Mary Cain set a national freshman record while winning the 1,500 state federation championship in 4:17.84. The time is the seventh-fastest in the United States all-time and led the greatest 1,500-meter race in New York State history. Aisling Cuffe finished second in 4:19.83 while Courtney Chapman of Fayetteville-Manilus third in 4:23.01 – all faster than Cain’s previous state record of 4:23.1.
CALEDONIA – As soon as the officials stretched the measuring tape, Sheepshead Bay senior Rolyce Boston came over, peaking over bent shoulders, and went screaming down the runway.
CALEDONIA – Jordan Yamoah turned to the crowd after his last miss in the pole vault and responded to their cheers with a courteous bow. The Arlington senior put on quite a show, clearing the highest bar anyone has ever seen in New York and winning his second straight state federation championship.
CALEDONIA – There is a picture of Aisling Cuffe running her first state meet as a freshman. She was in the unseeded section while Emily Lipari, a former star at Roslyn, in the background as she prepared for the faster heat.
The Judges star junior hurdler doesn’t look good when she walks. Lateisha Philson limps. She takes her time climbing stairs and said that sometimes she even takes the elevator at school. But she looked great running.
Columbus junior Strymar Livingston set persona bests in the 400 and 800 Saturday at the PSAL championships. But Jefferson owned the field events to win its first city title since 2003.
MIDDLETOWN – As fast as it took a starter’s pistol to sound, the state meet could have lost its best quarter-miler. Middletown’s Mel Mosley avoided what could have been a disastrous disqualification at the Section 9 championships that would have cost him a shot to win his first individual state title.
MIDDLETOWN – For the first time, Cornwall’s Aisling Cuffe could become a double state champion at the New York State Championships next week. If she choosing to.
WESTBURY – Valencia Hannon sprinted from the finish line to the infield scoreboard to take a better look at her time. She wasn’t wearing her glasses, she said. But the truth is that she wanted to make sure she believed what she saw.
The Fast Times Relays is known as a meet geared for relays to come in with fresh legs and produce, well, fast times. But Middletown senior Mel Mosley turned in an iron horse performance that made it no wonder why he’ll be the cornerstone of the freshman recruiting class of Southern University in Louisiana.
NEW YORK – Warner Cooley III turned to the crowd of teammates, dressed in black t-shirt and lining the edge of the stands at Ichan Stadium. Cooley just won the 400 meters, turned the crowd and lifted both hands in the air. The crowd did the same.
NEW YORK – Senior Emily Taussig knew it was only a matter of time until St. Anthony’s depth would take over the CHSAA championships. Her teammates, on the other hand were stirring.
Middletown senior Mel Mosley ran himself into another class of sprinters Wednesday. He chopped an entire second of is personal best to win the 400 meters at the Section 9 A-D championships at Middletown, clocking 46.88 seconds.
When the championship portion of the season rolls around that’s when most high school track and field athletes do most of their team’s heavy lifting. So since some of the county championships have started around New York State, I wanted to take a highlight some of the best doubles we’ve seen over this past weekend. Here are some that stood out.
Ward Mevlille senior Mary Kate Anselmini won the open 2,000-meter steeplechase Friday at the Suffolk County Frosh/Soph championships Friday. The defending national champ, clocked 6:46.68. W-M coach Tom Youngs says that Anselmini, who spent start of the spring season recovering from a foot injury, will be aiming for state and national record at the New Balance Outdoor Nationals next month. The record is 6:33.70 set by Suffern's Shelby Greany in 2009. Greany is now a top distance runner at Providence.
When Mel Mosley wanted to accomplish something, he turned to the one person that’s been with him his entire life: his twin brother.
St. Anthony's Olicia Williams won the girls 800 meters at the North Shore Invitational in 2:07.8 Saturday, the sixth-fastest time in the Unitied States and second-best in New York State. Williams finished ahead of Harborfields junior Kelsey Margey, who placed second in 2:11.0.
In a story posted last night, I wrote that Cornwall senior Aisling Cuffe broke a New York State record when she won the 1,600 at the Loucks Games Saturday in 4:40.56. The time, when converted to a full mile, would equate to 4:42.19, which is faster than the mark set by Saratoga Springs' Nicole Blood (4:42.40) in 2004. However, that information is incorrect. Record-keepers do not accept such converted times since the 1,600 is about nine meters short of a full mile.
Cuffe won the 1,600 at the Loucks Games Saturday in 4:40.56, the fastest time in the country this season. Her time bettered the state record of 4:42.40 set by Saratoga Springs’ Nicole Blood for a full mile. (Cuffe’s mark converts to 4:42.19 for a mile.)
WHITE PLAINS – Medgar Evers coach Shaun Dietz gave Andre Jordan the pat on the back in deserved after he won the 400 meters at the Loucks Games. Then he quickly put the performance in perspective.
Bronxville freshman Mary Cain added another race to an incredible string of performances Friday night when she won the 3,000 meters at the Warwick Friendship Invitational in 9:28.6.
WHITE PLAINS – Aisling Cuffe’s Friday consisted of watching a Harry Potter movie, a bullfighting documentary, watching Capitalism: A Love Story, lunch, and catching the beginning of the movie “Prestige.”
WHITE PLAINS – Zavon Watkins ran the fastest 800 meters of his high school career Friday and one of the best in the country. But the Liverpool junior and indoor 800 national champ, stood outside the track talking about what he still had to prove.
WHITE PLAINS – St. Benedict’s coach Marty Hannon couldn’t help but think about what could have been. When senior Tahlief Jackson transferred from Patterson to the New Jersey private school powerhouse, the rules said he had to sit out 30 days. That meant he had to watch his new team from the stands at Penn Relays.
Bronxville’s Mary Cain is just a freshman. By now, she’s achieved almost every time-goal she’s ever set for her high school career. Now she wants to find where her limits are, because it’s safe to say at this point that no one knows.
HUNTINGTON – From the gun, Kelsey Margey smothered North Shore’s Samantha Nadel’s shoulder. It almost looked like the Harborfields junior was using Nadel to hold herself back.
HUNTINGTON – As much as Owen Skeete had built a reputation for front-running, he has built the same reputation for crumbling once the field reeled him in.