Two of New York's most notable recent graduates are set to represent Team USA in the 2020 Tokyo Paralympics. We have a veteran in Mikey Brannigan (Northport), who stormed to the Paralympic Gold Medal in 2017, whereas he will be joined by 2019 graduate Rayven Sample (Falconer) in the sprints for his very first Games.
Brannigan Looking To Add To His Legacy
Schedule: Finals - Friday, Sept. 3rd
Mikey Brannigan made a splash at Northport HS, helping bringing his team to their first NXN Championship race, as well as setting the State Record in the 4xMile Relay. Upon graduation, he has continued his training, pairing with Paralympic Coach Sonja Robinson, competing as a member of NYAC. In 2016, Brannigan kicked away from the field to capture his first Paralympic 1500m Gold Medal, mirroring the Gold Medal won by Matt Centrowitz in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Brannigan regularly crosses over into professional fields as well, carrying a sub-4 minute mile personal best. He also scored 5 medals at the World Championship level, splitting between the 1500m and 5000m disciplines. Brannigan competes under the T20 classification, after being diagnosed with Autism at age 3.
Sample's Sprint Prospects Look Strong
Schedule: Prelims - Friday, Sept. 3rd | Finals - Saturday, Sept. 4th
The newest member of Team USA is Buffalo's Rayven Sample. The sprinter from Section 6 graduated just two years ago, but made a splash in the High School ranks when he aided his team to take home the D2 4x400m State Title back in 2019. Now competing at Bucknell, Sample is making his first International trip abroad. Running in the open 400m in HS, Sample clocked a personal best of 50.27 for the full lap, a feat he repeated last year in College. He ran 50.34 at the Paralympic Games Qualifier in Minneapolis earlier this Summer, proving he is fit for the Games. The current World Record for Sample's classification is 49.21, indicating that the College Sophomore should be in the hunt for a medal. Sample competes in the T45 classification, given to those athletes with dual amputations or impairment below the elbow. Sample also carries a best of 22.86 for the 200m, foot speed that will help him as he joins his teammates for the 4x100m final on Friday night.