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Hall of Fame Class of 2022

You may not think it is an exhausting event to compete in the high jump.  You start your warm-up before the competition to get your steps.  When the bar goes up, if you’re Daniel Claxton, you sometimes wait for as much as an hour or more before you start competing.  You need to stay mentally focused and not get too tight before jumping.  And when you’re up, you must be ready to go with very few if any competitors remaining.  Very tough to push yourself to new heights, especially the elusive seven-foot barrier.  That height had eluded Claxton until January 28th of his senior year.  When he did clear the height after so many misses in previous meets, it was an amazing feeling. From that point on, Claxton cleared the height five more times including a personal best jump of 7-01.75 outdoors, a Suffolk County record. 

2014 

Outdoor Section XI State Qualifier – 2nd Place High Jump (6-03.00)

Outdoor NYSPHSAA – NY State Championships – 10th Place High Jump (6-04.00)

2015

Indoor Stanner Games Champion – High Jump (6-07.00)

Indoor Long Island Elite Meet Champion – High Jump (6-08.00)

Indoor NYSPHSAA – NY State Championships – 2nd Place High Jump (6-08.00)

Outdoor Eddy Games Champion – High Jump (6-08.00)

Outdoor Section XI State Qualifier Champion – High Jump (6-06.00)

Outdoor NYSPHSAA – NY State Championships – 4th Place High Jump (6-06.00)

2016

Indoor Stanner Games Champion – High Jump (6-09.00)

Indoor Section XI County Champion – High Jump (6-09.25)

Indoor Section XI State Qualifier Champion – High Jump (6-10.00)

Indoor Long Island Elite Meet Champion – High Jump (6-08.00)

Indoor NYSPHSAA – NY State Champion - High Jump (6-08.00)

New Balance Indoor Nationals – 6th Place High Jump (6-09.00)

Outdoor Penn Relays Carnival – 4th Place High Jump (6-07.75)

Outdoor State Qualifier Champion – High Jump (6-10.00)

Outdoor NYSPHSAA – NY State Championships – 2nd Place High Jump (6-08.00)

New Balance Outdoor Nationals – 6th Place High Jump (6-08.25)

2017

Indoor Ocean Breeze Invitational Champion – High Jump (7-00.00)

Indoor Section XI State Qualifier Champion – High Jump (6-10.00)

Indoor NYSPHSAA – NY State Champion - High Jump (6-11.00)

New Balance Indoor National Champion – High Jump (7-00.25) 

Outdoor Penn Relays Carnival – 4th Place High Jump (6-10.25)

Outdoor Division Champion – High Jump (7-00.00)

Outdoor Section XI State Qualifier Champion – High Jump (7-1.75)

Outdoor NYSPHSAA – NY State Champion - High Jump (7-00.00)

New Balance Outdoor National Champion – High Jump (7-00.25)

Claxton went to the University of Connecticut to compete for the Huskies.  While there he was a two-time Big East High Jump Champion.

Hall of Fame Class of 2022

Hinnant’s coach, Kirk Carter, summed up the talent of Keith Hinnant during his senior year competition perfectly; “He has a beautiful mix of speed and endurance; he just amazes me every time he runs.”  This statement was made just after Hinnant won the 100m and 800m, individual events and competed on the championship 4x100m and 4x400m relays.  His talent was quite evident from his freshman year, when he set a then-state frosh record in the 400m (48.95).  Hinnant only competed in spring track because he was a standout basketball player for Bay Shore. This frustrated many track enthusiasts who wanted to see what he could have run in the 600m.  

