Smith leads girls mile; Boys & Girls and Cardozo square off in 4x400 By Christopher Hunt Kyle Merber says he generally isn’t bothered by the lights, by the big stage. Track is fun. He smiled a lot before his race at the Boston Indoor Games last Saturday, didn’t feel pressure. But he’s never run at Madison Square Garden before. The Half Hollow Hills West senior has never even seen the Millrose Games in person. But he knows that his race might be different. “I’ll try not to look up,” Merber said. “There is some pressure when 18,000 people are watching you. You definitely feel some pressure.” FULL STORY HERE  

Alberto Salazar, Galen Rupp, Kara Goucher, Adam Goucher (L-R) With the 101st Millrose Games less than two days away, some of the biggest names in track and field have made their way through the Armory as they prepare to take the stage at Madison Square Garden. Angela Daigle-Bowden and Bernard Lagat have both visited the Armory to train this week. FULL STORY HERE

Jen Clayton (Suffern, NY) jumps 20-00.25 in the long jump, a new US leader.Current US#1Armory #2 All TimeNYS #3 All TimeUS#20 All TimeNJ Freshman Phenom Nick Vena tosses one 61-10.25.Read Christopher Hunt's Article Here

Men's Accepted - Women's Accepted - Men's Seeded - Women's Seeded Coaches fax scratches to 212.923.1645Open, Junior, and HS events to follow. MEET HOMEPAGE 

    The best college milers in the business – Leo Manzano of Texas and Brie Felnagle of North Carolina – will be back to defend championships at the 2008 New Balance Collegiate Invitational, to be held at the Armory Feb. 8-9.     Manzano, a senior, ran 3:59.08 to win the mile a year ago, setting up his NCAA championship in the event for the Longhorns a month later. Outdoors last year he was 2nd in the NCAA 1,500 in 3:37.48 and 2nd at the national championships in 3:35.29. He was outdoor NCAA 1,500 champ as a freshman in 2005.FULL STORY HERE 

And so the season begins! It was great to be back in New York City last weekend for the New Balance Games. It’s always a fun place to start off the season for various reasons. First, it’s NYC and NB takes good care of us for the weekend! FULL BLOG HERE More Armory Blogs Coming Soon....

Accepted entries will be posted Friday, Feb. 1 Friday Feb 8 6:30 PM    HS Boys 4x800 7:30        Junior Boys weight throw 7:45        HS Girls 4x800 8:25        Junior Girls 1,000 meters Saturday Feb 9 1:39         Junior Boys 1,000 1:44        HS Girls 4x200 1:50        HS Boys 4x200 2:47        HS Girls 4x400 2:55        HS Boys 4x400 3:51        PSAL Girls 4x200 3:55        PSAL Boys 4x200 4:10        Junior Girls weight throw For further information contact the event director Dan Doherty dohertyd@optonline.net or 845-596-3625

The season really heats up with team championships starting accross the state.  Check out ArmoryTrack.com's weekend wrap up.  WEEKEND WRAP UP HERE

MCGOVERN VAULTS 15-09Led by strong hurdles and pole vaulers and their usual group of stop sprinters and middle distance runners, Fordham Prep once again won the NYCHSAA Sectional title, 72.5 to Farrell's 43. MEET RESULTS Left: Brian McGovern (Mt. St. Michael) won the Pole Vault at 15-09, the best in the state this year. WWW.WINGEDFOOTFOTOS.COM 

Oh, and one NY transplant as well (Charles White - CO) "A New Century Begins." That is this year's slogan for the 101st Millrose Games. The most historic indoor track and field meet in the world announced their high school elite mile fields this weekend and the fields are stacked. 101st Millrose Games (NY) Discount Tickets Here Relay Qualifiers Here Madison Square Garden - New York City, NY - February 1, 2008   LEFT: Charles White, a senior originally from Garden City, NY, will compete at The Millrose Games this year.

