It was a busy weekend in New York City, but the State is oh-so-much-bigger than just that. We break down all the other action that happened across the State.
1 - Distance Day In Western New York
Female distance runners kicked off the weekend in style at Houghton College Friday night. Angelina Napoleon (Allegany-Limestone) already had the State Lead in the 1500m, but she would swap that out with Kate Putman before weekends end. Swap, you say? After losing the lead in the 1500m, Napoleon took down Putman's 1000m State Leading time, running 2:52.45 on a flat track. Not only that, but she would go on to win the High Jump later that night.
It wasn't the only performance of note, Class A XC Champ Lillie Bogdan (Frontier) translated her strength for speed, and cruised to a 4:40.78 personal best in the 1500m, good for NY #6 this year.
2 - Soaring To New Heights
There are pockets of Pole Vaulting all throughout the State, and after a few years in the wings, Section 4 is coming back to the top. Vincent VanMaaren (Delhi) cleared 14-4 for a New State Lead in Ithaca over the weekend, setting up a good matchup with the vaulter from Warwick. Luke Beattie (Warwick) was busy himself, improving his Freshman State Record to 14-1.
3 - Schroeder Jumpers Taking
After a big weekend, the girls of Webster Schroeder now hold the State Lead in all three jumps in the State Meet format. Camryn Cole already ruled the High Jump in All-Time fashion, but now she has come back in the Long Jump, and launched 19-1.5. That mark is nearly a two feet personal best, and the fourth furthest by a Section 5 athlete. Her teammate Corintia Griffith, already the State Leader with a massive 40-5.5 from the VA Showcase, followed that up with a 39-10.5 back at home.
4 - Double Duty In The Pits
The Schroeder girls weren't the only terrors in the pits, however Manuel Sepulveda (East Rochester) had to handle both events on his own. He re-affirmed his State Leader status in the Triple Jump with a mark of 46-7, before taking off in the Long Jump with a NY #2 of 22-6.75, just one inch shy of the State Lead.
5 - Clearing The Bar In Section 9
Just because we nearly had a State Record Upstate, doesn't mean the event isn't still competitive behind that mark. Amelia Benjamin (Ellenville) threw down a big 5-8 clearance in the High Jump at her OCIAA League Meet, a major Personal Best. Only two other athletes have hit that height since 2017, one of them being the current State Leader. That mark also ties the Section 9 Record from 1978.
6 - Giving Chase In The Cage
The State Lead may have been claimed down at the Armory, but Dustin Swartwood (Auburn) wasn't going to allow the distance to intimidate him. He was dropped off the State Leader status a week prior, when Matt Auble threw 67-10.75. The Auburn-senior didn't take that lying down, and launched a new Personal Best of 68-5.5 in the Weight Throw, which was leading the State at the time it was released. It also puts him just three inches shy of the Section 3 Record in the event.
7 - Flat-Track Fast
It's not easy running on a flat track when the bigger times are run on the banked. But that didn't stop Kyla Palmer (Skaneateles) from putting her best foot forward, and running NY #3 in the 600m, and the fastest time in the event on a flat track. She clocked 1:35.68, good for NY #3 among all athletes, and #2 for athletes eligible for the State Meet.