New York State Championships Highlight Spring Season's End



Boys 800m

Event Info: 2014 Winner: Jay Navin (Saratoga) 1:54.24, State Record: 1:48.56, Meet Record: 1:50.27, State Qualifier Mark (FAT): 1:55.24 (D1) - 1:58.14 (D2)

State of the Action

There is just something about the State Meet that has the ability to make the unexpected happen. Like how the slowest seed in the final by over two seconds, can sprint past the entire field, to capture a State Title.

This was the story of Kyle Barber, who had to share a lane of the track because he barely made the fast section. As expected, the pace went out sprinting, as Gairy Springer went out in his usual form. Behind them laid a pack of nine, waiting to reel him in, and push in the final meters. One lap through, the clock read 54seconds, and nobody had a clear shot. Barber could be seen catching elbows down the backstretch, trapped as the tallest runner in the field, constricted with the shortest range of motion within the pack. Patrick Watts would make the first move, opening up a hole for Barber to escape. Heading around the final turn, the pack spit Barber out the right side, and he saw his opening.

With the Indoor State Champion in the 600m (Luke Germanakos) on his shoulder, and the 1000m State Champ Jimmy Asselmeyer on his heels, Barber kicked with 85m to go overtaking the lead, and never letting go. His finishing mark would garner him a new State Leader, pushing him into the top 40 All-Time for NY. Patrick Watts would hold on for fourth, meaning a State Title for D2.

Top Athletes - Overall