Westchester/Putnam Boys Track All-Stars: Gravier and Hargraves share top award

Sometimes parents know best.

Ask Wyatt Gravier and Justin Hargraves about this. They'd agree. At least where track is concerned.

The pair share The Journal News/lohud Westchester/Putnam Boys Outdoor Track Athlete of the Year award.

And without their parents, that wouldn't be true. Both, after all, didn't want to do track. But their parents had other ideas.

Gravier, who just competed his junior year at Bronxville High, proved them right by winning not just the boys state 110-meter Division 2 (small public schools) championship last month, but also the overall state Federation (public and private schools of all sizes) championship in that event.

His best time in the 110 hurdles this spring, 13.94, placed him second in the state among high school athletes.

Gravier also was second at states in D2 in the 400-meter hurdles and likely would have medaled had he decided to compete in the Fed race.

With a 6-2 clear, he was also in the top five in Section 1 in the high jump.

At Iona Prep, Hargraves, who'll compete next year for Division I Binghamton University, finished his last high school track season tied for seventh in the state at 100 meters with a 10.67 clocking.

The Westchester County championships' triple-jump champion at 46-4 increased his distance to a personal-best 46-6.75 to medal in fifth place at the Adidas Outdoor Nationals. Hargraves, who was the Catholic High School Athletic Association triple-jump champ, also took top honors in long jump at the Westchester meet.

Hargraves follows in mom's footsteps

The 18-year-old Hargraves followed older brothers Jacob and Jordan into Iona Prep and onto the track team.

He'd already been doing well at track at middle-school level after telling his parents he didn't want to do any sport.

"Honestly, I pushed back against my parents," he said, while allowing that now "track is my second home."

The fact he lost the track battle with his folks was perhaps not much of a surprise.

His dad, Joe, is a former Clarion University football player. And his mom? Well, she was a six-time All-American in the 800 at George Mason and went on to run professional track for about a year.

Hargraves is proud of that and proud of his own accomplishments.

But if you ask him what he most likes about being a track and field athlete, he'll explain it's the team dynamic.

In fact, he doesn't point to an individual record as his high school highlight but rather to his 2023 4x100 team breaking the school record and winning the state Federation championship that spring.

"That team was so special," he said.

This year's squad was in the lead in the Federation 100 when its anchor pulled a hamstring.

The group could have been devastated, especially understandable since three members, including Hargraves, had passed on potential individual medals by opting to pull out of the open 100 to save themselves for the relay.

But Hargraves said there were no hard feelings.

"I don't think we were disappointed at all. We put our best foot forward. ... We practiced well and the unexpected happened. ... As a whole, we were happy to be there as a team," he explained.

And it's always about team for him, although he points to being happy with his 100 personal-best time this year, giving a large chunk of credit for that and for much of his success to Iona Prep sprints coach Dom Zanot.

"He's been the most wonderful coach and person," he said, crediting Zanot for his near-constant improvements.

He also gives his parents credit, beyond credit just for pushing him into the sport.

Both are his chief fans and his dad oversees his basement weightlifting.

His dad also has helped calm Hargraves, who used to get very nervous, particularly at the starting line of the 100. His dad told him to say, "Momma go and save me." and that has made a huge difference.

Hargraves will take those words to Binghamton, where he plans to major in mechanical engineering.

He's very open to doing whatever events coaches there put him in.

And he's also determined to get better. His goal, he said, is to exit college and compete for at least one year as a professional, just like his mom did.

But, on the high school level, he realizes while he might not have achieved every goal he had, he still achieved a lot.

"Only so many people can say they placed and were on the podium at nationals," Hargraves said.

Gravier also bows to parents wishes but to few opponents

Gravier has another year to add to his high school track resume.

As with Hargraves, Gravier has found a second family in his track team.

It's a team perhaps befuddled by his constant bus-ride habit.

That would be napping, whether the trip is five minutes or hours long. Many pictures — some, of course, doctored — have circulated, documenting this unusual talent.

Gravier's greater talent, of course, is going fast and clearing hurdles.

One of three children, he followed his sister Jules, a pole vaulter, on to the track team. This, of course, was his parents' idea/directive.

