Eleanor Roosevelt (Md.) girls sweep relays
By Christopher Hunt
UNIONDALE – Her apprehension gave her away. Hempstead sophomore Charlene Lipsey refused to let herself pass Eleanor Roosevelt’s Tasha Stanley because, well, she’s Tasha Stanley, one of the top runners for a nationally-acclaimed Roosevelt squad.
Lipsey tucked her elbows in tight and shortened her stride to allow Stanley to control the race for 500 meters. Then when Nicole Banker of East Meadow challenged for the lead over Lipsey’s shoulder, Lipsey knew she couldn’t wait any longer.
“I knew that (Stanley) was a kicker and I knew I had to get by her and try to get away from her,” Lipsey said. “When (Banker) came up on me I knew I had to go.”
Lipsey won the 800 meters at the Knight Time Invitational at Uniondale High School 2 minutes, 12.45 seconds, the fastest time in the state this season and the sixth-fastest time in the country. The sophomore admitted that she was tentative at the start and decided early that she would be a counter-puncher but when the opportunity arrived to strike she capitalized.
“This means a lot,” she said. “I knew that she was second at nationals (Nike) indoors. Honestly, I was intimidated by her. But I’m glad I made that move. Coming down the straightaway, I heard them yelling and screaming. I was just trying to get in.”
Uniondale’s Ashley Hendrix, running at her home invitational, also turned in the fastest time in the state in the 100 hurdles. She won in 14.58. In the preliminary heat, Hendrix struggled with her technique, dragging her trail leg and floating over the hurdles. But she became more aggressive in the final and won by more than a full second.
“In the trials, I felt like I was all over the place in the lane, like I was tripping over air,” she said. “(In the finals) I felt really good. My start was good. My trail leg was good. I was low over the hurdles. It’s great to do well here because all my family and friends come out and support me so I know I have to do well.”
Uniondale sophomore Nathaniel Mercer also won the boys 110 hurdles in a personal best, 14.86 seconds. Mercer said he had been working on controlling his arms more in race, keeping his elbows in and becoming more efficient. He felt the difference.
“You feel more controlled,” he said. “(Running a personal best) motivates you even more. You start to think outside the box. You start thinking about all the things you can do for the rest of the season.”
Aki Bajulaiye of New Rochelle had that same feeling after winning the boys 800 meters in 1:59.71. Bajulaiye began the race with a cautious pace, trotting through the first lap in 60. Then raised the tempo and after peeking over his shoulder with 200 meters left, separated himself for the field. Normally, looking back in a race is considered a no-no, Bajulaiye said it was a strategy.
“Indoors, I never looked back and in a lot of races people would just pass me in the end and I never saw them coming,” he said. “I just wanted to make sure that no one was there. … I felt like I needed this one. I haven’t race well in the 800 in a while and I’m more of an 800-runner. I just need this one to get right for the rest of the season.”
The Eleanor Roosevelt (Md.) girls team dominated the sprints and relays at Uniondale. Sophomore Afia Charles won the 200 in 24.78. Stanley won the 400 in 55.80. Roosevelt won the sprint medley relay, 4x100, 4x800 and took the top two spots in the 4x400.
Craig Slaughter of Amityville won the boys 100 in 11.11 and then the 200 in 22.24. Mount Vernon’s Sasha Richards won the girls 100 in 12.01, the fastest in New York this season.
“My race was good but I feel like I would have gotten a better push of the blocks,” Richards said since the athletes were not allowed to use starting blocks. “I feel like I’m starting the season well. I think I can do better but the season is still just starting.”
Emily Lipari of Roslyn returned to trumping the distance races. She won the 3,000 in 10:30.35, 56 seconds ahead of the second-place finisher. After a couple quick interviews, Lipari snatched her clothes and jogged the parking lot. Always the multi-sport athlete, she had a soccer game.
But she looked sharp and controlled in the race after struggling through the end of the winter season.
“The end of the indoor season was really rough,” she said. “I got the flu and I was out for a week and I never really got back. It was rough but it happens. Today was OK. I wanted to run faster. I’m sick again. I have phlegm all in my throat but I’ll be fine.”
Reach Christopher Hunt at chunt@armorytrack.com.