2003 Outdoor

County A Champion 100m, 200m, 800m, anchored 4x400m

State Qualifier Champion 400m (47.15/48.55) 

State Championships – 3rd Place 400m (47.22), Division 1 - 4x100m Champions (42.06),  4x800 2nd place (7:52.97)

Adidas National Championships – 6th Place 400m (47.14), Anchored 800m Sprint Medley Relay 2nd Place finish - New York State Record (1:29.94) (Hinnant - 45.6 400m leg) 

2004 Outdoor 

Taco Bell Classic 2nd Place 400m (47.40)

Long Island Challenge 1st Place 800m (1:51.8)

State Qualifier Champion 100m (10.89), 800m (1:55.78)

Golden West Invitational – 2nd Place 400m (46.58)

800m Division One State Champion (1:51.56), 2nd Place Federation (1:52.79)

USATF Junior National Championships 3rd Place 400m (47.55) 

Junior World Championships - 7th Place 400m (46.54/46.93/46.88) *Suffolk County record in prelims that stood until 2017. 

Junior (U-20) World Championships – Member of winning 4x400m relay team.

For his outstanding senior season, Hinnant was recognized as a USA Today High School All-American.  He was also awarded the Long Island USATF Runner of the year for his accomplishments.  Hinnant attended the University of South Carolina where he had a very successful career competing in the SEC.  His high school personal bests included:  100m 10.87, 200m 22.43, 400m 46.54, 800m 1:51.56  

Hall of Fame Class of 2022

Tucker was a very physically gifted athlete, but that is not the whole story.  He also was an athlete that lived for competing and thrived on the thrill of victory, whether as an individual or as part of a relay. Some would argue that Infinite Tucker the best senior year of all time for a Section XI athlete. Between indoor and outdoor, he won three individual state championships and one national title. 

In addition to all the individual accolades listed below, Tucker was part of relay teams that were extremely successful.  The one that stands out above the others was the 2016 4x400m relay at the New Balance National Championships.  In that race, the Huntington Blue Devil squad (Lawrence Leake, Shane McGuire, Kyree Johnson, and Tucker) broke the NYS record that was previously set in 1966 (fifty years prior).  Their time of 3:10.93 was a put into the record book with a 46.07 anchor leg by Tucker, not long after winning the individual 400mH championship (50.70).  In all, with Tucker anchoring their relays, the Blue Devils won three New York State and two National titles in the 4x400m.  

2015 Indoor

Molloy Stanner Games - 2nd Place 600m (1:21.97)

Section XI State Qualifier Champion 600m (1:22.63)

Long Island Elite Meet Champion – 600m (1:22.35)

New York State Championships – 4th Place 600m (1:22.39)

New Balance Indoor National Emerging Elite Champion – 400m (48.48)

2015 Outdoor 

Taco Bell Classic Champion – 400mH (54.47)

Penn Relay Carnival – 6th Place 400mH (53.24)

Section XI State Qualifier Champion – 400mH (53.14), 3rd Place 110mH (14.48)

NYSPHSAA – NY State & Federation Champion – 400mH (52.29)

New Balance National Championships – 4th Place 400mH (52.61) 

2016 Indoor

Armory Track Invitational - 2nd Place 600m (1:20.26)

Section XI State Qualifier Champion – 55mH (7.41), 2nd Place Long Jump (23-00.00)

Long Island Elite Meet Champion – 55mH (7.37)

New York State & Federation Champion – 55mH (7.38), 2nd Place Long Jump (23-01.75)

2016 Outdoor 

Mobile Challenge of Champions – 1st Place 300mH (37.16), 2nd Place Long Jump (24-06.00)

Penn Relay Carnival – 4th Place 400mH (53.24)

Glenn D. Loucks Games Champion – 110mH (14.53), 400mH (52.77)

Section XI State Qualifier Champion – 110mH (14.27), 400mH (51.23), & Long Jump (23-04.50)

NYSPHSAA – NY State & Federation Champion – 110mH (14.06) & 400mH (52.35)

New Balance National Champion 400mH (50.70) & 9th Place 110mH (14.08)

Tucker moved on to Texas A&M to continue his running career.  In 2018 he was second in the SEC Championships (51.07) and the very next year was crowned champion with a rather spectacular finish of his race.  The “Superman Dive” went viral not only within the track circles, but world-wide.  Once again, Tucker was displaying his competitive nature and strong desire to be victorious. 

