In Appreciation of Paper

Who says that newspapers are no longer relevant? The local papers do and excellent job of honoring track and field stars with weekly articles and end of season all star teams. Below is a small sample of the hard work the "old media" put in this spring.

The Journal News (Westchester, Putnam & Rockland counties in N.Y.)

New national 1,500m record holder Mary Cain of Bronxville is, without surprise, the region's athlete of the year. The boys' choice was much less clear which is why Hackley thrower A.J. Wolf and Mount Vernon sprinter Steven Gayle share the 2012 award.

Times Herald Record (Orange County, N.Y.)

Warwick's Paddy Grandinali — who broke John Trautmann's legendary Section 9 5,000-meter record — earned Athlete of the Year honors for the boys while Cornwall state long jump champion Brittany Bryant got the nod for the girls.

New York Post (New York City)

Cardozo's Alexis Panisse — the Armory Athlete of the Year — was tabbed as the City's Athlete of the Year as well while Boys & Girls' star Robert Rhodes — and his refusal to lose — earned the boys' honor.

Staten Island Advance (New York City)

The Monsignor Farrell boys — led by mid-distance star Dan Galford — dominated the Staten Island All Stars while Port Richmond's team and the Claudio sisters of St. John Villa led the way for the Island girls.

Times Union (Capital Region, N.Y.)

Colonie's Kyle Plante had Section 2's fastest times in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter dashes, making her the easy choice for Athlete of the Year while Burnt Hills' Joe Carr took the boys' top honors for breaking his father's Section record in the 200-meter dash (21.33).

Bergen County Record (New Jersey)

Armory All-Star Ben Malone of Pascack Valley broke a 34-year-old Bergen County mile record to earn the boys' Athlete of the Year while Westwood's versatile Alexandra Cimino hurdled and sprinted her way to the girls' honor. Old Tappan's Peter Dunn and Ramapo's Bill Manzo took home Coach of the Year awards.

Newark Star Ledger (Newark, N.J.)

There is so much talent flowing out of New Jersey that these picks had to be excruciating. But the Ledger sided with Trenton Central hurdler Jermaine Collier as the boys' Athlete of the Year and Columbia's versatile Olivia Baker over Ajee Wilson for the girls' honor. For the all-state teams, click here for the boys and here for the girls. The coaches of the year were Pope John's Brian Corcoran for the girls and Morris Hills' John Struck for the boys.