Will Bringle won the high jump at the Gold Rush Invitational. Photo by Brian Halling.

By J. Murrer and S.Q. DeJoy 

April 30, 2025: It may be still early in the outdoor track and field season, but the Bronxville boys’ have already shown they are the team to beat. At the Gold Rush Invitational this past weekend, the Broncos finished first among 35 schools with three first place finishes and top ten finishes in nine different events.

The boys won the meet with 63.77 points followed by Iona Prep (43.77), Clarkstown South (38.55), Suffern (29.77), and Pearl River (28). 

“We saw several impressive performances and, more importantly at this phase of the year, quite a few personal bests,” said Coach Brian Halling. “We're happy with the work the athletes put in every day, and we're proud of all that they've already accomplished this year.”

Senior Kieran McBride won the 3000m steeplechase (9:51.50) and freshman Matthew Jensen was not far behind in third place with a time of 9:58.78. McBride’s time in the steeplechase places him No. 3 in New York and No. 4 in the US for high school boys.

Kieran McBride placed first in the 3000m steeplechase at the Gold Rush Invitational. Photo submitted by Alex Barraco.

Matthew Jensen placed 3^rd in the 3000m steeplechase at the Gold Rush Invitational. Photo submitted by Alex Barraco.

Wyatt Gravier won the 200m hurdles in 25.54, and John Sekula placed 5^th (26.38). Gravier won the New York State and Federation Championships in the 110m hurdles last spring and was the Division 2 Champion in the 400m hurdles.

Bronxville also had strong performances in the high jump with Will Bringle placing first (6-2) and Gravier placing 4^th (5-6).

Two runners scored in the 800m: Julian Gonzalez placed 2^nd in 1:58.69, and Caspar Smith placed 6^th in 2:02.36. Gonzalez, a middle-distance runner who prefers the 800, is hoping to hit 1:56 before the end of the season. He is happy the team is off to such an amazing start.

“We have been growing and developing as athletes since the indoor season,” said Gonzalez. “Overall, the group is motivated to keep improving right from the start of the season.”

Gonzalez has run cross country and track every season since 7^th grade and was a member of the 4x800m relay team that won the D2 Indoor Track and Field State Championship in March. 

Julian Gonzalez running in the 4x800m at the Purple Champions Meet this past winter. Photo by David Fenner.

This coming weekend, Gonzalez, McBride, Will Hogue and Smith, will get their first opportunity to compete in the 4x800m relay at a major meet--the Joe Wynne Somers Lions Invitational. “Somers is a big meet,” said Gonzalez. “We are hoping to hit the State Super Standard of 8:07, so we don’t have to worry for the rest of the season.”

Running a time of 8:07 or better automatically qualifies the team for the NYS Championship in June.

The girls’ track and field team also had a very strong performance at the Gold Rush Invite. Competing against much larger schools, the girls’ team placed 5^th with a score of 26.50. Monroe Woodbury won the meet with 52 points and was followed by 2^nd place Pearl River (50), 3^rd place Clarkstown South (32), and 4^th place Suffern (28). 

“The meet started with a frosh/soph portion where our younger members got to show off,” said Coach Alex Barraco. “We had many personal bests including in field events, and we had students place in events despite there being a large number of teams competing.”

In the frosh/soph 200m dash, Bronxville had three runners place in the top 18 in a field of 236 runners: Elena Tomala-Reidel, Drake Benton, and Maria Overby.  In addition, the frosh/soph DMR, Caitlin Paisley, Maria Overby, Mary Donahue, and Mia Horgan, came in first place in 9:49.29. 

The frosh/soph DMR placed first at the Gold Rush Invitational. Photo submitted by Alex Barraco.

The Bronxville girls’ varsity team scored well in the field events. Alessa Johnson placed 4^th in the triple jump (31-9.75) and 6^th in the high jump (4-6) and Juliet Winiecki placed 2^nd in the long jump (16-8).

Vincent D'Amato in the triple jump at the Gold Rush

For a complete list of top ten finishes, see below.

Boys’ Results 

200m: Davis Patterson, 4^th, 22.98; Javier Tomala-Reidel, 10^th, 23.37

800m: Julian Gonzalez, 2^nd, 1:58.69, Caspar Smith, 6^th, 2:02.36

1600m: Will Hogue, 9^th, 4:47.49; Nate Deutsch, 10^th, 4:47.79

200m hurdles: Wyatt Gravier, 1^st, 25.54; John Sekula, 5^th, 26.38

3000m Steeplechase: Kieran McBride, 1^st, 9:51.50; Matthew Jensen, 3^rd, 9:58.78

4x400m relay: 3^rd, 3:41.57

High Jump: Will Bringle, 1^st, 6-2; Wyatt Gravier, 4^th, 5-6

Triple Jump: Vincent D’Amato, 7^th, 41-10

Discus: Zijun Xu, 3^rd, 138-5

Girls’ Results 

200m: Juliet Winiecki, 4^th, 26.42

1600m: Finlay Rowan, 2^nd, 5:21.42; Charlotte Black, 10^th, 6:03.87

200m hurdles: Charlotte O’Friel, 5^th, 33.82

2000m Steeplechase: Kailee Fino, 9^th, 9:18.81

4x100m relay: 5^th, 54.77

High Jump: Alessa Johnson, 6^th, 4-6; Fiona Keveney, 8^th, 4-6

Long Jump: Juliet Winiecki, 2^nd, 16-8

Triple Jump: Alessa Johnson, 4^th, 31-8.75

Go Broncos.