Hall of Fame Class of 2023

“Hard working, committed, and intense competitor” were words that Coach Kevin Johnson used when he described Antonio Davis.  These qualities lead Davis to succeed at both the high school and collegiate levels. Johnson was always confident that Antonio could win any meet that he was entered because he was such a clutch performer.  Many times, he came through on his very last attempt to win the event even if he fouled on several attempts beforehand.  Antonio was the first Long Island athlete to jump over fifty feet in the outdoor triple jump.  It took twenty years before another athlete joined his ranks.  

1988 - 1989 

Indoor State Qualifier – 2nd Place Triple Jump (42-03.50) & 3rd Place LJ (20-04.50)

Outdoor State Qualifier – 2nd Place Triple Jump (46-08.50), 3rd Place LJ (22-03.25) 

Outdoor State Championships – 3rd Place Triple Jump (46-11.00)

1989 - 1990

Indoor Brown Invitational Champion - – Long Jump (22-04.75) & Triple Jump (46-11.50)

Indoor Eastern States Champion – Triple Jump (48-06.25)

Indoor State Qualifier Champion – Long Jump (21-11.50) & Triple Jump (45-6.75) 

Indoor State Champion – Long Jump (23-06.25) & Triple Jump (48-08.00)

Indoor National Scholastic Championships – 2nd Place (48-09.50)

Outdoor Louck’s Games Champion – Triple Jump (48-08.25)

Outdoor Eddy Games Champion – Long Jump (23-01.75) & Triple Jump (46-10.50)

Outdoor Eastern States Champion – Long Jump (22-7.75), 2nd Place TJ(48-07.75)

Outdoor State Qualifier Champion – Long Jump (23-06.00) & Triple Jump (48-09.00)

Outdoor West Invitational – 4th Place Triple (50-06.50) 1st Long Islander to break 50’ barrier.

Davis was a two time All-American in college in the triple jump for Penn State University.  His best collegiate jump of 54-06.00 is still number one all time at PSU.  His best mark of 25-10.75 indoors in the long jump is second all-time.  In 1993, Davis won the Penn Relay Championship in the triple with a jump of 53-11.25”.  After graduating college, Davis channeled that drive to help other athletes reach their goals as a trainer and successful business owner in Pennsylvania.

Hall of Fame Class of 2023

“Morgan displayed a mixture of speed and endurance as he charged around the final turn to repeat as 200m champions at the State Federation.” This sentence from an article by Newsday’s Chris Antonacci perfectly describes the talents of Ian Morgan. Morgan had good speed, but it was his strength and endurance that allowed him to successfully navigate the numerous rounds of the 200 at the State Championship meet.  Those physical qualities, plus the hard work and strong desire to succeed, resulted in Morgan being a two-time State champion.  

2001-2002

Indoor State Qualifier Meet – 4th place 300m (37.17)

Indoor State Championships – 17th Place 300m (37.05)

Outdoor County “C” Championships – 3rd Place 100m (11.29), 3rd Place 400mH (56. 14)

Outdoor State Qualifier Meet – 5th Place 400mH (55.89)

2002- 2003

Indoor Small School Champion – 300m (37.58)

Indoor State Qualifier – 2nd Place 300m (36.94)

Indoor State Championships – 3rd Place 300m (36.11/35.32)

Outdoor County “C” Champion – 200m (22.54), 110mH (15.29)  

Outdoor State Qualifier Champion – 200m (21.97), 5th Place 110mH (15.08/15.51) 

Outdoor State Division One Champion – 200m (21.83/21.79) 

Outdoor State Federation Champion – 200m (21.91)

2003-2004

Indoor State Qualifier Champion – 300m (36.29)

Indoor State Championships – 3rd Place (35.44)

Indoor National Scholastic Championships – 4th Place 200m (21.82), 7th Place 400m (49.65)

