Athletics

Kareem is king of Section II boys' track

Baseball team also recognized following outstanding season

After dominating the Capital Region sprinting scene during the spring track season, Kareem Morris has been recognized as the top boys’ track athlete in the area following his outstanding junior season.

Kareem was featured July 3 as the Times Union boys' track Athlete of the Year after winning the 100 meters and 200 meters at the Section II championsips and running a leg of the winning 400-meter relay team.

The Times Union also recognized Albany’s 400-meter relay team with first-team All-Star honors. The team included Kareem and recently graduated seniors Jalon Scott, Fuad Jusic and Corey Harris.

Corey earned second-team All-Star honors in the 100 meters

The Albany High baseball team also was well-represented on the newspaper's All-Star team for large schools.

Pitcher Michael Hughes, who will play for nationally ranked Coastal Carolina next year as the first Division I baseball scholarship recipient in school history, was named to the first team.

Catcher Justin Harris, third baseman Jevonte Osterhout and pitcher Pat Landers earned second-team honors. All were critical parts of the Falcons' best baseball season in 20 years. Albany won a share of the Big 10 title for the first time since 1989, then won the first sectional game in school history before losing a heartbreaker to Saratoga Springs in the Class AA quarterfinals.

The Falcons were ranked as high as No. 20 in the state during the season.

In track, Kareem dominated the Section II sprints throughout the spring.

In addition to his three first-place finishes at the Section II championships, he led the Falcons to the Big 10 championship and the championship in the prestigious Eddy Invitational Meet.

At the Eddy meet at Union College on May 16, Kareem was the meet’s only three-time winner to lead Albany to its first Eddy title in 27 years. He was named the meet’s outstanding athlete for his performance.

At the Johnstown Invitational on May 9, the 400 relay team broke at 28-year-old school record with a time of 42.9 seconds. The time was also a meet record.

At the Albright Invitational at Albany Academy on April 18, Kareem Morris the 100, 200 and long jump, and also ran the opening leg of the winning 400 relay to lead the Falcons to the team title. He was named the meet’s outstanding track athlete.

Kareem capped his season with a fifth-place finish in the 200 at the New York state meet.

The City School District of Albany serves approximately 8,300 students in 18 elementary, middle and high schools. In addition to neighborhood schools, the district includes several magnet schools and programs, as well as other innovative academic opportunities for students. The district is nearing completion of its comprehensive facilities project to newly build or renovate nearly all of its elementary and middle schools. The ultimate goal of the facilities project is to provide schools with the resources to help students succeed in the 21st century.