Great relays end the day as Sheepshead Bay edges Transit Tech 1:31.77-1:31.78 in the 4x200m and MSIT edges Collegiate in 4x800m by 1 second to win in 8:16. Nadonnia Rodriques (Boys and Girls) runs 1:30.83 - US#1 600m

Three Armory collegiate records were broken Friday night at the Great Dane Invitational. Men's 1,000m - 2:23.58 - Tim Kaijala - Penn Men's Pole Vault -17-9 - Rory Quiller - Binghamton Women's 55m HH - 7.71 Natasha Ruddock - Essex County One other was close was Dean Juste from Albany, who ran 7.45 for 55m hurdles, close to the record of 7.43 MEET RESULTS

By Christopher Hunt BOSTON – Maybe it was because she had been there before or because she had seen her teammate do it before. But Southern Regional (N.J.) junior Jillian Smith’s composure never deserted her. She never lost her poise.  FULL ARTICLE HERE

By Christopher Hunt      It’s not that Carmel senior Kristin Reese hasn’t been in big races before. She has. But for all the stories of leaving runners struggling in her wake, for all the tales of Reese producing bone-chilling relay legs it was those big races, the ones were everyone’s watching, that she became a footnote.     It’s not that she hadn’t run fast times either. It’s just that she beat people she was supposed to beat. That wasn’t the runner that ran at the New Balance Games last Saturday. Reese says it won’t be the runner that shows up in the girls invitational mile at the Boston Indoor Games tomorrow either. FULL STORY HERE

    Egor Agafonov, Zlata Tarasova and Kate Sultanova – two weight throwers and a pole vaulter – will compete at the 2008 New Balance Collegiate Invitational indoor track meet at the Armory in New York Feb. 8-9. All are Russian athletes competing for the Kansas University team. The Jayhawks, coached by Stanley Redwine, are competing in the meet for the first time. - FULL PRESS RELEASE HERE

The Section 1 Coaches Invitational on February 2nd may still has room available. Any coaches interested in competing click here. The Section 1 Donny Dendy Relays on February 1st may have space available as well. Any coaches interested in competing contact Jim Mitchell at fastmitch@optonline.net

By Christopher Hunt    There hasn’t been a race at the Armory hyped like this one. Not a high school race.     But in this building, their names are as familiar as any runner signed to Nike or Adidas or New Balance. So the thousands of people could shout for Easton (Pa.) senior Chanelle Price or Dalilah Muhammad of Cardozo, and they could shout on a first name basis. And they didn’t make it hard. FULL STORY HERE

 CHANELLE PRICE1:10.30 500MNATIONAL RECORDSHATTERS RECORD BY 1.14 SECONDSRACE VIDEO  HS Boys Mile - Robby Andrews - 4:12.48 - US#1 - VIDEOMen's Mile - Andy Baddeley - 3:58.10 - VIDEOWomens 400m - Alicia, Williams - 53.33 - VIDEOMen's 400m - Dwayne Barrett - 47.12 - VIDEOHS BOYS 4X200m -St. Benedict's, NJ - 1:29.50 - VIDEOHS Girls Mile - Kristin Reese - 4:52.48 - US#1 - VIDEOWomen's Mile - Lillya, Shobukhova - 4:31.90HS Girls 4x200 - Boys & Girls - 1:40.68 - VIDEOStory by Christopher Hunt MEET HOMEPAGE WITH RESULTS 

FRIDAY NIGHT IS COLLEGE NIGHT AT THE ARMORY With over 1600 athletes competing in one day, The NYC Gotham Cup promises to be yet another great College meet here at The Armory. Time Schedule and heat sheets posted on the MEET HOME PAGE MEET RESULTS HERE

VH1's VSpot filmed at The Armory. Sat.(1/19) - 3amSat.(1/19) - 9amSun.(1/20) - 8amTues.(1/22) - 9am LEFT:Host Allison Becker with IT Director Rudy Cordero and The Armory's DJ Rob.  MORE INFO 

Dr. Norbert Sander remembers a cold game 45 years agoThis Sunday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin the NY Giants will take on the Packers.  It is 45 years since they last met in a playoff but the temperature at game time will be about the same: frigid.  I recall very well the last time they met at Yankee Stadium for the Championship on December 30, 1962.  I was actually there.  FULL ARTICLE HERE

