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Kyle Plante and Melissa Kuzdorfer dazzle on the track and in the field
By John Nepolitan
The New York indoor track and field season starts with meets in late November, kicks into high gear right away and when it comes to an end at Cornell University at the state championships. The intensity is high from the opening weekend and even after many long weeks the athletes of the Empire State step up and lay down memorable performances at the State Meet. Names like Lipsey, Greany, Hatz, Lipari, Brown, Cardozo, and Newburgh have been in the headlines week after week and once again provided fans with highlights, but there were a number of new stars that emerged like Andrews, Plante, Weeks, and Smith.
 This year the boys would have the morning session and the action would kick off hot and heavy with Robert Andrews(Shoreham Wading River) sitting on Sean Curry (Bishop Grimes/Ludden) in splits that were constantly around 70 seconds for each 400 meters. Then with just 200 to go Andrews (Photo left by John Nepolitan) put the hammer down and pulled away from Curry for the 3200 meter win, using just enough energy trying to save himself for a chance at a double win later in the 1600. Andrews would not be able to pull off the double, but would end up with a silver medal in the event. There was no clear cut favorite in the 1600. Jarred Cornfield (Corning) would jump to the early lead of the 1600 in the hope to steal the race. Behind Cornfield the pack of Jordan Hamm, Andrews, Marco Bertolotti and Chris Carrington would start to move and with 2 laps to go catch the leader. Bertolotti would jump to the lead at the 1200 point reached in 3:15 and 1 lap later Hamm and Carrington would be at the front fighting for the lead. Carrington would pull away almost with ease with Hamm getting a clear second and Andrews nipping Bertolotti for 3rd. Soon after there would be bad news for Carrington as he would be called for stepping on the line while running in the outside of the boxed start and be disqualified. Hamm would move up be awarded the state title and Andrews would get his 2nd medal of the day.
The one boys race that most were looking forward to would be the 1000 where recent 1000 meter state junior class record setter Alex Hatz (Photo right by John Nepolitan)would look to claim the state title to go with his record run. On paper it would not be an easy task for Hatz having the always dangerous Chris Stogsdill lined up next to him and looking for revenge for last weeks lose to Hatz at the Section 3 Qualifier and Eastern States 800 meter champ Sean Halpin. From the gun there was no guessing what Hatz would do, jumping to the lead Hatz would never be passed and power away to a 2:27.86 win. Stogsdill would do all he could to catch Hatz, but would get caught at the tape by Tyler Stewart.
 While Hatz came into Barton Hall a heavy favorite, Jermaine Brown (Photo left by John Nepolitan) was looked upon as a lock for the 300 meter crown. Brown, the national leader in the event, simply just went out and ran as he wanted to and had little trouble in winning in 34.42
As expected the two straight away races were close right to the finish and left many waiting until the awards were given out to find out who had won. .08 would separate the top 4 in the 55 with Miles Lewis getting the nod over county rival Berfrantz Charles by .01. Anthony Quezada and Dre Johnson in 3rd and 4th had to be split by the 1000th of a second with Quezada getting 3rd. The hurdles saw just .09 separate the top 6. Off the line and over the first few hurdles Nathaniel Mercer had grabbed the early lead, but Darryl Bradshaw would remain calm and work his way back to the lead and get the win over a Wayne Seaton 7.41 – 7.44.
Terrance Livingston won the outdoor 800 state title with a front running style that put his competitors on the defensive from the first step. For most of the season Livingston had dominated New York runners in the 800 and 600, but looked “off” at the Eastern losing the 800 to Sean Halpin. From the gun in Ithaca it was easy to see that the Easterns race was not just one of those off days, but something was wrong. Not powering off the line as he had all year, Livingston would be in the pack coming through the first lap and as the field hit the back straight he would pull up and drop out before the race reached 300 meters. Up front Sean Atkinson and Mike Quercia were slugging it out. Behind the pair Zavior Brown sat in and would make his one move coming off the last turn and move into the lead and hold on for a 1:20.67 win.
