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:

Ramapo just keeps developing those sprinters. Before the 200 meter race, Aaron Thevinin was nervous. He admitted that this was a fairly new feeling for him before a race. Normally he’s excited and ready to go, but yesterday was different.

He never really competed in a meet of this magnitude before. After all, he’s only a sophomore. He’ll be competing in his first state meet this weekend as a member of the 400 meter relay team. He was asking some of the runners their seed times as they milled around the blocks waiting for the signal to get set. He wanted to know where he stood.

Well, 22.61 seconds later he knew – it was first. Thevinin was able to edge out Zach Keefer (22.64) of Fordham Prep at the line.

“Coming around the corner I saw (Keefer) coming for me,” Thevinin said. “I wasn’t sure if I beat him. This gives me a lot of confidence heading into states. I went last winter as an alternate, but this will be the first time I’m competing in it.”

Other notes from the boys’ meet:

• I’m interested in seeing what Jarman Esperance can do at the state meet. He just continues to win.


• The same goes for Ryan Whitley winning the 400 hurdles in 55.04. He beat two of the better competitors in the event yesterday. And then you have Wayne Seaton of Fordham focusing on the 110 hurdles and skipping the 400 hurdles in order to run fresher for the 1,600 relay.


• You know what Sean Halpin did. I focused the majority of my story on it, so I don’t want to rehash it, but as great of a race that was for Halpin, the other story from that race – Lyle Haywood running 1:53. He and Ryan Gomba pushed Halpin the whole race. Haywood – as he’s becoming known for – went out real strong and just holds on that second lap, saving enough up for a late kick. I’d keep an eye on Haywood.


• Two other athletes that were real impressive at this meet, but are out of area that have really impressed – Tejorn DAvis who qualified for the high jump yesterday as cleared 6-6 making the standard and Sean Reilly clearing 6-11 and jumping 46 in the triple.


• That looked like a pretty easy 3,200 win for Manu Kumar who took first in 9:58. There was really no one to push him in the race. It would’ve been nice to see someone running with him.


• And also mentioned in the story was Kyle Shepard’s impressive run in the steeple. His 6:05.85 is one of the best times in the country this season. He’s admittedly struggled with this race the last few weeks, but yesterday he remained focused for the whole race and just blew away the competition.