Chanelle Price and Dalilah Muhammad match up at 500m with the National Record at stake.  The High School mile fields will once again be deep as a ticket to The 101st Millrose Games on the line.  Throw in Elite men's and women's mile and over 200 high schools and you have the making of a yet another great Armory meet. HS GIRLS 500M FIELD HS GIRLS MILE FIELD HS BOYS MILE FIELD ELITE WOMEN'S 400M FIELD ELITE MEN'S 400M FIELD ELITE WOMEN'S MILE FIELD ELITE MENS MILE FIELD

A van carrying members of athe Stuyvesant girls’ track team flipped over on a highway in Vermont, critically injuring one student and leaving two other people hospitalized, officials said. Click here for story in Burlington Free Press.

    Walter Dix of Florida State and Trindon Holliday of LSU will face off at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational at the Armory Feb. 8-9.     They were 1-2 in the NCAA 100-meter final last spring in California. Dix also won the 200 and ran on the winning 4x100 relay team, leading the Seminoles to the NCAA team championship. He has lifetime bests of 9.93 in the 100 and 19.69 in the 200 and is a contender for this year’s U.S. Olympic team.  FULL ARTICLE HEREPHOTO COURTESY USATF.ORG 

Secretary of HUD Jackson, Mayor Booker of Newark, and Olympic Gold Medalist Derrick Adkins Greet Young Athletes at The Armory Track and Field Center

Event Schedule, Event Rules, and Expected Top Entries have all been updated for the biggest College meet in the country.   MEET HOME PAGE HEREHS coaches please contact Dan Doherty in you are interested in the meet. 

Reese sets US #2 in 1,000 By Christopher Hunt photos by Derek Alvez Her coach Eric Schwark didn’t just ask her if she felt good. He asked if she felt “dominant.”She said yes. Carmel’s Kristin Reese felt dominant. And she showed it. The cold she struggled with finally dissipated. Reese could breathe now. So Reese didn’t hesitate when she took over the 1,000 meters after two lap and a half laps. Her stride was steady and powerful like the current of a steam of water. This was the Kristin Reese people had been waiting to see all season. It was the Kristin Reese that, well, Kristin Reese has been waiting to see all season. She won the 1,000 at the Molloy Stanner Games in 2 minutes, 53.50 seconds, the 2nd-fastest time in the United States this season. FULL STORY HERE RESULTS FROM STANNER GAMES HOME PAGE

Edge Colonie 70-69 for Crown.Colonie's Steve Crouse wins Triple Jump with 47-07.25" leap.  Shen boys wins DMR in 10:35.  Shen girls win DMR in 12:26.  Holy Names girls team places 2nd led by Jordan White's 2:55.08 1000m win.  Caitlin Lane wins mile in 4:55.25 leading 5 girls under 5 minutes.  Holya Names girls run US#1 9:23.34 4x800m while freshman teammate Klarissa Riks wins long jump with a leap of 17-07 and 55m dash in 7.22.  FULL MEET RESULTS HERE 

New York, Jan. 14 – William J. (Bill) Miller, who started as a freelance sports reporter for The New York Times in 1947 and has been associated with the newspaper ever since, has been named the recipient of the second Stan Saplin Sports Media Award. The award, named for the late sportswriter, track and field historian, and publicist who died in 2002, will be presented Saturday (Jan. 19) during the New Balance Games at the New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory, where the Media Center is named for Saplin. The ceremony is set for 1:30 p.m.FULL STORY HERE

 Eight high school relay races and four individual Juniors events are set for this year’s New Balance Collegiate Invitational Feb. 8-9. Interested parties should contact the Event Coordinator, Dan Doherty (dohertyd@optonline.net) - MORE INFO HERE 

Boys and Girls and Cardozo runs US#1 and US#2 - by Christopher Hunt GIRLS:  Boys and Girls, NY 3:51.44 US#1 , Benjamin Cardozo, NY 3:51.81 US#2, Hempstead, NY 3:24.57 US#5, Canarsie, NY 3:58.92 US#6  BOYS:Midwood, NY  3:24.93 US#5, , Bellport, NY 3:25.82 US#7, Amityville 3:25.95US#8.4x800m Relay Race Video Chaminade, NY - US#2 4x8 - 7:57.13 Kellenberg, NY 7:59.51 US#3, Fordham Prep, NY 8:06.18 US#10 