 The boys meet no doubt provided some great performances, but the girl’s session would over shadow them. Right away one of the meets top fields toed the line to battle over 3000 meters. Just past the mile a pack of five would form including Footlocker finalists Shelby Greaney, Aisling Cuffe, Lizzie Predmore, Sam Roecker and Samantha Nadal all capable of taking the title. Greaney who had been to every state meet since she started running for Suffern looked best of all kicking away from Predmore and Cuffe for the crown. Like Robert Andrews in the boys 3200, Greaney would look to pull off the double later when she stepped to the line in the 1500. The 1500 was no less packed with talent having the national leader, the state cross country champion, and the state federation cross country champ among those stepping to the line. Right from the gun Emily Lipari (Photo left leading Shelby Greany in the 1500 by John Nepolitan) would be sure that the race would not be a kickers affair forcing the pace through splits of 2:23 for 800, 3;02 for 1000 meters and 3:39 for 1200. By the time Lipari had reached 1200 she only had Greaney for company and would launch her bid for the state title with just 200 meters to go. Over the final 200 meters Lipari would pull away and cross the line in a new US #1 4:32.59 with Greaney coming home 2nd just as Andrews had done.
National list leaders are big news, but nothing grabs a headline like records. Melissa Kurzdorfer (photo below by John Nepolitan)and Kyle  Plante did not disappoint. Kurzdorfer upped her State Record in the shot put with a 48’ 2.5” toss just over 2’ further than runner up Vanessa Stewart. Plante had been impressing all season with her no fear running. The freshman wasted little time making her presence known in the 300 bolting from the blocks and making the field chase her. Plante would not be caught and stop the clock at a new US NATIONAL FRESHMAN RECORD 38.53.
 There would be just one double winner on the day. Madalayne Smith would only have to run in a straight line and race a total of 300 meters, but would claim 2 golds. Smith (photo left by John Nepolitan) better known as a hurdler before this indoor season not only claimed her specialty, but first won the flat 55.
Barrier breakers is what track is all about. Olivia Weeks waited until the last possible moment to break the 40’ barrier in the triple jump and that would move her from a secondary medal to the top of the award podium. Barely making it into the final, Weeks stepped to the top of the runway on her last attempt and stretched out to 40’0.5” and then had to sit until all the jumps were done to celebrate.
As the bar moved to 12’ 6’ in the girls pole vault three jumpers remained, each had luck on their side at an earlier height hitting the bar hard, but having it stay. Sydnie Leroy would be the luckiest of all snaking over 12’ 6” for the win over Jenna Marrionne and Michelle Quimby each who cleared 12’ 3”
While Leroy was involved in a battle and Weeks had to come from behind, defending long jump champion Jenn Clayton ended the competition on the 2nd jump of the competition with an 18’ 9.5” leap. Clayton who earlier in the season had to sit out due to an irregular heartbeat, looked like she had not missed a step by the shortened season.
In the pre-meet build up the 600 was to be the marquee event. Facing off would be Charlene Lipsey, Claudia Francis and Phyllis Francis. Lipsey would try to jump to the lead as she alaays does, but would have to yield to Phyllis Francis coming off the break. By 400 meters Lipsey would be up front and soon after the bell lap started, Phyllis Francis would get bumped and begin to float back as Claudia Francis would move forward to challenge Lipsey off the last turn, but could not get by.
 Without a doubt the busiest athlete of the day was Emily Menges (Photo left by John Nepolitan) of Garden City. After leading wire to wire to take the 1000 meters, Menges would return to the track to lead off the 4 x 800. Her Garden City team would battle with Bronxville who would go on to the win. Menges would return to the track for the very next event the 4 x 400 this time running the anchor leg. While her Garden City team could not match strides with Cardozo and Newburgh up front, Menges would bring her team home for 3rd just a step ahead of Fairport.
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