Hey bloggers!

I just got word that Suffern’s Jen Clayton finished first in the long jump at the 2009 World Youth Track & Field Trials in Ypsilanti, Michigan today with a 19-7.5.

This qualified her to take a trip to Italy to compete in the IAAF World Youth Championships as part of the U.S. team. Two people per event make this team.

Just wanted to congratulate Jen on this accomplishment and wish her luck!

Casey

Hey,

I received some updates about Junior Nationals in Oregon.

Ursuline’s Katie Sullivan competed in the 3,000-meter steeplechase tonight. She finished fourth with a time of 11:16.38. Sullivan had a really impressive end to her season, it’s sad to see her go.

Iona Prep’s Kyle Shepard competed in the 3,000 steeplechase as well. He finished 11th in the jr. men’s division with a time of 9:37.89.

Teammate Sean Halpin competed yesterday in the 800 jr. men’s first round. He finished 20th with a time of 1:54.28.

Hope you enjoyed the update but I must be getting to bed. I have to be up dark and early at 4:45 a.m. tomorrow so bye for now.

Casey

The All Star and All County sections will be out on July 10th. So go pick up the paper that day!

Casey

Hey bloggers,

I wanted to post a bit of a correction. It’s come to my attention that for the high jump federation title, Megan Talay and Janelle Clayton tied for second at 5 feet 7 inches, with the same amount of misses.

I wanted to clear this up because both girls did an amazing job and deserve the credit.

Apparently, I saw an early or incorrect version of the high jump results because I checked that sheet like six times while writing my story and then when I checked it online last night upon hearing this news, not only were they tied but their names were in a different order then before. But who knows what happened there.

Casey and I arrived at our hotel late last night. We actually ran into the Section 1 bus at one of the rest stops along 87. I have a feeling this will be a pretty good state meet. Last year, I thought the facilities ar Buffalo were real nice, but for some reason I thought that 12 hour drive took a lot of the athletes – all the athletes, not just Section 1. I just felt like the times were kind of slow and no one seemed to really have good leg strength after that trip. But this meet I’m expecting to be pretty good.

Here is the link to view the order of events for the meet. I’m bringing my lap top to the meet, but I have no idea what Cicero-North is like. Hopefully there’s a press box with wireless access. If there is I’ll keep upi posted of anything notable. So, check back in about an hour or so and we should know then if I have wireless.

Well, the state entry list has been posted. If you want to take a look click here to view the boys list and to view the girls list click here. Let me know what you think.

I’ll be back to preview the meet from Section 1’s point of view a little later today. But in the mean time, what do you think? Anyone who could surprise? Is it what you expected? Let me know. Two things I’ll throw off the bat right way – it looks as though Jesse Drinks is too hurt to compete at states as he is not listed in the 100. The other is Mike Abelard is the top seed in the 200.

Now that we’re in the home stretch and states are only a few days away I figured we could throw up a new poll. Our last poll was close as the most competitive event at qualifiers. The boys 3,200 relay won by one vote of over the boys 800. And both races were pretty close. The relay had two teams break 7:50 and the 800 had Aki, Lyle and Dapice moving down the final stretch.

Now I want to know who you think has the best chance to come away with a federation title. I threw up a few names of people that have a real good shot. But I want to know what you think? Is it Halpin? Or Clayton? Maybe Roller can continue her stellar season. Anyway, let me know.

This has been a busy summer between weddings, graduations and christenings. I’m at work now and it’s actually a reprieve from all this other stuff I’ve had to do. Anyway, yesterday was the last meet before states, giving some athletes one last chance to qualify for states(Tejorn Davis) or others just trying to get one last race before making the trip up to Ithaca.

If you haven’t seen the stories in today’s paper, click here to read how Sean Halpin ran a blistering 1:51 in the 800. Be sure to also read the girls’ story on the Somers 800 relay success and how Bronxville 7th grader Mary Cain continues to impress.

Anyway, here’s some other stuff from the meet:

Hey bloggers!

So I just got in from Eastern States over at Iona Prep and something tells me I have yet another sunburn from covering track. I really should invest in some sunscreen.

I have to say overall though it was a really great day. A lot of great events and great athletes. After rushing over to Iona Prep afraid I was late, I discovered the event didn’t actually start until 10 a.m. Well at least I got to settle in (and find out my camera was dead). Fortunately, I had the charger and their was an extra outlet at the timing table. I got some good pictures so hopefully my foray into photography will work out excellently tomorrow morning.

Anyway, results. I know you are dying for them. Well I’ll give you a quick recap and the results will be on the next page.

First off, Shilesha Johnson from Spring Valley took first place in the 100-meter with a 12.41. She is going to be great at states next weekend if she keeps her speeds up.

Bronxville’s Caitlin Hudson finished with a 2:15.51 in the 800-meter, while Nanuet’s Megan Young took third place with a 2:18.91. While Hudson is having a great end to her career, Young is starting out her career at Nanuet with an amazing beginning.

Diana Sainvil from Woodlands came in first in the 100-hurdles with a 15.22, just a tenth of a second faster than Aeigha McDavid from Ursuline. In the 400-hurdles, New Rochelle’s Amira Yeiser took second with a 66.08.

The pole vault was a second one affair with Ursuline’s Claire Murphy taking first place with a height of 10-6, while both Carissa Leonardi (Lakeland/Panas) and Angelica Gilsenen (Pearl River) reached 10-0. Ursuline’s Fiona Nugent vaulted 9-6. Both Leonardi and Gilsenen will be representing Section 1 at the state tournament.

Charlotte Pope had a good day taking first place in the discus with a 120-0 and second place in the hammer with a 142-9.

Sally Gale still remains a top the rankings int he high jump, jumping a height of 5-4 today.

Suffern took first place in the 6,400-relay over Ursuline with a 21:53.28. The Mouties second team took third.

Okay, well I think that’s about it for now. Dan will be on later with the boys results.

The complete results for the girls (minus the shot put which ran into the boys meet) are on the next page.

Enjoy

Casey

Aki Bajulaiye will only be competing in the 3,200 relay. I know it’s been rumored, but that is true. New Rochelle has a real good shot at winning a state title in the event and obviously it would be better if Bajulaiye was fresh. The other factor is that if Aki qualified on Friday, June 12 for the federation final on Saturday (with the way he’s been running 1:53-54 it easily could happen) then he would have to run the 800 three times in two days.

Now that Aki’s out that opens up a spot for Mike Dapice who still had a shot to qualify in the 1,600, but he doesn’t need to worry about that anymore (I also think the 800 is his better race).

Another interesting note and I’ll have more info about this, but apparently because of budgetary concerns the relay teams (two could qualify this season, instead of just one) are not allowed to take any alternates. So, the Ramapo runners or Suffern or Valhalla (basically it effects any team that had a relay team qualify for states and a member on that team is competing in something else) needs to run its full compliment of athletes in all relays (trials included). That could mean runners like Mike Abelard, Jen Clayton, Philip Flynn, and  so on, will need to compete in trials and semis in the relays as well as their other events.

Some teams, like Ramapo or Suffern, could have qualified for the finals without using its top runners, but that would all but eliminate that possibility. Like I said, I will try and get more info on this because it could definitely effect some teams.

I was scanning through some of the photos of the state quals today and I thought a bunch of the pictures were pretty good. Below are some of the pictures. I hope you enjoy.