Here it is ladies and gentlemen, the absolute last meet of the season for NY's top talent. After a slew of great races and close jumping at this past weekends New York State Indoor Championships, Nationals looks to be as exciting as ever. We're going to briefly breakdown some of the key matchups you'll find over the three day weekend of competition. We'll be on site live tweeting, live streaming, and providing live results, so be sure to check back frequently.
55m
Top NY
Wayne Gordon - Sweet Home - 6.35
Out-of-State Notables
Jeryl Brazil - Loranger LA - 6.25
Leshon Collins - Glasgow DE - 6.29
Tevin Hester - Granville Center NC - 6.35
Breakdown: With some of the nations top sprinters coming to NYC to prove their stuff, Wayne Gordon of Sweet Home looks to be NY's top entrant. After placing 2nd at the NYS Champs, Gordon will come up against talent he has never seen before, as the southern states are sending their best to vie for the title. Notable absence is Florida's Marvin Bracy, who ran a blistering National Record 6.08 in the 55m earlier this year.
200m
Top NY
Wayne Gordon - Sweet Home - 34.17 (300m)
Brian Smith - Greece-Athena - 21.53 (outdoors)
Out-of-State Notables
Aldrich Bailey - Mansfield Timberview TX - 20.99
Ahmed Ali - Alief Hasting TX - 21.35
Breakdown: Wayne Gordon is back for repeat duty in the 200m, with the aid of Brian Smith of Greece-Athena. Smith is currently ranked US #7 in the 300, and has proven he can produce fast times (on a flat track at that). What he will do on the banked curves of the Armory is yet to be seen, but two Texans pose a serious roadblock to Smith's medal dreams.
400m
Top NY
Steven Gayle - Mt. Vernon - 48.63
Taariq Jones - Kingston - 50.20 (early season)
Out-of-State Notables
Champ Page - Henry Wise MD - 48.39
Aldrich Bailey - Mansfield Timberview TX - 46.07
Najee Glass - St. Peters Prep NJ - 46.06
Michael Newton - Sprayberry GA - 47.58
Breakdown: There are some seriously fast individuals in this competition. The top two seeds, Najee Glass and Aldrich Bailey, are running close to Olympic Qulifying standards. Mount Vernon's Steven Gayle looks to be NY's top entrant, followed cloesly by Taariq Jones of Kingston, however the top two seeds are at a whole other level of competition.
800m
Top NY
Strymar Livingston - Christopher Columbus - 1:51.91
Zavon Watkins - Liverpool - 1:53.69
Christian Delago - Shaker - 1:54.56 (Split)
Giancarlo Sainato - Colonie - 1:20.91 (600m)
Out-of-State Notables
Ned Willig - Great Valley PA - 1:51.25
Ben Malone - Pascack Valley NJ - 1:21.9 (600m)
Allen Eke - Union Catholic NJ - 1:52.24
Breakdown: What looks to be the most exciting race for fans of NY track and field, we find the rematch between Liverpool's Zavon Watkins and Christopher Columbus' Strymar Livingston. Strymar has been dominating the shorter events all season, setting National Records in both the 500m and 600m. Watkins has proven he is no slouch either, as he handily won both mile invites at Millrose and U.S. Open, while also winning the 1000m at the NY Indoor States'. However, this is not simply a two man race, as Ned Willig of Great Valley PA is the top seeded athlete. It looks to be a strong battle between some of the top talent in the country, and bragging rights are sure to be included with the gold medal here.
1 Mile
Top NY
Christian Delago - Shaker - 4:16.00
Eric Holt - Carmel - 4:17.05
Konrad Surkont - Stuyvesant - 4:16.31
Out-of-State Notables
Edward Cheserek - St. Benedict's Prep NJ - 4:02.21
Jacob Burcham - Cabell Midland WV - 4:07.20
Ben Malone - Pascack Valley NJ - 4:13.12
Mike Marsella - Chariho RI - 4:10.54
Breakdown: Junior Edward Cheserek is more than a heavy favorite in both distance races he is currently entered in. Not only is his seed time a good 5 seconds ahead of the next fastest competitor, but many believe this is Cheserek's perfect stage to break the National Record set by Alan Webb at 3:59.86. Behind him is a solid pack of excellent runners, but it seems to be Cheserek vs. the clock.
2 Mile
Top NY
Thomas Awad - Chaminade - 9:10.97
Sibby Hanson - Arlington - 9:09.47 (converted 3200)
Kris Moran - North Babylon - 9:11.75 (converted 3200)
Dan Lennon - Peru - 9:14.62 (converted 3200)
Out-of-State Notables
Edward Cheserek - St. Benedict's Prep NJ - 8:43.16
Breakdown: In a somewhat lighter field, we again see Edward Cheserek as the heavy favorite. His seed time is smokin', a good 15 seconds ahead of anyone even getting close. Again, look towards the clock as Cheserek has a great chance of taking home some more records.
5000m
Top NY
Thomas Awad - Chaminade - 16:02.10 (XC performance)
Dan Lennon - Peru - 15:43.70 (XC performance)
Out-of-State Notables
Matt Klein - Hopkins School CT - 15:42.48
Breakdown: A rarely run event in the Northeast, Thomas Awad looks to continue his dominance over the long distances in the 5000. Foot Locker Finalist Dan Lennon is looking to challenge Awad, and the two will have to fight off US #2 Matt Klein of Connecticut to get there.
4x200m
Top NY
Mt. Vernon - 1:29.06
Uniondale - 1:29.30
Out-of-State Notables
Suitland MD - 1:28.23 - US #1
Penn Wood PA - 1:29.02
Breakdown: A quartet of seriously fast relays highlight the competition here, as all teams come within a second of each other. And remember, running fast is only half the battle, as one dropped baton can lead to disaster from anyone.
4x400
Top NY
Boys and Girls - 3:15.12
Newburgh Free Academy - 3:20.04
Out-of-State Notables
CBA NJ - 3:19.61
Pennwood PA - 3:17.06
Breakdown: What happens when you take the top 4 teams in the nation in the event, and have them race for gold? You get one of the best races of the entire meet. Boys and Girls, the state record holders as well as state champions, look to retain their US #1 status.
4x800m
Top NY
Warwick Valley - 7:50.68
Pearl River - 7:51.13
Boys and Girls - 7:51.83
Out-of-State Notables
CBA NJ - 7:41.53 - US #1
Chariho RI - 7:50.25
Pope John XXIII NJ - 7:47.00
Breakdown: CBA out of New Jersey looks to be the clear favorite here, running about 6 seconds ahead of the competition. With New York's top seed, Shaker, choosing to run the 4xMile instead, New York bragging rights are up for grabs.
DMR
Top NY
Monsignor Farrell - 10:19.28
Arlington - 10:19.40
Out-of-State Notables
CBA NJ - 10:08.8
St. Benedict's Prep NJ - 10:10.70
Breakdown: A New Jersey Showdown, the event looks to be CBA's to lose. CBA should have a solid lead on St. Benedict's Prep going into the last leg, but when Edward Cheserek is running anchor in the 1600m, anything is truly possible.
Here it is ladies and gentlemen, the absolute last meet of the season for NY's top talent. After a slew of great races and close jumping at this past weekends New York State Indoor Championships, Nationals looks to be as exciting as ever. We're going to briefly breakdown some of the key matchups you'll find over the three day weekend of competition. We'll be on site live tweeting, live streaming, and providing live results, so be sure to check back frequently.
55m
Top NY