No sport was hit harder than indoor track by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Its very nature – large weekly meets with many teams present – proved problematic and Section 9’s usual host, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point closed its doors and didn’t re-open them.

Until now, that is, as the Gillis Field House will once again host Orange County Interscholastic Athletic Association meets during the 2022-23 season, and the Newburgh Free Academy boys’ indoor track team is looking to represent Section 9 well.
The Goldbacks lost two talented runners at the top with the graduation of John Fermpong and Matt Worrell, but return plenty of talented runners in Quiston Leathers, Xavier Williams, Johnathan Darker, David Pinnock, Anthony Burrett, Anthony Burnett, Scott Mocko, Steven Thompson and Devin Batelic, who recently qualified for the New York State Public High School Athletic Association championships during the fall cross-country season.

Jaydon Telfer, Yatish Persaud and Collins Ifegwu-Uka are new to the team this year.

The Goldbacks have already had some success this year in Staten Island, as the sophomore distance medley relay team and the sprint medley relay team both set new school records with first place finishes.

Longtime coach Malcolm Burks said the Goldbacks hope to qualify for the Suburban 1,600-meter relay at the Millrose Games and represent Section 9 at the highest level at the NYSPHSAA championship meet.

Burks also hopes to draw attention from college and university coaches for the team’s juniors and seniors.

Information from the girls’ team was unavailable.