Staten Island, NY | Head Coach Jason McFall and the College of Staten Island cross-country and track & field programs is proud to announce the celebratory signing of three outstanding seniors from the High School of Fashion Industries, Brittani Broderick, Deavion Brown, and Jarai Ross-Mackey. The trio are slated to come in right away to legitimize both programs, adding strength in a variety of areas.
A pentathlete, Broderick is expected to a be a leader when she steps onto the field in a Dolphins uniform this coming season. She was taken in by the CSI campus and it’s focus on the student-athlete.
“I chose to go to the College of Staten Island because I loved how friendly everyone was to me without really even knowing me,” she said. “They made me feel right at home. CSI has a big campus which is different from what you will find in the city, and yet it is close to home.”
Broderick recently finished 18th in the New York State Track Championships in the pentathlon. She is an accomplished 55-400 meter hurdler, long jumper and high jumper who has also participated in the heptathlon. Needless to say, Broderick’s impact will be felt on the field, but she hopes to immerse herself in the CSI campus in-season and out-of-season.
“I plan to have an impact at CSI by volunteering my services for activities on and off campus,” she said.
Coach McFall is duly excited to have Broderick join the developing squad, and knows that through her performance and her ability to lead, she will be a welcomed addition. “Brittani’s skill set in the pentathlon will bring in major dividends for CSI in conference, regional and hopefully national levels,” McFall said. “Biscuit can score points in the running events as well as the field events including the high jump, shot put and long jump. Once she gets a year of quality training, she will pull from her vast experiences of high levels competition at the state and nationals levels. Drawing from those high levels of competition will serve as a benefit not only to her, but to runners in our program. Already as a freshman, she has a lot of work ahead of her. She will be a bedrock of our program for the next four years.”
The daughter of Ryan Broderick and Donae Grant, Brittani has three older siblings. She is a former Freshman of the Year and Most Improved Athlete while at HSFI.
Deavion Brown has occupied a majority of her time on the circuit as a sprinter and jumper for the Lady Falcons and expects to do the same in a Dolphins uniform when she gets on campus. She was impressed with CSI’s academic and athletic record and hoped to be a good fit for the program.
“I chose CSI because I wanted to attend a school that I knew would help me continue and succeed in not only my athletic career but in my academic career as well,” she said.
Brown has excelled in both areas to date. She is graduating HSFI with honors and a member of the Principal’s Honor Roll. She is also the Lady Falcons’ record holder in the 55-meter dash, and has won Most Outstanding Athlete and Most Athletic Female honors as well. She hopes to continue her progression into the collegiate arena.
“I feel as though I can have an impact on the CSI program by bringing lots of enthusiasm and energy to the team,” said Brown. “I hope to rub off on those that may not have the motivation to succeed or to simply get through the workouts. I want to be seen as the teammate that is always full of joy and as a person you can’t help to smile back at.”
McFall knows that Brown’s leadership and her prowess on the field will aid her in her future at CSI.
“Deavion has had a storied career at Fashion Industries. She will specialize in the short sprints and possibly expand her talents in the events by adding hurdles or another specialization, like the long jump,” said McFall. “Dee-Dee has established herself as one of the best sprinters this past year in the PSAL as she won the Manhattan Boro Championship in the 100-meter and was runner up in the 200-meter. I believe that she has some unfinished business to prove to herself, that she can and will, be a premier sprinter in Division III and in our region. That type of drive and determination cannot be taught, either you have it or you don’t, and thankfully for CSI she definitely has the next level drive and push to excel.”
The daughter of Stephanie Thomas and Donovan Richards, Deavion has a brother, Devonte. She is also a member of the USA Track & Field youth program.
Rounding out the list of Falcons additions is Jarai Ross-Mackey, who has made an impact principally as a thrower in field events. Ross-Mackey is hoping to transition right in with the developing program this year, and recognized right away that CSI was the place for her.
I chose CSI because I feel the school can offer me an out-of-state college experience while still being close enough where I can go home anytime I choose to,” she said. “I also chose CSI for the Business program, where I plan to use my degree towards my entrepreneurism.”
Ross-Mackey has plenty of experience in throw events such as the shot put and discuss. She placed second as a freshman, sophomore and senior in the discus throw at the borough championships, placing 10th overall in the City Championships for both discus and shot put her sophomore year. She knows that with a brand-new CSI program, she can aid in the developing process of the team.
“Being that this is the first year the track and field club team is going varsity, I feel that other members of the team may not know what to expect once we step out and perform,” she said. “I feel that I am great at what I do, and I am going to try my hardest to get this team to CUNYAC Championship form. They won’t know what hit them.”
Coach McFall is definitely happy to have a thrower like Ross-Mackey on the squad, and knows it will go a long way in creating in a great foundation for the program moving forward. “Jarai is what I like to call a throwback type of athlete. Highly analytical and always looking to improve, she will be a veteran presence in our throws group,” he said. “She is already working to get better both on and off the field and Is looking to hit the ground running. She has improved each year incrementally and I truly believe that once she enjoys a little success at the college level, she will work even harder to improve in each meet and every throw. Weight events such as the shot put and weight throw will be her main events but we are going to expand that base to include all of the throw events. A very needed and welcomed addition.”
Daughter of Jasmine Ross and Justus Shabazz-Allah, Jarai as two siblings, and is a winner of the PSAL Louisa Wingate Underhill Certificate and was named an Outstanding Youth Leader Award while at HSFI.
The Dolphins will start the cross-country portion of their running season in early-September before transitioning to indoor and outdoor track and field seasons. It will be the Dolphins’ first foray into track & field after a series of years operating as a club program.
