive in every meet it competes in.

“Three years ago, being on the girls track team was more of a social thing,” Grey said. “If kids had nothing to do and wanted to keep themselves occupied, they came out for track. It’s no longer nonchalant. The girls come to work every day. There’s been a lot of progress and there are expectations.”

At the Division 4A Championships at Seaford High School on May 16th, the Rams picked up first place in the 4x100 meter relay with a school-record time of 53.90. The team composed of junior Toni Abrams, sophomores Joanfaith Guerrier and Amelie Chicoye, and freshman Nikayla Bigby bested second place Island Trees by a wide margin.

“It all just clicked,” Grey said. “Figuring out who runs the curves best and who closes well is a lot like putting together a puzzle. They had their best performance. And, they’re a young group, too. There’s a lot of potential and room to improve.”

While 85 percent of the team will return next season, the Rams will lose a runner who Grey considers the glue of the group. Senior Isabella Caldwell, who will compete for Nova Southeastern University, was a huge part of the program’s rise to respectability. Caldwell finished fourth in the 800 meters and fifth in the 1500 at the divisional meet. She set personal bests in each event.

In just her second year on the track, Chicoye opened some eyes as a consistent performer in the 100- and 200-meters all season long. Freshman Abigail Rodriguez, who wasn’t sure she’d even be on the team when workouts began, became a hurdler with tremendous upside. Rodriguez made her mark by finishing first in the 100 HH at the South Shore Frosh/Soph Meets at Oceanside High School back in April.

Guerrier progressed well in the 400 meters, cutting her time by five seconds from the beginning of the season to the end. A natural leader, Guerrier will be the team’s captain as a junior in 2020.

Working with boys coach Nick DiBenedetto has been a huge plus for Grey. “We both ran in college and have different backgrounds and areas of strength,” Grey said. “It’s an exciting time for us. We’re a very young team with a bright future. The culture has changed completely. It’s rewarding to see all of the progress we’ve made, and to look at the potential we have.”