MileSplit HQ - On Sunday night, we asked you what you thought the best performance of the weekend was. Well, after two days of battling it out, we have the answer. Nearly 8,000 votes later, the winners have been decided.
Kyle Brazeil, MileSplit NY
Boys Performance - Rai Benjamin, 300m - What can we say about this mark that hasn't already been said. US #17 All-Time in the event, in the Top 5 All-Time for flat track marks, an unbelievable performance, made even harder by the fact that Benjamin is over 6feet tall, on the tight turns of the Cornell Track.
Honorable Mention - Jay Hebert 55mHH - Was able to defend his State Title by .01, diving over the line for the win.
Girls Performance - Emma Gallagher 600m - Since Gallagher has entered High School, she has only "lost" a race to another NYer in the 600m twice. Once to a teammate, and once to Bay Shore's Jessica Gelibert. Other than that, Gallagher is undefeated at the distance, including all three times she has contested it at the State Championships. She continues her legacy, yet again going undefeated, setting herself up for four straight years of dominance.
Honorable Mention - Kaylyn Gordon Triple Jump - First place in the Triple Jump, second place in the Long Jump, State Champion in an event she only begun attempting this year. Not bad for a novice.
Bill Meylan, TullyRunners
Boys Performance - Rai Benjamin, 300m - Exceptional flat track time (possibly fastest by NYer ever)
Girls Performance - Jessica Lawson, 3000m - Freshman, smart race, big PR, final 200m in 33.46
Bill Wende, Section6Runs
Boys Performance - DJ Ohlson, High Jump - 6’9” is an accomplishment no matter who you are!
Girls Performance - McKenzie Kuehliwind, Shot Put - Has been pursuing Jess Dhaliwall all year and she finally put it all together to come up big with a PR that was about a foot farther than she has thrown before
.png)
The Girls Competition
Winner - Katie Michta - Sachem North - Racewalk - 6:49.44
Reasoning: Katie Michta had been dominating the event in which her family name is held in high respect. At the gun, she took off like lightning, putting on a show for the people of Cornell, steadily increasing her lead lap by lap. She would win the event in a new National Leading time, in a margin of over 15 seconds.
Early Openers: While racewalking runs in her blood, (ha, puns), Michta started out like any normal distance runner. She was on XC, did some of the longer distances throughout her career, even tried her hand at High Jump. But when your sister is the State Record holder, Racewalk is calling your name. Steadily improving year over year, Michta has solidified herself as Long Island's finest in the event this year. Although she was the first girl under 7mins this year, she wasn't without competition, as the Long Island Elite Meet came down to a matter of feet for the win. Entering States, she was looking for a big time, and made sure her mission was accomplished.
An eighth grade Katie Michta takes 18th in the freshmen division at Manhattan.
The Boys Competition
.jpg)
Winner - Liam Purdy - North Rockland - 1000m - 2:27.63
Reasoning: Liam Purdy's raceplan was thrown out the window two minutes before he was set to take the track. In the unseeded heat, reminiscent of Zavon Watkins back in 2012, Jay Navin had thrown down a mark in the 1000m that very well could have won the meet. No longer able to leave it to a sit and kick, Purdy took off at the gun. In another surprising turn, as Purdy powered away, Mikey Brannigan was going with him, well ahead of his PR in the event. The race shot down to the finish line, Brannigan holding on, by Purdy holding out. With one glance at the scoreboard, it was a revelation in both placing and time. Purdy had taken the title.
Early Openers: Why hadn't anyone heard of Purdy before, on the State level? For one, he had not competed in the 1000m since he was a freshmen, where he only raced it once, hitting a 2:48.80. After that, he made his marks as a mid-level long distance runner, putting in respectable times of 4:21.90 in the 1600m, and a 9:27 for the 3200m. However, Purdy struck gold on January 17th, of this year, when he tried his hand at the 1000m, and immediately shot up to national contender. Content at that distance, he has been undefeated since.
A ninth grade Purdy tackles the Varsity F division at Manhattan, taking 62nd.
