Folders |
NY and NJ state meets on tap - 2014 DyeStatPublished by
Championship Sat. includes NY state, NJ MOC
By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor The New York State Public High School Athletic Association meet takes place at Cornell University. And the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's Meet of Champions is at the John Bennett Indoor Athletic Complex in Toms River. Indoor track is huge in these two states -- some would say it's bigger than outdoor track -- and their collective impact on New Balance Nationals bears that out. Since the meet moved to The Armory in 2011, athletes and relays from NY and NJ have won a combined 48 national titles. Some of that is owed to the proximity -- and familiarity -- of The Armory. Hundreds of schools in New York and New Jersey come to upper Manhattan repeatedly during the season and it becomes a second home. Of all the entrants on the DyeStat Top 10 lists across 28 events indoors, about 32 percent come from New York or New Jersey. On Saturday in Cornell, the list of current national leaders includes Benjamin Bonhurst of Smithtown West in the shot put, Luke Gavigan of Tappan Zee in the mile, Richard Rose of Boys and Girls in the 600, Zola Golden (300) and Bella Burda (2-mile) of Arlington, and Garden City in the girls SMR. Breakout star Symone Darius of New Rochelle deserves mention, too. The cast of characters in New Jersey right now might even be more impressive. Columbia's girls relays, which include Olivia Baker, lead the US in the 4x200, 4x400 and 4x800. Baker also leads the country in the 600. Keturah Orji of Mount Olive leads the US in the horizontal jumps (which are not contested at the NJ Meet of Champs). The Union Catholic boys are US#1 in the 4x200 and 4x400 and Don Bosco is US#1 in the DMR. Zyaire Clemes is US#1 in the 300 and 400. Stay tuned throughout the day Saturday for highlights from these two important indoor state meets -- plus others -- as the 2014 rankings list continue to take shape. More news |
