By Christopher Hunt
Photos by Tim Fulton
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.
“You’re in new territory now,” Dietz said.
Jordan ventured beyond the 48-second barrier for the first time and entered sacred land when he stopped the clock in first place at White Plains Saturday in 47.94 seconds, the fastest-time in New York State this second.
“It’s about time,” Jordan said. “It’s been a long time coming. Now I just have to focus on running even faster.”
The performance vaults Jordan, who also
anchored the Cougars’ winning 4x100 relay, to the top of the heap as a favorite in the 400 at the state championships next month. Jordan pulled even with Monroe-Woodbury’s Ryan Brennan after the first 150, an uncharacteristic move for the Medgar Evers senior, who has become known for his devastating closing speed.
“Normally I don’t take it out so I wanted to get out for the first 100,” he said. “I think I chilled a little too much on the back straight but I brought it home pretty well.”
St. Anthony’s senior Payton Hazzard came up for second from a slower section in 48.55. Brennan ended third in 48.77.
Jordan’s performance caught the attention of the crowd but not before Liverpool’s Zavon Watkins captivated the audience with another stirring finishing kick to win the 1,600 in 4:11.13, a huge personal best for Watkins and the state’s second best time this season.
For Watkins, who earned the meet’s most outstanding performer award, it was more than just a win. He wanted to prove that he was more than a one-dimensional half-miler.
“It showed that I wasn’t lying to you when I said that I could run the mile,” Watkins said.
Watkins was denied entry in to the mile at the Penn Relays two weeks ago and was intent on proving his mettle. The junior star followed steps behind Robby Creese of Glenelg (Md.) for two laps until Creese created some distance on the third lap. Creese opened a 30-meter lead when Robert Allen of Cranston West pulled into second and Watkins dropped to third.
“That woke me up,” Watkins said. “I knew I had to go then if or it was going to be too late.’
Watkins used the same explosive kick at 300 meters that he used to win the 800 Friday in 1:50.61.
“People feel like they can point someone out and say they can’t do something,” Watkins said. “I wanted to show that I was more than a half-miler. I can run a mile. This is just going to open more opportunities for me.”
Erasmus Hall senior Shane Green continued flirting with the 50-foot barrier, winning the triple jump in 49 feet, 9.25 inches. The mark is a season-best for Green and the 10th-ranked jump in the nation.
Clinton’s Jeremiah Obeng Agyapong also posted a state-leader in the 400 hurdles.
The junior blasted off the starting line and built a lead strong enough to withstand an almost tragic stumble on the seventh hurdle.
“That’s when the fatigue started setting in,” Obeng Agyapong said.
But the junior straightened himself before anyone could present a formidable challenge to win in 54.12.
“One day I’ll get a perfect race and I’ll drop down to a 53,” he said. “One day.”
Princeton-bound Eddie Owens of Packer Collegiate couldn’t match his state leading mark in the 3,000 steeplechase but he was strong enough to hold off defending state champ Shaun Thompson of Baldwinsville to win in a meet record 9:12.40.
His time bettered a 34-year old record of 9:14.50 set by John Tulttle of Alfred-Almond.
“In general, I’ve been a little run down the last couple of weeks,” Owens said. “I wasn’t really trying to PR. My main goal was to win and break the meet record.”
Owens said that weeks of hard racing has left his legs feeling heavy and fatigued but the championship season in the AIS League isn’t as taxing for national-caliber runner. He expects to be ready for another strong push at states and nationals.
“I know that I’m in good shape,” he said. “I’m really proud of the steeple I ran a few weeks ago.”
Owens clocked 8:59.53 at the Larry Ellis Memorial Invitational against collegiate competition in New Jersey April 22. The time is the fifth-fastest in the country all-time.
Many people were hoping for a showdown between Owens and St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.) star Edward Cheserek. But the superstar sophomore opted to run anchor on the winning distance medley relay Thursday. Thenhe ran down Bellport on the anchor leg of the 4x800 for a 1:51.0 split and gave his team the win in 7:51.62.
Boys & Girls posted the state’s third-fastest time this season to win the 4x400 in 3:18.99.