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Tim Fulton Armory Track

Sci Or Stuy?

by Tim Fulton — posted on 9/14/2012

The battle for the boys' team title at the PSAL Championships last November came down to Bronx Science and Stuyvesant. Well, the Wolverines are poised to repeat as Coach Aisha Bruce returns a great 1-2 punch with Pier Berkmans and Joseph Ledger and well as three other scorers.

"They both train hard, do a lot of calisthenics and think positively. That's a big part of it. They believe they can do it, which is already half the battle," she said. "Pier did a lot of weight training this summer to get stronger. Ledger put in 60 miles each week when school was out. They are ready."

But Stuyvesant won't be rolling over, especially with Jack Stevenson in the lineup. Coach Mark Mendes reports that Stevenson, who trained with Konrad Surkont, now at Harvard, over the summer, wants to break 13 at Van Cortlandt Park, win the PSALs and be the No. 1 City finisher at the Feds.

Top PSAL Boys' Returnees

Jack Stevenson, Stuyvesant

The senior placed 16th at the NYS Federation Championships, running 16:22 at Bowdoin Park. The PSAL record for Bowdoin appears to be former teammate Konrad Surkont who ran 16:07.1 last year. Stevenson had a strong spring that saw his PR go from 4:32 to 4:21 in a year. If he continues to progress, there's no reason he can't go down as one of the best PSAL runners in history.

Pier Berkmans, Bronx Science

The junior had one heck of a sophomore year. He was fourth at the PSAL City Championships last fall before placing a very strong 30th at the NYS Federation Championships. His time of 16:30 at Bowdoin puts him just eight seconds back of Stevenson. On the track he ran 4:16 for 1,600 meters and 9:40 for 3,200, both very strong sophomore times.

Kevin Trimmer, MSIT

Trimmer was sixth a year ago at the PSAL City Championships and is back for his senior year. His best track performance came is his last race of the year when he placed fourth in the PSAL Championship 3,200 meters, running 9:50.56. If he can continue his improvements, he will be one of the City's best again.

Justin White, Midwood

White was eighth at last year's PSAL City Championships when he ran 17:23 at Van Cortlandt Park. He has dipped under 14 minutes on the 2.5-mile course and ran 4:26 for 1,600 meters at the City Championships last spring. He's the favorite to win the Brooklyn Borough Championships.

Joseph Ledger, Bronx Science

The senior was 10th at City Championships last fall — running 17:26 at Vanny. On the track he displayed both speed and endurance — running 1:58 for the 800 meters and 9:51 for 3,200. A steady diet of 60-mile weeks this summer should set him up for big things this fall.