Marine Corps Boys Results

Dec 31, 1969

Warwick Valley Boys Win DMR

Still rounding into form, Warwick runs 10:24.05
By Christopher Hunt

Warwick Valley’s Ryan Florkiewicz knew to keep things in perspective. This was good, for now. They still had cross country legs, he said. They are still trying to remind their bodies of what indoor track feels like.

But if they felt that way, his team sure didn’t show it. Mike Fox (3:09.4), Karl Schnabl (51.7), Florkiewicz (2:02.2) and Brad Ackerman (4:20.6) won the championship distance medley relay in 10:24.05 at the Marine Corps Holiday Classic.

“We ran really good for our opening meet, it’s the first time we’ve run the DMR together,” Florkiewicz said. “I felt good. We all felt really good. We didn’t really feel like we were working too hard.”

Fox handed Warwick the led early. Schnabl held pace on the second leg with Chaminade and Shenendehowa trailing. After the baton exchange, Florkiewicz took off smoothly and before long Chaminade’s third get was right on his shoulder then took the lead headed into the last lap.

“That woke me up,” Florkiewicz said. “So I knew I had to step it up.” Ackerman found himself in a fight with Chaminade and Shen but he threw in a surge that put the race away with 800 left.

“We went in looking to run around 10:20,” Florkiewicz said. “We can definitely get that. We haven’t really done any sprint work yet so we’re still getting our legs.”

Simon Gratz (Pa.) senior Khaliff Featherstone also said that he’s still rounding into form. He may not have the speed he’s looking for yet but he put his strength on display. About an hour after running a leg in the trials of the 4x200, Featherstone was back for the invitational 800. He bolted off the starting line but slowed on the back straightaway enough to announce that he did not want to lead the race.

“I was still a little tired from the 4x200,” said Featherstone, who is being recruited by Seton Hall, Tennessee and Pittsburgh. “I pretty much chilled.”

He settled into fifth place after the first 200 then moved to fourth behind a pack that included Aki Bajulaiye of New Rochelle, Barry Mask of Baldwin and Absegami’s Ford Palmer. But with 150 left, Featherstone switched gears and zipped back two runners on the last curve. Still charging, he pasted Bajulaiye in the last 15 meters to win in 1:58.09, a pedestrian time for him. Bajulaiye was second in 1:58.33.

“I have the speed,” Featherstone. “I knew that if they let me hang around like that then I would find an opening.”

While he changed back into his sweats, Westlake (Md.) took a shot at his team’s meet record in the 4x200. Westlake won in 1:28.85, just off the record of 1:28.25 that Gratz set in 2004. Featherstone just shook his head and clapped lightly when he saw the time.

Metchaton won the pole vault relay at 27 feet with Percell Berry and Shane Ordinay. Mount St. Michael’s Brian McGovern had the top individual clearance at 15-0. After six hours sitting by the runway, sleeping and playing on his T-Mobile Sidekick, once McGovern finally got to compete he decided to stop after clearing 15 feet, since he already secured the individual win. He also is competing in at the Brown Invitational tomorrow.

“I didn’t want to over-jump,” he said. “Sitting around for hours, I was already slow down the runway. I took three attempts at 14 (feet). I hit the bar pretty hard to 15 too.”

Reach Christopher Hunt at chunt@armorytrack.com.

photos by wingedfootfotos.com