Whitney Fountain was late to the start, but arrived earlier than usual to the finish. The Christopher Columbus junior ran a blazing time of 23.94 in the trials and was slow getting to the other side of the track for the finals.
“I was late to the starting block,” Fountain said. “I had to get out my blocks, set them, and just run. I cleared (my head) and just focused on me. All I heard was the gun.”
The state leader in the event came flying around the track and finished in a meet record and personal best time of 23.44 at the PSAL outdoor track and field championships Sunday at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island. She broke her own record and PR time of 23.6 set at last season’s championships. Fountain wants to run less than 23 seconds by season’s end.
“Probably when I go home I’m going to try to critique my form from the video and try to work with that,” she said.
Fountain also won the 400 intermediate hurdles in a time of 1:01.33 and Kadian Dunkley of Clara Barton was second in 1:03.57. The Columbus star placed first in the long jump with a leap of 18 feet, 11 inches. Murry Bergtruam’s Kia Allen, who also won the pentathlon, finished second in 17-08.50.
Broomfield, Freeland split shot put and discus titles: DeWitt Clinton’s Brittany Broomfield’s right shoulder has been bothering her since she hurt it in practice two days before the Bronx borough championships on May 2. It’s improving, but still not as strong as she’d like. Broomfield is learning to deal with it.
“For the day I just don’t think about it and hope for the best,” the sophomore said.
Broomfield certainly got it in the shot put, which she won with a season best toss of 40-02 to beat out defending PSAL champion Dwanya Freeland of A.P. Randolph. Freeland placed second with a throw of 38-07.05.
“I didn’t think I would throw 40,” Broomfield said. “I thought I would throw 37.”
Freeland, in her better event, would top Broomfield in the discus. The senior won and defended her title with a throw of 109-11 and Broomfield was second in 90-11.
“She knows she is going to get me in the shot put,” Freeland said. “I know I’m going to get her in the discus. It’s just like you win, I win.”
She didn’t accomplish her goal for the day as she was trying to PR with a throw of more than 123 feet in the discus, but vowed it will occur before season’s end.
“It didn’t happen today, but it will happen at states,” Freeland said.
Winner’s circle: Paul Robeson’s Samantha Francis won the 100 meter dash in a time of 11.88 and was a member of the winning 4 x 100 relay with Charmaine Delotch, Linda Blue and Alysia Howell in 47.49. Therese Thompson of Health Professions was first in the 2000 steeplechase in a time of 7:39.99. Imani Oliver of Midwood won the triple jump with a leap of 40-06.25.