And, as with Hargraves, his parents' resolve shouldn't have been surprising. Gravier's dad, Joseph, is a marathoner and triathlete and his mom, Lia, likes to run.

Gravier started doing track in seventh grade but it wasn't until eighth that he began liking it. That occurred when he began doing hurdles and "wasn't just sprinting in a straight line."

He gave up lacrosse for spring track but still plays football for Bronxville, his speed and ability to jump making him a perfect fit at defensive back and wide receiver.

In track, he follows the advice coach Brian Halling gives him at each meet.

"Before every race he looks me in the eyes and says, 'Focus on your lane and your race and your time. Nothing else matters but your lane."

Clearly, that has paid dividends. The Fed 110 title was huge and Gravier didn't expect it.

He'd been disappointed with his seventh-place finish at states a year earlier. That result proved to be fuel.

"It means so much to me," Gravier said of winning the overall title. "Looking back at last year's times and placement, it gave me motivation to get better, to be the best hurdler version of myself I could be."

That version is already attracting the attention of college coaches and he calls the early recruiting process "really cool."

He isn't setting his sights on the biggest or best known program but says he wants to go to a team that's supportive and in a conference where he can compete and contribute to his team's success.

But there's a lot of time between now and when he'll put on a college uniform and that means there's time to improve, which is the 17-year-old's plan.

Next year, Gravier wants to drop his times, win the Federation 400 hurdles, sucessfully defend his 110 hurdles Fed title and become a New Balance All-American in the 110 hurdles.

"That's pretty ambitious," he said, "but I think if I put my mind to it and really work hard, those goals are achievable."

Coach of the Year

Jan Mitchell, Iona Prep: Mitchell led his squad to its third straight Westchester County boys team title, outscoring 30 other teams. His Gaels also won the more than 50-team Catholic High School Athletic Association boys team track title, becoming only the third team since 1976 to score more than 60 points.

100

Second team — Declain McCauley, Sr., Iona Prep

Honorable mention — Niko Wright, Sr., Horace Greeley

110 hurdles

Second team — Alex Wong, Sr., Hen Hud

Honorable mention — Baraka Middleton, Jr., Hackley; Chris Somersel, Jr., Iona Prep

200

First team — Niko Wright, Sr., Horace Greeley

Second team — Seamus Finn, Sr., Horace Greeley

Honorable mention — Andrew Fasone, Sr., Somers; Declain McCauley, Sr., Iona Prep

400

First team — David Davitt, Sr., Stepinac

Second team — Seamus Finn, Sr., Horace Greeley

Honorable mention — Jair Olivia Jr., Sr., Alexander Hamilton; Oliver Smeal, Sr., Mamaroneck

400 hurdles

First team — David Davitt, Sr., Stepinac

Second team — James Biolchini, Sr., Mahopac

Honorable mention — Peter Winter, Sr., Iona Prep

800

First team — Tommy Flynn, Sr., Iona Prep

Second team — Chris Doherty, So., Dobbs Ferry

Honorable mention — Miles Chamberlain, Sr., Briarcliff

1,600

First team — Ryan Sykes, Fr., Horace Greeley

Second team — Miles Chamberlain, Sr., Briarcliff

Honorable mention — Andrew Condon, Jr., John Jay-Cross River; Brodie Schneider, Sr., John Jay-Cross River

3,200

First team — Ryan Sykes, Fr., Horace Greeley

Second team — Andy Condon, Jr., John Jay-Cross River

Honorable mention — Tommy Flynn, Sr., Iona Prep; Rishi Shadaksharappa, Jr., Scarsdale

3,000 steeplechase

First team — Andy Condon, Jr., John Jay-Cross River; Tommy Flynn, Sr., Iona Prep

Second team — Kieran McBride, Jr., Bronxville

Honorable mention — Rafael Castro, Jr., Hackley

High jump

First team — Logan McCormick, Sr., White Plains

Second team — Nate Alvarez, Sr., Stepinac; Perry Quaye, Fr., Hen Hud; Etai Nunberg, Sr., Pleasantville

