The girls’ 4x400m relay team on the podium for their 2^nd-place finish at the New York State Championships. Photo courtesy of B. Halling.

By S. Q. DeJoy and J. Murrer 

March 8, 2023: The New York State Indoor Track and Field Championships feature athletes from public and Catholic schools of all sizes, and Bronxville showed up to compete against the best in the state. This past weekend, the Broncos competed in four different relays and five individual events at the Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island and had top ten finishes in six of them.

The girls’ 4x400m relay team, Danielle Dragoni, Mai Ly Reinking, Juliet Winiecki, and Kara Kochansky, had high hopes as they were ranked No. 1 in the state, but Burnt Hills/Ballston Lake edged out Bronxville by 0.22 seconds to get the win. Bronxville finished in second place in 3:59.25 breaking the four-minute barrier for the second time this season.

A second-place finish is an exceptional accomplishment considering Bronxville was by far the smallest school on the podium. In addition, seniors Mai Ly Reinking and Danielle Dragoni started racing relatively recently.

“I had been playing lacrosse almost all my life,” said Dragoni. “I fell out of love with lacrosse and started tennis, but it still wasn’t my main sport. I ran track as a side gig starting in sophomore year and then started getting serious about it my junior year.”

Getting serious about track paid off for Dragoni.  Last spring, Dragoni and Winiecki were part of the 4x400m relay team that won the D2 Outdoor State Championship. This winter, the 4x400m relay team has had great success winning Leagues, Counties and Sectionals.

“It has been by far the most amazing season ever,” said Dragoni.  “Basically, the team is the closest we have ever been and a big reason for that is the new coaching staff. I think it has made the biggest of differences.”

Unlike previous years where the boys’ and girls’ teams were coached separately, this year both teams are coached by Brian Halling along with Alex Barraco, Vic Palumbo, Dani Tocci, and Michael Whelan. This year, Bronxville’s indoor track and field teams sent 24 athletes to the State Championship, among the most ever in Section 1 history.

“They represented themselves, the school and the entire community so well,” said Coach Halling.  “They gave everything they could and capped off an amazing season with an amazing meet.  When all was said and done, the team had an astounding 12 athletes finish with All-State honors.  These individuals are the members of our boys 4x800m relay, the boys 4x400m relay, and the girls 4x400m relay.  We're so proud to see their hard work this season truly paying off on the biggest stage.”

The Broncos set personal bests in two events at States with Maddy Williams placing 9^th in the 1500m in 4:43.70 and the boys’ 4x800m team, Ian Gegenwarth, Kieran McBride, Andrew Jensen, Ellis Goodson, placing 6^th in 8:06.47. 

While the spring season starts on Monday, the indoor season is still has another meet to go. The Bronxville relay teams will head to Boston this coming weekend to compete at the New Balance Nationals Indoor meet.

For complete results and a list of All-State athletes, see below.

State Results

55m:  Danielle Dragoni, 25^th, 7.50

1500m: Maddy Williams, 9^th, 4:43.70

1000m: Ellis Goodson, 10^th, 2:34.93

Pole Vault: Max Dicker, 18^th, 12-0

Shot Put: Chris Lockwood, 16^th, 43-7

Girls’ 4x800m: Hope Hershberg, Maddy Stupart, Charlotte Murray, Maddy Williams, 9^th, 9:41.34

All-State Teams

Girls’ 4x400m: Danielle Dragoni, Mai Ly Renking, Juliet Winiecki, and Kara Kochansky, 2^nd, 3:59.25

Boys’ 4x400m: Jaime Valdes, Davis Patterson, Pierce Patterson, Gavin Benton, 6^th, 3:26.76

Boys’ 4x800m: Ian Gegenwarth, Kieran McBride, Andrew Jensen, Ellis Goodson, 6^th, 8:06.47

Go Broncos.