Track and field: Syracuse-bound Mallard sweeps OCIAA hurdles

Washingtonville hurdler Elijah Mallard is ranked No. 1 in the state at 400 meters and No. 4 at 110 meters. He’s also a member of a Wizard relay team that could qualify for the state meet.

He’s held discussions with coach Mike White about what events he should take part in at states. The relay is important so he may have to decide between the hurdle events, to save his legs for two tough days.

One thought is choose the 400 and defend the top state ranking. But Mallard might prefer the 110 because he’d like to take another crack at Michael Parks of East Syracuse-Minoa, the co-leader who beat Mallard at last week’s Loucks Games.

“I think I really want to run against that guy again,’’ Mallard said Friday, after winning his 110 semifinal at the Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association meet in Warwick. “I love competition. I can’t wait to run against good people.’’

As for trailing Parks, “I think about it a lot,’’ Mallard said. “Actually, it does sometimes weigh on my mind, but I try to stay positive and just focus on what’s happening now and let the future come later.’’

At Loucks, three-hundredths of a second separated Mallard (14.45) from Parks (14.42, matched by Cheektowaga’s C.J. Krzanowicz at his league meet on Friday). Michael Kilgallon of Queensbury is No. 3 at 14.44.

Mallard won the OCIAA 110 title on Saturday in Goshen, running 15.00. He also won the 400 in 53.90, with only the third sub-54 OCIAA winning time since 1984 (Middletown’s Adam Abdur-Rahman ran 53.64 in 2011, only to be topped by Newburgh’s Robert Walker in 53.39 in 2017). It’s no wonder Syracuse University plunked down some scholarship money for Mallard.

“It makes me super happy,’’ Mallard said of his college choice. “My parents are proud of me. I’m proud of me … but I’m always hungry for more and I definitely think I could do a lot better.’’

“He’s going to be better in college and past college,’’ White said. “I didn’t put him on a weight program and he’s just going to focus on hurdles.’’

Mallard is already thinking ahead to a college showdown with Newburgh’s Ryler Gould, two years ahead and running for the University of Miami. “He was killing it back then so I’d love to run against him in college,’’ Mallard said.

Mallard took up hurdling as a seventh-grader in modified, though the longer race was only 200 meters. He said he was a natural, and prefers hurdling to straight sprints. “Honestly, I just find hurdles more fun,’’ he said. “I just love the technique. I just love the work that you have to put into hurdles – it just comes with a lot more effort and technique and skills.’’

Mallard wants to succeed but he knows how to separate his competitive fires from the joy of competing.

“I like how people judge me,’’ said Mallard. “I really like the respectful atmosphere of track and field. I love being humble and I love just being able to go and chat people up out of nowhere and just be like, ‘Hey, how you doing? Did you increase your time?’ I love being friends with people from other schools in track and field.’’

“He's probably the best sportsmanship kid around that I've seen in years,’’ White said.

Weekend notes

The Cornwall boys captured their first OCIAA meet title. The Dragons (130 points) topped Monroe-Woodbury (94) and strong showing by Monticello (85.5). The Monroe girls (183) easily outdistanced Cornwall (111). … With archives only going back to 1984, there were five possible meet marks set: Cornwall’s Karrie Baloga in the 3,000 (9:39.24) and 2K steeplechase (6:45.85); Valley Central’s Bianca Staples in the high jump (tie at 5 feet, 6 inches); Monticello’s Evan Waterton in the 3,200 (9:15.44); and Cornwall’s boys 400 relay (42.50).

The Mid-Hudson Athletic League meet on Saturday at Rondout Valley was halted by heat indexes with only two events remaining: the pentathlon’s high jump and girls 800/boys 1,500. No determination has been made to accepting the final results as is or resuming the pentathlon. As it stands, the Roosevelt boys lead Marlboro, 131-129, and the Rondout girls lead New Paltz, 148-138. .. With archives going back to the 1977 UCAL meet, a possible meet record was set by Rondout’s Cameron Sands in the 100 meters (10.77).

kmcmillan@th-record.com

Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Washingtonville Elijah Mallard hurdles OCIAA track championships