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Donna on the Side
at the Nationals
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T&F's own "March Madness"
National Scholastic Indoor
by Donna Dye
(Donna accompanies husband-publisher John Dye to meets and roams the
sidelines.)
March 11-12, 2000 at the National Scholastic Indoor at NYC
(by remote)
NSI: Danielle Jelley - Pilar Marin - Pole Vault is Intellectual - Boys & Girls girls
March means "March Madness," to basketball nuts. But "March Madness" does not belong to basketball alone. Track and field has its own madness for High School Indoor Track and Field (T&F) in March. This year there were two championship meets. In the West we had the Nike Indoor Classic (NIC) at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana, the heart of basketball country. And in the East, we had the National Scholastic Indoor meet (NSI) at the New York Armory, in New York City, New York. Athletes crisscrossed in the skies and on the ground: some in the east going west; some in the west going east; some in the north going south and some in the south going north. Oh, yes, we even had our powerhouse Canadian neighbors coming south and east to make both meets international events. Most athletes chose between the two meets. However, two weight throwers, as strong as they are, and one runner chose to compete at both meets back to back thanks to "red eye" flights. "Boy, I love this sport!"
Like the Basketball sideline stories from Dick Vitale, T&F has interesting sidelines too from Donna On The Side. Here are a few T&F stories, highlights, and tidbits from both meets for your Internet viewing pleasure.
We weren't in New York this weekend, but we were there earlier for the Hispanic Games and enjoyed talking to some of the NSI athletes.
Danielle to Boston College
In the girls mile at NSI, Danielle Jelley did her best of the year at 4.58.37 and came in 4th in a sensational race. Danielle will be going to Boston College (BC) next year to major in English; she wants to teach. She was an early signer so she doesn't have to worry about where she is going and the spring is hers. Danielle decided upon BC after a lot of research and some good thinking into what she thought would be good for her. She was looking for good academics and an environment that suited her lifestyle. Fortunately, BC agreed that they and she were a good match. Good Luck, Danielle.
I talked to Danielle's mother who told me Danielle was the last of her two children to graduate and move on. She will miss Danielle and is not looking forward to September. But then again she added, "Maybe I'll get a dog!"
Pilar Does Her Best On and Off the Track
Pilar Marin got her season best of the year in the girls mile with 5.01.25 coming in 6th. Pilar's best on the track is matched off the track in academics and extracurricular activities. That makes her a good candidate for the Ivy League. Last time I talked to Pilar, that's what she was leaning toward. Pilar is a lovely, classy young lady. We'll watch for her in outdoor.
Jenn Hart, jr came in 15th in the pole vault. Jenn is a very enthusiastic vaulter who "Loves every minute of it." "It's intellectual; it's thinking.!" O.K., Jenn, based on our converstation, you fit right in with the best of them..
Why Do Kids Do Track?
Boys and Girls High School: "It's all in the competition�..the challenge. And, it's Fun."
