MileSplit NY - What happens when athletes are forced to wait a full month before really stretching their legs they know have worked well in Winter. Whether it be because of early season relay meets, brutal weather, or interrupted training, you could say the season didn't start with a bang. That ends today, as athletes fed up with the condition decided to take off anyway. Originally, our recap was to focus on only the New York Relays, but there was so much action elsewhere, we couldn't focus on just one. Check out all the latest.
NY No Slouch
While there was great action elsewhere, NY Relays proved to bring out the best of it's participants. Both the state leading 4x100 and 4x400m relays, for the Girls, came from the event. Medgar Evers edged out New Rochelle, to bring both to a great new leaders, with Evers taking 47.60. On the boys side, Cardinal Hayes came in second in the race, and second in the leaderboard, with their 43.10. In the longer relay, Elmont took the boys 4x400m not quite matching their already state-leading mark, but Half Hollow Hills East brings the state leading mark for the girls down to 3:54.29.
On the individual side, the relays included many double winners. Ashley Wiggins of New Rochelle took the 100m Hurdles in a leading 14.14, then came back to aid in the Shuttle Hurdle Relay. Ayo Obadare of Elmont anchored his relay after winning the open 400m in a new leading 48.66. Kadecia Baird of Evers wins the 200m with her state leading 23.84 before anchoring her 4x100m later in the day. Sophomore Rai Benjamin of Mt. Vernon took NY #3 in the 400m Hurdle state mark, with his 55.65.
There were two stars in the distance events. Top city steepler Sidgie Greene of Jefferson went state leading in the 3000m Steeple, going 9:41.28. He would then return in the 800m going NY #13 with a 1:58.27. But the most impressive double may have been that of Jay Navin of Saratoga, who would win the 3200m run by over a straightaway, with his NY #2 9:17.24. He would come back on Day 2 in the 4x1600m, where his leadoff runner would get pushed down. However, as the baton passed to the anchor, Navin would cruise to a 4:12.73 split to just edge out a very strong St. Anthony's.
Other State Leading Marks
NY Relays didn't house all the talent in the Empire State. In a NY-PA crossover meet, state champion Matt Murray of Norwich is the first athlete to break 1:55 in the 800m, when he went 1:54.87 to win his invitational.
Suffolk held some of its stars at home, and led to a huge mark from Chris Belcher of Sayville, who went 10.59 in the 100m. That's the fastest time since 2010. Also, Diamonte Corley goes NY #1 in the 200m with 21.42, and girls triple is won by new state leader Kyra Braunskill-Miller of Riverhead, with a 38-4.5.
Cardozo took two of its' stars to a College open invite, and it worked out quite well for them to say the least. Deejah Stevens takes 2nd overall in the 100m, in a new leading 12.05 FAT. However, meet officials disrupted her final heat of the 200m, walking in front of the FAT camera at the finish line. Hand-Times by several college coaches had Stevens at around 23.65. However, it was teammate Sabrina Southerland who made the biggest splash, by going US #2 in the 1500m, taking 6th in 4:26.05
Devon Patterson of Williamsville took the lead in the shot put with his 56-11.5 toss up in Section 6.
More and More and More
We apologize, but there really was too much to mention. Catherine Maloy of Holy Names flew to a 4:39 in the 1500m, Red Raiders brought the return of Eric Holt's longer races, and Northport showed impressive range in the 1600m. Check out everything by clicking right here!
Photo Highlights
A rematch of an Indoor early season race, Maddie Berkson of Classical, RI led the 3000m until 400m to go.
At that point, Kristianne Width of UNIS kicked a huge closing lap, to set a state leading 9:55.84.
Jay Navin opened up a lead that no one could hang with in the 3200m.
Will Pope of Iona watches the discus fly in the finals of the event.
It was double trouble in the steeple chase, as Jackie Thorne and Sarah Zieve of Northport ran hand-in-hand in the Invite Steeple
Just a little bit wet in the cold Saturday weather.
Brent Freestone of Saratoga made the trip to the city, but Sidgie Green had an incredible mid-70 second closing 400m to win.
A new facility record for Weston's Emily Savage, as she clear's 12-2.
A tight finish in the 100m dash, as Quashira McIntosh of Hope wins in 12.33.
Sidgie Greene would come back to the win the 800m.
Kadecia Baird of Evers anchors away their 4x100m.
Jazmine Fray of Kellenberg goes state leading in the 800m, running 2:14.07.
Ayo Obadare of Elmont wins the invite 400m, which also included two teammates who serve on his 4x400m relay.
Anton Porter of Mount St. Michael wins the invite 200m in a strong 21.61.
Kadecia Baird cruises to state leading to win the 200m as well.