Record Assault?

The long sprints or middle distance events — depending on who you are talking to — look to be an area of strength this year among Armory regulars. While the 400-meter records are more than likely safe this season, everything longer should have at least a chance of going down.

With that in mind we decided to take a look at five athletes who could be ready to rewrite the record books.

Ajee Wilson (Senior, Neptune, N.J.)

This year's USATF Youth Athlete of the Year is one of the best the country has ever seen. She ran 2:02.64 at the IAAF World Youth Championships (breaking Joetta Clark's New Jersey state record in the process). She's run a mile in 4:49.48 and 4:43.92 for 1600 meters.

Last indoor season she won the 800 meters at the New Balance Indoor Nationals in 2:06.17. She'll have her work cut out for her if she wants to make a run at the national record of 2:01.80 set by Mary Decker in 1974. The Armory record of 2:05.93 should be in danger here, especially with the girls listed below being there to push her.

Mary Cain (Sophomore, Bronxville, N.Y.)

Cain was a good runner last winter — even placing sixth at Indoor Nationals in the 800m — but she was not a true star until the spring season. How good was she outdoors? How about a 4:17.84 state record at 1500m. You want range? She's got it. She's run the 400m in 55.74 and 17:40 at Bowdoin Park — the third-best time ever. Oh, and she also ran a 2:03 800m relay split.

So what event fits Cain best? Bronxville Coach Jim Mitchell is not even sure. Cain will run races from 400m all the way up to 3k and whatever event she's in, you can be sure that records will be in danger.

Olivia Baker (Sophomore, Columbia, N.J.)

This year's middle-distance stars all seem to have one thing in common — range. Olivia Baker can do it all. Last year she ran the 200m in 24.87, the 400m in 54.46, the 800m in 2:10.41 and the 1600m in 5:10.34. She even won the N.J. Meet of Champions' 400m last year as a freshman.

What an asset to a team as Baker can run any relay you need. Last winter she was on a 4x200-meter relay that placed fifth at New Balance Nationals in 1:39.37, and that squad only loses one member. She also ran on a 3:49 4x400m relay and a 9:19 4x800m relay.

Olicia Williams (Senior, St. Anthony's, N.Y.)

Williams went from being a girl that everyone thought could be a star to a straight-up superstar. She's won the 400m at the CHSAA Outdoor Sectionals last spring in 54.75 and has a career-best 54.27.

Williams ran 2:07.81 at the New Balance Indoor Nationals last March, placing third behind Wilson and Cardozo's Claudia Francis.

Last year St. Anthony's was second in the 4x800m relay at the New Balance Indoor Nationals when it ran 8:59.16, a CHSAA record and second-best in NYS history. That squad graduated only one girl so look for the Friars to be in the hunt for that title again.

Williams has never won an individual state or national title, though she has the ability to do it. Many years she'd be the clear 800-meter star of The Armory, but she'll have some company this season.

Anima Banks (Senior, Mamaroneck, N.Y.)

Banks won the 800-meter run at the NYS Outdoor Championships last spring in 2:09.32 and has a career best of 2:09.21. She is another runner that can pick from many different events. Last winter she ran the 19th-best 600m time (1:32.54) and the sixth-best 1,000m time (2:50.05) in state history. She is the defending state champion in 1k.

The state record in the 1,000-meter is 2:48.44 by Tameika Grizzle of George Washington in Upper Manhattan. GW hasn't had a team in years, but just added track and field this season.

Banks clocked 4:34.1h in the 1500m the only time she raced the distance and could very well be a player in the mile this season.