Fowkes Makes the Cut for States in the 1,000 Meters

Ryan Fowkes, a senior and East Hampton's top runner, followed up his win in the 1,000-meter indoor event at the county small schools meet last week by finishing second at that distance Monday night in the Section XI state qualifier at Suffolk Community College-Brentwood. His time was 2:36.15, and his placement in the top three means he'll be making the trip to the state championships at the Ocean Breeze facility on Staten Island on March 2.

Fowkes holds the school record in the 1,000 – the 2:34.75 mark he set in the small schools meet on Feb. 3, also held in Brentwood. The winner of the state qualifier Monday, Michael Danzi of Smithtown West, finished in 2:35.71.

As for the girls, Ava Engstrom, Coach Yani Cuesta's top distance runner, clocked a 5:08.90 in the 1,500 meters at the state qualifier. Her 13th-place finish over all was the best by a sophomore. And Bella Espinoza pole-vaulted a height of 8 feet 6 inches, good for seventh place.