The record board for the Oyster Bay High School Boy’s Track Team is once again host to erroneous information. It is now a source of inaccuracy since Seniors Kyle Cartwright and Theodore Hamlin slashed previously held records.
On April 4, during a home meet at the James H. Vernon Middle School track, Cartwright broke the previously held record in the 110-meter high hurdles. Already the Oyster Bay record holder for this event, Cartwright improved his previous best of 15.5 seconds by one tenth of second setting the new school record at 15.4 seconds. Cartwright also became the school record holder for the 400-meter intermediate hurdles on April 9 at an away meet at Locust Valley. Oyster Bay Class of 2010 alumni Chris Murdock held the previous record with a time of 58.00 seconds. Cartwright now holds the record with a time of 57.7 seconds.
Cartwright began running track as a sophomore and has been fully committed to the sport ever since.
“You might think running in a circle is easy, but its how you run in that circle that defines your commitment to the sport,” said Cartwright. “It takes time to memorize the rhythms, develop your stamina, and perfect your form to achieve the highest speed that you are capable of running at. It takes a lot of time to reach such a goal, but it is the most rewarding feeling to know that you can set the standard and strive to be better and better,” Cartwright explained.
Cartwright is still undecided as to what college to attend in the fall. “There is a possibility that I might be able to continue my track career at this next venue. It would be the greatest of honors to be able to pursue my sport at the next level and I am excited to say that several schools have already offered me the opportunity,” said Cartwright.
Cartwright has also served as left fullback for the Oyster Bay Boy’s Varsity Soccer Team for the past three years as well as left fullback for the Oyster Bay Rockets Club Soccer Team. He is a member of the National Science Honor Society and the Foreign Language Honor Society as well as a member of the Oyster Bay High School Wind Ensemble.
At the Seahawk Track Invitational at Cold Spring Harbor on April 11, Theodore Hamlin set the new school record in the 1,000-meter steeplechase. Oyster Bay High School class of 2011 alumni Joe LaCorte with a time of 3:02 previously held the record. Hamlin’s record is 3:00 minutes.
Hamlin is a Tri-Varsity sport athlete running Fall Varsity Cross Country, Winter Varsity Track and Spring Varsity Track and Field. “His commitment to the sport is seen by his readiness to work at each and every practice and dedication to his team,” said Coach Kevin Cotter.
Hamlin will continue his running career at New York Institute of Technology next fall under a Cross Country Scholarship.
Cartwright and Hamlin both attribute much of their success to the guidance of their coaches. Both runners are members of the Boy’s Varsity Winter Track Team under the direction of Chris Weber and the Boy’s Varsity Spring Track and Field Team under the direction of Kevin Cotter. Hamlin is also a member of the Boy’s Varsity Cross-Country Team under the direction of Kevin Cotter as well.
“Aside from allowing me to develop my talents as an athlete, they have taught me how to win and lose – to always have a positive attitude, to have a short memory when it’s needed, and to become the teammate I am on and off the track,” said Cartwright.
