KINGSTON - After everything he had been through in the past few weeks, A.J. Savoia's smile from the top of the medal podium had to mean more than the satisfaction of having a gold medal around his neck.

For weeks, North Rockland's Savoia has laid down after races, strapped ice packs to his back and grown more and more frustrated with the pain in his lower back - none of which was there yesterday.

"Man, not having that pain really makes a difference," North Rockland head coach Gene Dall said.

Right after the hugs and photos, Savoia went straight into jogging with no break to nurse his back after winning the Division I state title in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the state championships at Dietz Stadium. He finished fourth in the Federation standings in a personal-best 9 minutes, 29.56 seconds.

"The boy persevered," said Barry Baloga, North Rockland's distance coach. "He overcame as much adversity in his outdoor season as any athlete can muster. He looked good today. He's healthy, and we're excited about it."

Byram Hills senior Phil Cawkwell finished third overall and second in Division II in the race in 9:28.15. He was intent on following the favorite, Ryan McDermott of Chaminade, who set a torrid pace from the start.

Cawkwell said he remembered seeing Tommy Gruenewald of Fayetteville-Manilus do the same thing in the 3,200 Friday night. No one followed Gruenewald, and after the race, Edgemont's Zach Borenstein said he thought he could have caught Gruenewald if he had closed the gap sooner. Cawkwell decided that if McDermott tried to run away from the field, he would go with him.

"I went with him and I died," Cawkwell said.

McDermott broke down as well, and Christian Thompson of Candor sprinted ahead for the Federation win.

Menelik Lewis of New Rochelle set a career best in the 110 hurdles final, finishing second in Division I (and third overall) in a personal-best 14.37. But with little break time between the 400 relay final and the 110 hurdles Federation final, Lewis said he simply wasn't ready when he got back to the starting line. He finished eighth in the Federation race in 15.24.

"It's kind of a mixed-up feeling," said Lewis, a junior. "But it's OK. It's not like I'm a senior and this is my last chance. I'll be back next year."

New Rochelle teammate Xavier Mateen finished second in the Division I 100 in 10.87. He advanced to the Federation final, where he placed fifth in 10.86. He also placed fifth in both the Division I and Federation 200-meter races.

"I was excited," the senior said about standing on the medal stand. "It was nice to finally make a name for myself, since I'm new. But it's like, now it's official."

Ramapo's Mike Abelard finished second in the Division I 200-meter final in 21.88. Then he placed third in the Federation final in 21.89.

"I can't complain," he said. "You have to win some and lose some. I'm just trying to get better and learn from every race, and I think I learned a lot today."

Michael Bliss of Westlake finished fourth in the Federation in the pentathlon, but won Division II with 3,250 points, which leads Section 1.

White Plains junior Tewado Latty had an opportunity to win the Federation 400 championship yesterday after finishing second in the Division I race by only two-hundredths of a second Friday. But he pulled up 150 meters into the race and grabbed his hamstring, re-aggravating a strain that had bothered him at the end of the winter season and the beginning of the spring.

Mount Vernon's Robert Pope threw 53 feet, 5 inches to finish third in the Division I shot put, then placed fourth in the Federation at 52-5.

Byram Hills was a major contender in the 3,200 relay, but leadoff leg Max Kasak was tripped, fell and dropped the baton 400 meters into the race, and the Bobcats were out of contention.