Barnstable High Track Star Fares Well at Nationals

JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA — Cameron Faszewski , a rising Junior at Barnstable High School  competed in the Boys 15-16 year old  3000m race against some of the best talent in the nation at the USA Track & Field Junior Olympic Nationals in Jacksonville Friday (July 31) afternoon.

The University of North Florida in Jacksonville hosted 8,000 athletes and dozens of events over the week.

Faszewski, seeded 19th in his heat, ran hard and moved up eight places to finish in 10:21 good for 11th in his heat

and 32nd overall among all 15-16 year olds.

“The conditions in North Florida were tough with the heat and humidity” Faszewski commented. “Overall I was pleased with my performance” he added.

This was the first trip to Nationals for Faszewski who is looking forward to a strong Cross Country season in the Fall with the Red Raiders.

In other local track & field news, two Cape Cod residents were in attendance at the recent Needham Youth Classic, an emerging elite age group youth track and field competition held in Needham’s DeFazio Park. Those mentioned here were Rajendrakumar Mahabir, a rising sophomore at Barnstable High School and younger sister Rajanigandha Mahabir, entering the eighth grade this fall.

Rajendrakumar placed fourth in the boys’ 15-16 yr old 400m dash final with a personal best of 59.48. He also placed fifth in the 15-16 yr old 100m dash with a first time event performance of 12.30. Earlier in the day, he leaped 6′ 3″ to finish 10th overall in the boys’ standing long jump in his age group.

Rajanigandha, technically a seventh grader, finished 18th out of 34 participants in girls’ 13-14 yr. old 100m dash with a time of 15.77. Like her brother, It was her first time ever running the event, much less ever competing in a track meet. She also threw 65′ 7″ in the girls’ softball throw to finish 13th overall in that age group as well.