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Limited entry meet result a 2 US #1's and set the stage for big showdowns
Most weekends at the Armory Track and Field Center in New York feature meets that can best be described as cattle calls sometimes lasting up to 12 or 13 hours with section after section of races. The Mayors Cup/Hall of Fame Classic has a much different feel to it, a limited entry meet that combines an open invitational and a championship meet and the result would be 2 US #1 performances and five other performances that provided the fans with something to cheer about.
 While most walking into the Armory early in the morning while still trying to wake up after a late night watching the Millrose Games, Sydnie Leroy (Port Jervis, NY) was already on the pole vault runway. The competition for first would be over fast, with only three jumpers in the competition, Leroy would not start jumping until the other vaulters were done. Leroy would go onto clear 12’ and have three good attempts at 12’ 6, by 11:00 am Leroy (photo left by John Nepolitan) was heading home.
With a meet that has limited entry the time schedule moves along quickly and can get ahead of itself. That almost cost the meet two of its biggest stars. As the afternoon varsity events got started time began to pick up and soon events were going off much earlier than expected. As the girls 600 seeded heat was walking to the line Hempstead’s Charlene Lipsey came running into the clerking area in a panic to get her racing shoes on and get on the line. The race was held up a few seconds and Lipsey did what she always does go right to the front and dominate the field. A showdown with some of the areas best would not materialize and Lipsey would go onto win with ease in 1:34.11. The boys race the followed almost had the same situation, except that national leader Terrance Livingston (Great Neck South) was so late getting to the check in area that meet director Lou Vasquez thought it best to allow Livingston the chance to get a short warm up in and not rush and had him placed in the 3rd section. The extra time and knowing that he had no serious competition in the section allowed Livingston to gamble and go hard from the gun. Going through splits of 26, 51.6 and 1:05 (500 meters) Livingston was alone and kept pushing hard even dipping at the line for every last 1/10th of a second. His reward would be a new US #1 and the #6 performance all time – a 1:19.48. The race for Livingston (photo right by John Nepolitan) was a good tune up for what will be a showdown to see who is the top middle distance runner in the country when he takes on the Hendrix twins of North carolina and Clayton Parros at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational over 600 meters – could the national record be in danger?
 While Livinsgton’s national leading performance was almost unexpected, following the trials of the 300 it was almost expected that a new US #1 could be run in the final. Jermaine Brown (Medger Evers) let everybody know his intentions when he ran a very fast 34.04 in the trials, but the final was not going to be a one man show as Brown (photo left by John Nepolitan) would have his team mate Jason Genius and Sheephead Bay’s John Thomas to contend with. Running in the sprint friendly lane 5, Brown went right after it and never let his competition get close in the final and coming off the last turn the win was sealed it was just a question of how fast he would run. A little taunting look to the side, but not slowing down Brown would break the tape in 38.78 to knock .10 off the national lead.
Earlier in the day Thomas and his Sheepshead Bay team had re-established itself as the team to beat in New York in the 4 x 200. A close battle with Boys & Girls HS in the trials (1:30.85-1:30.90) gave Sheepshead Bay lane 5 for the finals. Jumping to the front early and staying out of trouble Sheepshead Bay would go on to win in 1:28.79 with Boys & Girls at 1:29.01 the #2 and 3 times in the USA this year.
With most of the attention of the day focused on the speed events, many did not really pay too much attention to the girls 3000 when it quickly developed into a two girl race. Footlocker finalist Aisling Cuffe (Cornwall) and Megan Venables (Highland Regional, NJ) quickly broke away with Cuffe at the front pushing the pace. Eventually the pace would be too much for Venebles to handle and Cuffe (photo right by John Nepolitan) would pull away for a 9:58.49 win, the #5 time in the US this year. Cuffe is slowly rounding into shape following a late cross country season. At the Hispanic Games Cuffe had opened her season running 10:05 in a losing effort, she is on course for a showdown at the New York State meet where she will likely face US leader Emily Lipari (Roslyn) as well as the next 3 on the US list and fellow Footlocker finalist Shelby Greany (Suffern).
Ending the day Cardozo had hoped to re-gain the US #1 in the 4 x 400. From the gun the competition would be the clock. By the end the foursome would build up an 11 second cushion in stopping the clock at 3:51.17 short of the goal, but a good tune up for the show down with Eleanor Roosevelt at next weekend New Balance Collegiate Invitational.
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