Dunkirk senior Johnee Thomas received the State Sportsmanship Award from Section VI while competing in the 600 meters at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association indoor track and field championships on Saturday at Ocean Breeze Athletic Complex on Staten Island. Submitted Photo

STATEN ISLAND — Dunkirk senior Johnee Thomas made his third and final appearance at the New York State Public High School Athletic Association indoor track and field championships on Saturday, but before the meet began he already had a big accomplishment.

Thomas qualified for the state championships as the Section VI champion in the 600 meters, but even better he was selected by the section to be the male representative awarded the State Sportsmanship Award.

“Our section committee selected Johnee for this honor,” Dunkirk head coach Adam Woelfle stated. “Johnee truly embodies this award as you can see his smile and hear him during almost any race not only cheering for his teammates, but also other friends he has made throughout the section. And to see his interactions with all the athletes this weekend showed he was deserving of that recognition.”

Then getting to the competition Thomas did not disappoint coming in ranked No. 18 he managed a big improvement. The Dunkirk senior shaved a second off his previous best time to run 1:23.70 for 12th place and even earned a spot at the New Balance Indoor Track and Field Nationals in Boston competing in the 400 next weekend.

“We are so proud of Johnee,” Woelfle added. “All the work he has done to get this far, he truly represents Dunkirk well.”

The top finisher in the 600 was Kofi Rossi of Poly Prep Country Day with a time of 1:19.15.

Locally, Thomas was joined on the track by Jamestown senior Jarren Cotter who was the sectional champion in the 300.

Cotter ran to 20th place with a time of 35.45, while first place was Nicholos Sealey of Harry S. Truman at 33.96.

Maple Grove junior Ethan Verbosky went the distance in the 1,600 and took 28th place with a time of 4:37.16, while the winner was Jon Seyfert of Ward Melville at 4:15.68.

Falconer senior Charles Sundquist finished 19th in the weight throw with a distance of 56 feet and 10 inches, while the winner was Somers junior Charles Sullivan throwing a whopping 73-9.25.

Jamestown senior Emily Cardinale did not reach a height in the pole vault, missing all three of her starting jumps at 10 feet, while the winner was Warwick Valley’s Rachel Venter at 12-6.