For Immediate Release
June 25, 2019

Three from Suffolk are Track and Field National Champions

National Champions

Three Suffolk County Community College Track and Field athletes have finished their 2019 season winning multiple national championship awards in their respective events.

“Both the men’s and women’s teams went into the championship fully prepared to win. I was impressed with that readiness,” said Coach Matthew French. “The dominance on the women’s side was a testament to their will and talent. The men never stopped believing and proved themselves a national contender. Two trophies were the result,” French said.

Jonathan Gonzalez
Hometown: Brentwood

John was voted as the 2019 U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Division III National Men’s Track Athlete of the Year and was a three time national champion.

John was a member of this season’s 2019 NJCAA Division III Men’s Track & Field National Runners-up.
NJCAA DIII National Champion – 800-Meter Run (1:54.40)
NJCAA DIII National Champion – 1500-Meter Run (4:11.12)
NJCAA DIII National Champion – 4x800-Meter Relay
NJCAA DIII National Runner-up – 5000-Meter Run (16:07.48)




Four time NJCAA All-American, voted as the 2019 USTFCCCA NJCAA Division III Northeast Region Men’s Track Athlete of the Year.

Accolades this 2018 cross country season:
NJCAA All-American Voted as the 2018 USTFCCCA NJCAA Division III Northeast Region Men’s Cross Country Athlete of the Year.

Denton Henry
Hometown: Lindenhurst

Denton was a four time national champion and was Suffolk’s first-ever single-season four time national champion and was a member of this season’s 2019 NJCAA Division III Men’s Track & Field National Runners-up team -- Suffolk CC’s second consecutive national runner-up title for the men’s team.

Accolades this 2019 track & field season:
NJCAA DIII National Champion – 100-Meter Dash (10.74)
NJCAA DIII National Champion – 200-Meter Dash (21.79)
NJCAA DIII National Champion – 4x100-Meter Relay
NJCAA DIII National Champion – 4x400-Meter Relay 4x NJCAA All-American

Nikianne Otto
Hometown: Oakdale

Nikianne was a National Champion in the pole vault. Nikianne was a member of this season’s 2019 NJCAA Division III Women’s Track & Field National Champions – Suffolk’s second national champion title for the women’s team.

Accolades this 2019 track & field season:
NJCAA DIII National Champion – Pole Vault (10-6)
2x NJCAA All-American

Nikianne was a member of this season’s 2019 NJCAA Division III Women’s Track & Field National Champions.