We at Armorytrack.com have done our best to spread our coverage to all athletes that compete at the Armory and elsewhere. But we do realize that there are athletes from all over the state that we have yet to introduce to you outside of a name and performance on a results page. We present to you 10 athletes to keep an eye on as this indoor season concludes with the state meet this Saturday at Cornell University in Ithaca and the National Scholastic Indoor Championships March 14-16.
ARMORY’S ATHLETES TO WATCH
Compiled by Christopher Hunt and Tim Fulton
Whitney Fountain, Sophomore, Columbus (PSAL): Fountain is one of the most dynamic sprinters/jumpers in the state this season and could still be considered up-and-coming. She qualified for the state meet in the 55 dash, 55 hurdles and long jump. She won the 55 and the long jump at the PSAL championships , while finishing third in the 55 hurdles. Fountain said he planned to run two events at the state meet although she wasn’t sure which two. The 55 dash and the long jump seem most likely. She has the fastest time in the state in the 55 (7.04) and the second-best long jump (19-2).
Melissa Kurzdorfer, Sophomore, Lancaster (Section 6): Kurzdorfer , the defending state champion, led the state in the shot put last year and continues to do the same this season and has improved. The sophomore last a personal best of 46-6.75 which she tossed at her state qualifier Saturday and is the fifth-best throw in the country. Kurzdorfer also has two other throws over 46 feet this season. She also has the best weight throw mark in the state this season at 53-11. Kurzdorfer owns the seventh, eighth, nighth and 10th grade class state records in both the weight throw and shot put.
Madalyne Smith, Sophomore, Saratoga Springs (Section 2): Smith is an anomaly in a school that is widely-known for its prowess in distance running. She has run 8.18 in the 55 hurdles, the second-best time in the state. Smith has also shown to be an adept sprinter. She won the 55 dash in 7.14 at the Stanner Games in January.
Leah Buletti, Junior, Westhampton (Section 11): Buletti is as dominant in the racewalk there has been in New York. She leads the state in the 1,500 and mile racewalk. Buletti walked 6:56.41 at the Suffolk Small Schools championships and 7:29.84 in the mile racewalk to win at the Millrose Games. She is the heavy favorite to win at the state meet and will be one of the top contenders at which ever national championship meet she chooses.
Zoey Russell, Senior, Fredrick Douglass (PSAL): Russell hasn’t yet been a headliner but hasn’t flew between the Armory radar either. She is one of the top sprinters in the state, exciting from 200 to 600 meters. Russell is not entered in this weekend’s state championships. But she most recently clocked 24.38 in the 200 meters at the Eastern States championships last week. Russell ran 55.16, placing second at the Pepsi Hall of Fame Classic in the race that Nadonnia Rodriques broke the New York State 400 record (52.83).
Steve Crouse, Senior, Colonie (Section 2): Crouse is one of two athletes in the state to triple jump farther than 48 feet this season. The senior jump 48-9.25 at the Eastern States championships last week. Crouse also cleared 48-8.50 at the Bishop Loughlin Games December 12. He is the clear favorite to win the state meet this Saturday.
Tewado Latty, Senior, White Plains (Section 1): The Jamaican-born senior has had little exposure because of a limited race schedule this season. Latty nursed a strained hamstring all season but will be among the favorites in the 300. Latty ran 34.95 at West Point to win the Section 1 Class A championships. He ran 48.74 and Eastern States last week as well.
Terrance Livingston, Junior, Great Neck South (Section 8): Livingston hasn’t yet fully made his presence felt at the Armory yet but is, without question, a rising star in the state. The junior ran 1:21.52 in the 600 meters in December at the Bishop Loughlin Games. Livingston ran 48.63 for 400 meters at the Pepsi Hall of Fame Classic then finished third at the Eastern States in the 800 in 1:56.74.
Andy Kahl, Senior, Cicero North Syracuse (Section 3): Kahl broke the Section 3 high jump record at the Bob Grieve Invitational soaring over 6-11.25. Kahl won the state championship last season clearing 6-7. He cleared 6-8 this season at the Southern Tier Invitational, the New Balance Games and his state qualifier. He also jumped 6-10 at the Jack Morse Relays in January.
David Gross, Senior, Brockport (Section 5): Gross has shown a great deal of improvement since last winter when he finished ninth at the state meet and had a season best throw of 52-11.75. This season he enters the state meet as the top seed with a personal best of 58-7 which he threw at his class championships. Gross has been consistently over 56 feet this season and is largely unchallenged among public schools in New York State.
Albert Johnson, Senior, Corning (Section 5): Johnson, the defending state champion, popped the best long jump in the state and the third-best in the country this season at his state qualifier, 24 feet. It matched the jump he uncorked at the Section 5 Class A championships last month. Johnson also cleard 48-5.50 at the his state qualifier, the second best jump in the New York State and 11th in the country. In New York, there isn't another leaper within a foot of him in the long jump.