Take a look at some of the NY State Highlights from last weekendSoph star Melissa Kurzdorfer doubles up, winning both the shot and weight throw with impressive marks in both.  FULL ARTICLE HERE

  MOLLOY STANNER GAMESANOTHER BIG WEEKEND AT THE ARMORY Hannah Davidson (Saratoga) and Shelby Greany (Suffern) are both entered in the girls Mile.  Brandon Jarrett is entered in the 3200m.Seeded Invitational Athletes Posted HereMEET HOME PAGE 

New York State Girls and Boys Rankings have been posted.  More rankings to be added soon.RANKINGS POSTED HERE 

Boys Article - Girls Article  VIDEO - Boys Mile - Boys 2 Mile - Girls 4x200m - Girls 400m - Boys 400m - Boys 4x200m  PHOTO GALLERY - 1000 Pictures MEET RESULTS HERE  - extras added Tuesday - complete results in every event except 200m, which is coming Wednesday, Coverage on NJ RUNNERS.COM -  VIDEO COMING....Girls 4x800m - Boys 4x800m - plus Interviews BENJAMIN CARDOZO, NY - US LEADERS IN THE 4X800M photo by wingedfootfotos.com

Mount St. Michael's McGovern vaults 15-6By Christopher Hunt            It’s the simplest strategy in any race. When it happens everyone sees it coming and most of the time there’s very little that can be done to stop it. Kyle Merber executed it to perfection.            The Half Hollow Hills West senior, who orally committed to Columbia, sat and waited behind Danbury’s Willie Ahern, drafting like a Nascar driver.  Lap after lap Merber stalked Ahern until he decided he felt good enough to surge. When he did, he blew the race wide open.           Merber won the invitational mile at the Hispanic Games in 4 minutes, 15.13 seconds, earning a spot in the high school mile at the Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden Feb. 1 in the fastest time in the nation this season. FULL STORY HEREphoto by wingedfootfotos.com

Two Long Island Runners Are Millrose Bound! By Christopher HuntShe got swallowed by the crowd, disappeared in sea of legs and elbows. But then the leaders started to fall apart and drop back. That’s when Roslyn’s Emily Lipari emerged, suddenly in a battle with Lillian Greibesland of Warwick Valley. Lipari zipped ahead with a lap remaining. Then Greibesland pulled even on the backstretch while Lipari squeezed every inch out of the stride on her 5-foot frame. FULL STORY HERE  photo wingedfootfotos.com

Hispanic Games Race Previews          When the New Balance Track and Field Center at the Armory starts to overflow tomorrow with athletes, it’ll be a little different than it’s been so far this season. The 14th Annual Hispanic Games is as much a track meet as it is a showcase which promises some of the top performances of the young season from some of the best runners in the country. FULL STORY HERE

Get your discounted 2008 Millrose Games Tickets right from The Armory.

Lagat to seek 6th Wanamaker win at Millrose Games Mottram set for rematch as “A New Century Begins” on Feb. 1FULL RELEASE HERE 

Liliya Shobukhova wins women's mile in 4:31.90. GALLERY - VIDEO coming soon. Adrian Blincoe finsihed 2nd to Andy Baddely in the men's mile. GALLERY - VIDEO Dwayne Barrett won the men's 400m in 47.12. GALLERY - VIDEO Kristin Reese took the girls mile in 4:52.65, a US#1 performance. GALLERY - VIDEO St. Bendedict's Prep, NJ won the 4x200m relay in 1:29.50. VIDEO Chanelle Price set a new National Record in the HS Girls 500m in 1:10.30 GALLERY 1 - GALLERY 2 - VIDEO All New Balance Games Videos Here Wingedfootfotos.com Gallery with over 500 Photos Don Rich's Photo Gallery Here with 280 Photos Christopher Hunt's Article