Honorable mention — Kwame Boateng, Sr., Yonkers

Long jump

First team — Ben Ho, Jr., Horace Greeley; Dariel Llitera Picardo, So., Sleepy Hollow

Second team — Manasi Simplins, Jr., New Rochelle

Honorable mention — Steven Dowdy, Jr., Iona Prep; Gilbert Onwe, So., Sleepy Hollow

Triple jump

Second team — Isaac Evans, So., New Rochelle

Honorable mention — Adande Nartey, Sr., Iona Prep; Demetrius Wells, Sr., Hen Hud

Pole vault

First team — Aidan Keating, So., Iona Prep

Second team — Ethan Steuber, So., Somers

Honorable mention — Aaron Bell, Sr., Sleepy Hollow; Ben Kasoff, Sr., Irvington; David Schifrin, So, Horace Greeley, Rylan Toner, Jr., Horace Greeley; Michael Weyne, Jr., Horace Greeley

Discus

First team — Nathan Shpilberg, Sr., Rye Neck

Second team — Aiden Kayizzi, Sr., Pleasantville

Honorable mention — Dennis Crowell, Sr., Putnam Valley; Luca Cavallo, Jr., Valhalla

Javelin

First team — Jake Gherardi, Sr., Iona Prep

Second team — Rocklan Boisseau, Sr., Rye

Honorable mention — Alex Ryzy, Sr., Lakeland/Panas ; Oliver Smeal, Sr., Mamaroneck

Hammer throw

First team — Dan Ye, Jr., Horace Greeley

Second team —- Brian Chin, Sr., Rye Neck

Honorable mention — Sohum Aggarwal, Sr., Lakeland/Panas; Gannon Traymore, Sr., Pleasantville

Pentathlon

First team — Shane Horigan, Sr., Pleasantville; Jack Pennachio, Sr., Eastchester

Second team — Nikolaj Lund, Sr., Ardsley

Honorable mention — Marc Arroyo, Sr., Briarcliff; Taylor Rhett, Sr., New Rochelle

Westchester/Putnam girls track: State medalists Crisp and Donovan share top award

4x100 relay

First team —- Iona Prep (Justin Hargraves, Sr., Declan McCauley, Sr., Landen Wiley, So., Terron Johnson, Jr.)

Second team — Horace Greeley (Kyle McKenney, Sr., Seamus Finn, Sr., Ben Ho, Jr., Niko Wright, Sr.)

Honorable mention — Pelham (Nicholas Massaregli, Sr., Labron Richardson, Sr., Idowu Emmanuel, Jr., Kristian Howell, Sr.); Stepinac (Zaire Spellman, Jr., Joshua Genwright, Jr., Oliver Arius, So, Ian Thomas, So.)

4x400 relay

First team —Horace Greeley (Ryan Temistokle, Jr., Isaac Evans, So., Max Pitocchi, Sr., Obinna N'Joku, Sr.); New Rochelle (Ryan Temistokle, Jr., Isaac Evans, So, Max Pitocchi, Sr., Obinna N'Joku, Sr. )

Second team — Alexander Hamilton (Carlyle Roberts, Sr., Rahsawn Surell, Sr., Lamine Diakhate, Sr., Jair Oliva Jr., Sr.)

Honorable mention — Bronxville ( Javier Tomala-Reidel, So, Spencer Martin, So, Wyatt Gravier, Jr., Davis Patterson, Jr.)

4x800 relay

First team — Iona Prep (Peter Winter, Sr., Michael Rynne, So., Kieran Degen, Fr., Quin O'Grady, Jr.)

Second team — New Rochelle (Anderson Krasner, Jr., Isaac Maiese, So., Riley O'Rourke, Fr., Jackson O'Rourke, Fr.)

Honorable mention — Scarsdale (Jack Sherman, Jr., Rishi Shadaksharappa, Jr., Nathaniel Lynch, So., Charles Rich, So.)

Nancy Haggerty covers cross-country, track & field, field hockey, skiing, ice hockey, basketball, girls lacrosse and other sporting events for The Journal News/lohud. Follow her on Twitter at @HaggertyNancy .

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Westchester/Putnam Boys Track All-Stars: Gravier and Hargraves share top award