LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION congratulating the members of the Hempstead High
School Girls Varsity Relay Team on their outstanding 2008-09 Season

WHEREAS, Excellence and success in competitive sports can be achieved
only through strenuous practice, team play and team spirit, nurtured by
dedicated coaching and strategic planning; and
WHEREAS, Athletic competition enhances the moral and physical develop-
ment of the young people of this State, preparing them for the future by
instilling in them the value of teamwork, encouraging a standard of
healthy living, imparting a desire for success and developing a sense of
fair play and competition; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to recognize and pay
tribute to those young people within the State of New York who have
inspired and brought pride to their school and community by achieving
outstanding success in athletic competition; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to congratu-
late the members of the Hempstead High School Girls Varsity Relay Team
on their outstanding 2008-09 Season; and
WHEREAS, The Hempstead High School Girls Varsity Relay Team, Charlene
Lipsey, Donna-Lee Hylton, Velma Morant and Asheka Gibson captured the
2009 National Championship in the 1,600 Meter Sprint during the Indoor
Track Season as well as the 2009 New York State Championship in the 4 x
400 Meter Relay during the Outdoor Track Season; and
WHEREAS, Named the 2009 Armory Track Female Runner of the Year and the
2009 NEWSDAY Indoor Runner of the Year, Charlene Lipsey is a three time
All-American who was the winner of seven individual invitational titles,
the runner up in the 2009 National Championships in the 800 Meter race
and the 2009 New York State Champion at 600 Meters; and
WHEREAS, In addition, Charlene Lipsey was named the 2009 NEWSDAY
Outdoor Female Runner of the Year and to the USA TODAY All-American Team
after capturing nine individual invitational titles, setting the Long
Island record for 800 Meters and finishing runner up in the 800 Meters
at the Nike Outdoor National Championships; and
WHEREAS, During the Outdoor Track Season, Donna-Lee Hylton was the
winner of six 400 Meter invitational titles and the runner up in the 400
Meter race at the 2009 New York State Championships and Velma Morant was
the winner of seven invitational 100 Meter contests along with the
Nassau County and AAA Championships in the 100 Meter and 200 Meter
races; and
WHEREAS, Poised eagerly with enthusiasm and determined purpose, Char-
lene Lipsey, Donna-Lee Hylton, Velma Morant and Asheka Gibson now stand
honorably, with just pride in their accomplishments and in eager antic-
ipation of future challenges, understanding and appreciating the caring
counsel and support provided by their coaches, friends and family; and
WHEREAS, Sports competition instills the values of teamwork, pride and
accomplishment, and Charlene Lipsey, Donna-Lee Hylton, Velma Morant and
Asheka Gibson have clearly made a contribution to the spirit of excel-
lence which is a tradition at Hempstead High School; now, therefore, be
it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
congratulate the members of the Hempstead High School Girls Varsity
Relay Team on their outstanding 2008-09 Season and to extend to them its
best wishes for a future of purposeful success and well-being, fully
confident of their response to a promising future and appreciative of
the model they represent for all aspiring young people of the Empire
State; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to Charlene Lipsey, Donna-Lee Hylton, Velma Morant and Asheka
Gibson.