The Staten Island running community was shocked and saddened Thursday after hearing of the death of 19-year-old Keith Connelly, a mainstay on several championship Susan Wagner cross-country, and track and field teams.
Connelly, a middle-distance and distance runner for coach John Padula’s Falcons, earned All-American honors while part of Wagner’s distance medley relay, which included Fernando Diaz, Joe Perazzo and Michael Rodriguez-King.
He was on the winning 4×800-meter relay at the indoor Island championships during his senior year.
Angelo Aponte, Bill Allert, John Tobin scholarship winner Keith Connelly, Denise Boccia and Alice Tobin (Photo courtesy of Bill Allert)
Padula had high praise for Connelly.
“I loved that kid,” he said. “I had coached him since age 10, and he was a great kid, great student, and great teammate. He was just an amazing kid and amazing person.”
In addition, he was the winner of the PSAL Wingate award for cross-country, given to the outstanding student-athlete in the various interscholastic sports. Connelly was awarded a $3,000 scholarship. In addition, a $500 check was given to his school to benefit the track program.
CLICK HERE FOR KEITH’S FULL OBITUARY AND FUNERAL ARRANGEMENTS
He was a key man in leading the Falcons to Island and city PSASL cross-country championships.
After a sterling 2021 cross country campaign, Connelly was named a Staten Island High School Track & Field Association (SIHST&FA) Coaches’ All Star.
Perazzo, now at the University of Florida, reflected on his time with his former teammate.
“Keith was an amazing teammate and friend,” he said. “Especially my junior year we had one of the best distance programs in the country between Keith, Fernando, Mike and I. Having Keith there to push and challenge me every day was a privilege and was a big part of why we collectively had a successful year. He cared about his craft and I drew from the drive and the work ethic he had, especially his ability to be extremely…
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