New York City, NY - Such is the nature of New York athletics. As we step off the plane from NXN, the phone rings, and we hear of an Indoor Track State Record being shattered. The grind never ends!
Benjamin Banneker freshman Tahje Flemming is set to make a name for himself already. At the Jim McKay Games, Flemming took down a record almost ten years older than himself. He ran 35.37, to take down the Freshman State 300m Record, previously held by Darnell Green of Nottingham, set in 1993. Green's record was a 35.2 hand time, as well as a 35.50 FAT mark. Also of note, Green still hold's the freshman State Record for the Indoor 200m, set at 22.31.
The record should not come as much of a surprise to those that follow the club running scene. Albeit a true-age freshman, Flemming has made a name for himself running for Prospect Park Track Club as a middle schooler. Last year, Flemming set an USATF National Record for 13-14, running 223.71 Indoors, as well as a record in the 400m division, winning in 52.54. Both marks could be argued as 8th Grade State Records, although our data doesn't account for that. Flemming would go on to run 50.00 for the 400m outdoors.
Tahje Flemming is originally from Kingston, Jamaica. He came up through the ranks there, before coming to the United States. During Cross Country, Flemming competed for Bishop Loughlin, before transferring to Benjamin Banneker. The story reminds us of NY All-Star Richard Rose, another Jamaican born athlete, who used XC as a base for 400m training. Rose would go on to become of NY's greatest 400m athletes, and still holds two Soph State Records indoors.