Outdoor Eddy Games Champion – 100m (11.12/11.38/ 11.02) 

Outdoor County “C” Champion –110mH (14.14), 400m (50.70), & 200m (21.85) *Meet Record

Outdoor Eastern States Champion – 400m (47.93)

Outdoor State Championships – 2nd Place 200m (21.67/21.40)

Outdoor Federation Champion – 200m (21.53, -2.6 wind)

Outdoor Golden West Invitational – 5th Place 400m (48.98), 6th Place 200m (21.55)

Morgan not only had individual success, but he was also a member of several record setting relays during his sophomore year.  In a single National Scholastic Outdoor Championship Meet, Omar Logan, Narada Brooks, Ian Morgan, and David Jackson set two Suffolk relay marks that stand some twenty years later in the 4x100m (41.78) and 4x200m (1:27.14) relays.  Amityville also recorded a fourth-place finish in the 800m Sprint Medley relay (Max Rose, Jerod Gatling, Narada Brooks, and Morgan) to give them a third relay earning All-American status. 

Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Paul Ciurlys was a fierce competitor with a never quit attitude on the track.  Nothing demonstrated this better than his final New York State Championship race in his senior year.  Running behind race leader Damion Drummond, Ciurlys was able to reach down and win by 3-meters in a time of personal best time of 1:52.46.  The very next weekend, Ciurlys ran another personal best at the Foot Locker Outdoor National Championship race with a time of 1:51.35.  Although others have come close, this Suffolk County Record has stood for 25 years as per his induction in the Hall of Fame.  

Indoor

1999 – Stanner Games 1000m Champion 2:36.43

 3rd Place Large School Championships 1000m 2:36.4

2000 – Stanner Games 1000m Champion 2:30.38

Large School County Champion 600m 1:22.2

800m State Qual Champion 1000m 2:29.72 *County Record (Armory Track)

2nd Place NYS Championships 1000m 2:34.18 (Flat Track)

Outdoor

1999 – 800m County Champion 1:55.58

3rd Place NYS Class A/Fed Championships 800m 1:53.92

2000 – St. Anthony’s Invite Champion 1:55.01

Division Champion 800m 1:55.80

County Champion 800m 1:54.83

 State Champion 800m Finals 1:52.46 / Trials 1:56.96

 Foot Locker Outdoor National Championships 7th Place 800m (1:51.35)

College Stats: University of Kentucky

In 2003, Ciurlys earned his first All-American honor in the 800 meters by placing 12th at the NCAA Championships. (1:50.80).  He earned his second All-American honor by running the 400-meter leg of the seventh place Distance Medley Relay team at the NCAA Championships. He ran personal best 1:48.62 in the 800 meters at the SEC Challenge. Outdoors that year, he advanced to the semi-finals of the NCAA Championships 800 with a time of 1:49.37, placing 16th. He was a member of the 4×800 relay that broke the school record and placed third at the Penn Relays. 

Hall of Fame Class of 2024

Most elite hurdlers can break away from the pack by the time they reach the finish line. Cliff Montford and fellow Hall of Famer Joe Galeano didn’t get that chance in the indoor and outdoor seasons in 1986.  The two athletes pushed each other to very fast times during those two seasons. Montford was known as an outstanding starter and Galeano as a great finisher. Together, they allowed spectators to witness many memorable races. This this date, only Galeano and Kenneth Wei, another Hall of Famer, have run as fast Cliff in Suffolk County for the 55mH and the 110mH races. In fact, Montford is tied with Wei in the 55mH, and Wei only bettered his time by 0.01 seconds in the 110m race.  

