Bashir Praileau is a senior hurdler and long jump standout for the Albany Academy boys’ track and field team.
Saturday, the Northeastern University commit secured the Federation championship at Middletown High School in the long jump with a winning distance of 22 feet, 8 ½ inches. That helped the Cadets claim the Federation team title with 26 points.
Praileau, a four-year varsity competitor and the 2023 indoor state champion in the long jump, finished third in the event in Division I Friday and added a pair of second-place showings in both the Division I and Federation 110 meter hurdles.
Q: I would have to imagine you would have liked to leave Middletown with more than one title, so how would you rate your overall experience at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships this year?
A: Yeah, you kind of said it. I wish and definitely hoped to bring home more titles, but I can’t really be upset as I was able to take home the Federation title, which is overall, not just your division. I was able to finish runner up to a pretty impressive hurdler (in Freeport junior Jordon Quinn).
Q: You were able to bounce back from coming third on Friday in the Division I long jump to taking the Federation championship in the event Saturday. How pleased were you to earn the championship Saturday?
A: I was so happy. In the indoor season, I was the state champion. I really wanted to repeat as state champion. Coming up short in the division was tough. I felt great in the warmups. With my first three jumps, there was kind of a long period between warmups and when the actual jumps started. During that period, my legs sort of lost it. So with those first three jumps, there was no pop. It got a little better each time. I kept telling myself it is getting better. I was able to get into the division finals. I refocused, warmed up and started to feel it a little bit again in my legs….
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