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DONNA ON THE SIDE AT ARMORY COLLEGIATE GAMES
by Donna Dye
The 5th annual Armory Collegiate Games brings together top notch collegiate athletes mixed in with
some equaling thrilling high school performers. Most of the big names in college track and field
were there this year: Stanford, South Carolina, Texas, Duke, Villanova, Arkansas, North Carolina, Georgia, Illinois,
Louisiana State, North Carolina State, Ohio State, Penn State, Tennessee, Texas A&M. Sixty teams in all.
With the exception of the high school events and a few very competitive events, the atmosphere at the Collegiate
Invitational was very much like any college atmosphere--relatively subdued, quiet even and at the Armory that's
very hard to do. It took a very competitive battle in the closing 4x400 relays between LSU and South Carolina and
a few sprint events to rock the Armory. In the end it was Arkansas men and LSU women who won the team titles.
A number of DyeStat graduates, now more mature with sculpted bodies and disciplined moves, were there.
Now, they compete with the best, adjusting and adapting to the changes that the "next level" of competition brings.
But to many of the graduates like Xavier (X-Man) Carter, Natasha Hastings, Jason Richardson, Kelly Willie, and
Erica McLain, the transition was less difficult or at least it seemed that way judging from their performances.
Faces on the Side, Track and Field
Sideline Action
DyeStat Graduates at the Collegiate Games
| Erica McClain TX (2004) and Feranmi Okanlami IN (2004) both are freshmen and triple jumpers at Stanford. |
Bear McClain--Bear always goes where Erica goes. So when Erica graduated to Stanford, so did Bear. As usual, Bear did the job. Erica won the triple jump. |
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| Shana Cox-Freshman Penn State-sprinter-2003 NY |
Demiko Goodman-Freshman Georgia-sprinter
2004 Newnan GA |
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| Ashley Brown Sophomore (2003) and Gayle Hunter Freshman (2004) -Penn State-graduates of JW North CA hurdlers and jumpers |
Toni Aluko-Freshman Maryland-jumper
2004 Paint Branch HS MD
Won the College High Jump |
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Kellie Willie-Junior LSU-sprinter-2002 LA 2004
Olympic 4x400m relay gold medalist; 3-time NCAA relay champion; 2004 NCAA runner-up; 4-time NCAA All-American in 400m, indoors & out |
Janice Davis-Sophomore Stanford-sprinter-2003 MS
Won the 60 meter dash at the Collegiate and won the 60 meter collegiate title at the 2005 Millrose Games. |
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Ashley Owens-Freshman LSU-sprinter-2004 CO
Track and Field News 2004 Girl's Athlete of the Year
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Shenae Dawkins-Junior Georgia via Maryland
jumper-2003 NY |
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Adam Sarafian-Georgia-Pole Vaulter
Georgia-2004 NJ |
Sammie Sesay-George Mason-sprinter-2003 Eleanor Roosevelt MD relay teams |
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Beth Maher (l) TN and Kelly Reynolds-RI 2004
Duke throwers |
I. Perfection Harris-Junior 2002 NY
formerly Georgia Tech-jumper |
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High School Action
4 x 200 meter relay
| 1st Middle College at Medgar Evers High School: (from left) Chianne Ashman, Idara Otu, Analisa Austin, Deiddra Rogers. Deiddra had a particularly good weekend winning at the Collegiate meet and the night before winning the Fastest Girl in New York 60 meters at Millrose with a time of 7.71. |
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| 1st Simon Gratz PA: (from left) Khaliffo Featherstone, Kevin Talley, Kenneth Tally, Rashine Turner |
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| 2nd Herbert H. Lehman NY: (from left) Earvin Noel, Elvin Espinal, Francisco Santos, Randy Dawkins |
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4 x 4 meter relay
| 1st Harry S. Truman: (from left) Jelana Moore, Kayleen Watson, Shameka Gorbo, Shaneka Gordon |
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| Coach Maritza Osario poses in celebration with the girls. |
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Congratulation hugs, kisses and tears! |
| 4th Hempstead NY: (from left) Sabrina Budai, Jeavon Benjamin, Sayoka Daney, Sanique Leby, |
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| 1st Newburgh NY: (from left) Sam Stubbs, Ed Jackson, John Bowden, Mairo Little |
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4 x 8 meter relay
1st Boys & Girls NY ran to finish with a US#1 time in a race that had 4 of 6 fastest times ever:
(from left) Nakisha Bogle, Natana Jules, Chanelle McGregor, Andrenee Sterrett |
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| 2nd Bay Shore NY: (from left) Beth Sabiston, Jessica Wiegand, Mary Liz McCurdy, Sara McCurdy |
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| Northport NY 4 x 800 meter (from left): Jen Filiberto, Dannielle Karagannis, Samantha Seiter, Amanda Filiberto |
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4 x 800 meter relay
Potpourri
| New York Armory guys behind the scene: Daniel Patterson and Glenn-Osten Anderson keep the sounds and sights going on the jumbo screen in the Armory. Daniel directs much of the action and keeps the music at the right level and various other things to keep the excitement going. At the same time Glenn-Osten is busy with the video camera and feeding the jumbo screen. |
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Shenendahowa NYon the side. Dan McManamon and son Dan. Dan, a junior at Shenendehowa, is a distance runner. After winning the mile at Dartmouth Relays with a US#1 time of 4:14.28, Dan was sidelined with an injury and had to sit out the mile at both the Boston and Millrose Games. He's on the mend, so we'll be seeing him soon.
Dad Dan has taken up photographing Dan, the team and other athletes and from time to time contributing pictures to DyeStat. He was at Millrose and the Collegiate Games snapping pixs. Alas, lovely Mom Mary was not with the guys this time.
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Derek Dye and his friend Kathleen dropped in to say hello to John and Donna Dye, making the day for Mom and Dad. |
Award Ceremony
Special awards were presented to two special people:
Lou Vazquez and Judith P. Allen
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Lou Vazquez |
Judith P. Allen |
Lou Vazquez is chief of Officials for this year's Collegiate Invitational. He's been officiating at track and field meets for 25 years, ever since his three sons began running for the track team at Xaverian High School in Bay Ridge, Brooklyn.
Lou never saw his oldest son, Louis, run in high school. "I was always working." By the time Louis moved on to Brooklyn College, Lou's younger sons Edward and Phillip were at Xaverian. "I could go to VanCortlandt and see all three run in one day," he said, "except that I had to keep running from place to place."
Lou graduated from the Manhattan High School of Aviation Trades, got a degree in accounting from Brooklyn College and an MBA from Pratt Institute. He worked as an engineer for New York City for 42 years. |
Judith has worked as a track official in New York City for more than 20 years.
In recent years at the New York Armory she has specialized in the Finish Lynx timing system, which she helps to operate with Andre Alfred.
In fact, she has purchased her own Lynx system and started her own business doing line results at high school and college meets both in the New York City area and the Caribbean.
Judith taught in the New York City Public schools for many years, primarily as a math teacher in middle school. She graduated from Queens College and later earned a masters degree in mathematics from City College.
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Lou Vazquez with his son Louis. Louis or Lou is following in his father's footsteps. He is involved big time in the sport in his role as director of many meets, Director of Special Events at the New York Armory, and participation in the Nike Team Nationals. |
*Thanks to the Armory for background information on awardees. |
Armory Collegiate Games index page
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