Indoor

1986 – Co-County Champion 55mH (7.2 HT)  

NY State Champion 55m H (7.38 FAT)

2nd Place Pathmark National Championship 55mH (7.31 FAT) 

Outdoor

1986 – Loucks Games Champion 110mH (14.38 FAT)

Conference One 110mH Champion (13.7 HT)

2nd Place County Championships 110mH (14.1 HT)

2nd Place NY State Championships 110mH (13.87 FAT) 

Hall of Fame Class of 2024

In 2015, Kenneth Wei first appeared on MileSplit as the 49th place 110m hurdler at the Suffolk Officials Meet with a time of 21.40 in the 110mH.  From humble track beginnings, Wei worked hard to improve and over time enjoyed a stellar career. Wei collected three High School All-American honors over the course of his career, though his signature moment came at the Division III Outdoor Championships of his senior year. In that meet, Wei won four individual events in times and distances that would win many state championships. On that day he won the 110mH (13.89), 400mH (56.96), Long Jump (24-04.25) and the Triple Jump (48-03.50). 

Indoor

2017 – Small School County Championships 3rd Place 55mH 8.12

 State Qual Meet 5th Place 55mH 8.06

2018 -  Small School County Champion 55mH 7.61 & Triple Jump 44-08, 2nd Long Jump 22-06 

 State Quals 2nd Place 55mH 7.58, 2nd Long Jump 21-09, 3rd Triple Jump 43-10

 NYS Championships 8th 55mH 7.68, 13th Triple Jump 42-10.50, 17th Long Jump 20-00

2019  Small School County Champion 55mH 7.47, Long Jump *25-00, Triple Jump 47-08.50

 112th NYRR Millrose Games Triple Jump 6th Place 47-00.75

 State Qual Meet Champion 55mH 7.34, Long Jump 24-06, Triple Jump 46-09 

   NYS Championships 1st Place Long Jump 23-05.50, 2nd Place 55mH 7.45 

 New Balance Indoor Nationals 3rd Place 60mH 7.83 (enroute 55mH 7.31) and 

5th Place Long Jump 23-11.00  

Outdoor

2017 -  Division Champion 110mH 15.57

 State Qualifier 5th Place 15.54

 NY State Championships (D-2) 5th Place 15.67

2018 - Division Champion 110mH 14.73, Long Jump 22-10.25, Triple Jump 43-08.25

 State Qualifier 2nd Place 110mH 14.49, 3rd Place Long & Triple 21-11, 44-01

 NYS Championships (D-2) 2nd Place 110mH 14.45/14.51, 9th Long Jump 21-03

  New Balance Outdoor Nationals 15th Place 110mH 14.47

2019 - Division Champion in Four Events 110mH 13.89, 400mH 56.96, Long Jump 24-04.25 

and Triple Jump 48-03.50 

State Qual Champion Long & Triple Jump 23-10.00/48-05.00, 2nd Place 110mH 14.48

New York State D-2 and Federation Champion 110mH 13.86 & Long Jump 24-03/23-03

New Balance Outdoor Nationals 6th Place Long Jump 24-03, 10th 110mH 13.94 

College stats: MIT- Massachusetts Institute of Technology  

3-Time National Champion, All-American eight times.  

Indoor 60mH 7.94, Long Jump 24-05, Triple Jump 48-02.00

Outdoors 110mH 14.05, Long Jump 25-10.50, Triple Jump 46-05.75

Hall of Fame Class of 2025

Sometimes athletes like to challenge themselves to obtain goals that drive them to new heights.  Kevin Hogan was such an athlete.  The first three seasons of his high school career were spent competing for Westhampton Beach.  Hogan was very successful there winning a State Class B title in his junior year.  Then in the summer of his senior year, Kevin moved into the Longwood district, a Class A school.  By doing so, he was putting a lot of pressure on himself since Longwood had a strong program and, like the Yankees, every year was championship or bust.  Plus, Longwood was a Class A school and his task of repeating as state champion would be more difficult.  Hogan handled that extra pressure well by capturing the Class A individual title and was instrumental in Longwood winning both the State and Federation Meet titles that year.  

Cross Country

Fastest Time at Sunken Meadow 15:53.8 

Ranks him 10th on the All-Time Section XI List @ Sunken Meadow &  41st on All-Time List

Cross Country

1988 – New York State Championships 2nd Place 16:34 (Lake Placid)

 3rd Place Federation Meet 15:44.8 (3-mile Course Van Cortlandt Park)

1989 – 2nd Fastest Time of Day Manhattan Invitational 12:46.7 

New York State Class B Champion & Fastest Time of Day 15:59 (Wappingers Falls)

 Federation Champion 15:51.0 (5K Course Wappingers Falls) *Course Record

Kinney XC National Championships – 11th Place 15:24 (Balboa Park, San Diego)  

1990 – Suffolk County Champion 15:57.8 (5K Sunken Meadow)

New York State Class A Champion 17:06.3 (Green Lakes State Park-Fayetteville)

 Federation Champion 16:13.0 (5K Course Wappingers Falls)

 Kinney XC National Championships – 5th Place 15:25 (Balboa Park, San Diego)

Outdoor Track

1989 – Section XI State Qualifier 2nd Place 3200m (9:22.0) 

1990 – Penn Relays 3000m Run 6th Place (8:38.35)

Section XI State Qualifier 2nd Place 3200m (9:23.4), 3rd Place 1600m (4:18.6)

New York State Championships 3rd Place 3200m

College Stats:

Kevin Hogan was the 1994 ACC Cross Country Champion, and a member of the 1992 and 1993 All-ACC teams. Hogan is one of two Tigers to earn all-district honors all four years (1991-94).  He was named to the ACC 50th Anniversary Cross Country Team.  Hogan also earned All-ACC honors in the 5000m in 1993 and 1994.  

Hall of Fame Class of 2025

In the 1970’s, Walt Whitman was a cross-country powerhouse not only in Suffolk County, but the entire state.  One of their outstanding runners was Rich Lippert.  Lippert was not only a fast on the trials, but was an outstanding runner with success over a wide range of distances.  In a Newsday article, he spoke about watching the Millrose Games as a sophomore and thinking how he wanted to win the race himself.  He had to wait two years for his chance to compete in a very loaded race that included John Gregorek and Otis Sanders (Top distance runners at the time).  When it was all said and done, Lippert finished second on the old 11 lap to the mile board track at the Garden in an outstanding time of 4:16.5 for the race. 

Cross Country

Sunken Meadow PR 15:50.0  This time presently ranks him 9th on the all-time Suffolk list and the 29th fastest time ever at Sunken Meadow. 

1977 – Suffolk County Champion 16:00.1

New York State Championships 3rd Place Overall (3-mile course (15:04.5) @ Malone 

State Federation Meet 5th Place @ Sunken Meadow (15:50.0) 

Indoor

1978 - Bishop Loughlin Games Champion One-Mile Run (4:18.9)

 St. Francis Prep Games (102nd St. Armory) 1000yd Run (2:19.0)

Long Island Coaches Meet (Held Outdoors) Mile Champion (4:19.0)

Millrose Mile @ Madison Square Garden 2nd Place (4:16.5)  

New York State Champion 1-Mile (4:23.3), 2-Mile (9:19.9)

Outdoor

1977 – Nassau Coaches Champion 2-Mile Run (9:13.6)

New York State Champion 2-Mile (9:15.4)

 Eastern States 4th Place 2-mile (9:23.6)

1978 -  New York Relays Champion 2-Mile Run (9:15.2)

 Eddy Game Champion 880yd Run (1:52.7)

Golden West Meet 5th Place 880yd Run (1:52.3)

Eastern States Champion 2-Mile Run (9:10.6)

Junior National Championships (Bloomington, IN) 880yd Run (1:52.2 / Converts to 1:51.55 800m)

College Career:  Rutgers University

Lippert had a successful college career at Rutgers.  He was a co-captain on the track team.  In cross country Lippert was All-Atlantic 10 in 1980 & 1981.  He ran on several high-level relay teams whose times still are listed in the schools top 5 lists forty plus years after graduation.