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Donna on the Side
The Armory, New York City March 9 - 11, 2001
National Scholastic Indoor Championships
March Madness at the Armory
by Donna Dye
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What better place to have track's March Madness than New York City? It's exciting; it's sophisticated; it's cosmopolitan; it's the place to be! And, what better facility than the Armory with that fast track that everybody talks about?
The Scene: The Armory
The Armory has a long history. Built to hold tanks, it opened in 1909 and almost from the beginning was a track and field center. Through the years it evolved into a homeless shelter with track and field activities going on around beds and bunks in the infield. After a while disease and poor conditions forced the end of sports activities within the Armory. Then in the 1990's Dr. Norbert Sander, a physician from New York City fought hard with the City to get the Armory back for track and field. After many battles and arm twisting, he won and the Armory started to take the shape it's in today. Through his extensive fund raising, he has managed to renovate and upgrade the facility. But Dr. Sander is not finished; he has more in store for the Armory. One of the things to come is the National Track and Field Hall of Fame which should open November, 2002.
The Armory is a massive structure built to hold tanks. The track which sits on the third floor has a concrete base, on top of which is a Mondo layer, almost nine inches of metal support, plywood and another Mondo Layer. That adds up to 22 inches. No wonder it's such a fast and terrific track!
The Scene: The NSIC--Some Background
The NSIC goes back to 1984 when the Metropolitan Athletics Congress (MAC) first established it as an event to "enable students athletes from all over the country to compete for scholarship opportunities." The MAC is the New York metropolitan area's association of USA Track & Field, the national governing body of track and field, cross-country, road racing and race walking.
A Note:
There is one thing about the NSIC story that isn't so fine--me and my camera. I must apologize to Donna on the Side. I had a new camera for the NSIC--one that we bought on the way to the meet Saturday. It took some time to get used to it. Unfortunately, along the way, I lost some great pictures of great folks. Sorry about that! Catch you next meet!
Now on to the NSIC Donna on the Side.
Joroma Reed, Zenobia Reed's grandmother from Houston, Texas and Gloria Louis, from Lafayette, LA, Shameka Louis' mother. Zenobia Reed is a DyeStat Elite who competes in the 100, 200 and 60 meter Dash. Shameka is also a DyeStat Elite who competes in the 100, 200, 55 and 60 meter dashes.
| Angel Perkins tells how she did it.....how she set two national records within 90 minutes of each other--the 200 in 23.59 and the 400 in 53.25. |  |
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Emmanuel Karngor from Pawtuckett, RI. Emmanuel was 6th in the 800 meter. This was the first time that he ran the 800. Earlier this month at the New England Championships Emmanual won the 600 setting a new meet record. |
Selma Edard, Campus Magnet Mom--This mom did a great job cheering the team to victory.
From Maryland's DeMatha High:
(From Left) Joshua Wilson, Channing Williams and Adam Casey. DeMatha took 4th place in the 4x200 with 1.29.41.
| Laura Zeigle, South Jordon, Utah, won the 2 Mile. The NSIC was one more race for Laura to run as she prepared to run in the World Cross Country Campionship in Belgium this month. Good Luck to you Laura! |  |
Coach Jeff Arbogast, Laura and sister Jackie. Jackie won the NSIC mile.
Some Milers
Melissa Donais, 2nd
Place
Kelly Swain 6th place
Bradford,
MA
Burke, VA
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Bria Wetsch a 7th grader from Chaska, MN. Bria finished 12th with
a time of 11.35.81.
Tonisha Henson and Candice Baucham 2nd place triple jump, from Long
Beach Poly in California
Samantha Shephard's mother and coach Jeff Robbins
| Samantha Shepherd....set new U.S. girls record in pole vault at 13-3.5 |  |
Molly Lederman and Dad
Stacie Manuel and Coach Jon Heath
Pole Vaulters, Alicia LaRoche and Kathryn Pettine from Centerville VA
More Pole Vaulters from Massachusetts:
Noelle Battista, Laura
Golitko and Taylor Robinson
Pole Vaulters 3-1-2
(From Left) Mark Kupets, David Sullivan, Garrett Penton
1st Place, David Sullivan, Clifton, VA
| 2nd Place Garrett Penton |  |
Boy Pole Vaulters couldn't help but soar with these DyeStat fans cheering and coaching them on.
(From the Back) Ed Taylor, from Raleigh N.C.came to cheer for son,
Steve Taylor; Bobby Haeck from Florida
(Center) coaching Garrett Penton; Al Berardi here to cheer on Jason
Berardi; Tim St. Lawrence (Coach to Taylor Majewski), Taylor
Majewski from Warrick, New York; Scott Bass, Christian Gross' Stepdad from Raleigh N.C (Front Row)
Chip Gross, here to cheer for son Christian; Jessie Williams both from Raleigh N.C. Jessie is a high
jumper who finished 3rd in the high jump at 6'08.75.
1st Place 4x200 Campus Magnet from New York
New York's 1st Place South Shore 4x400 Team with Coach Phil Zodda
Lincoln Brooklyn 4x400 Team
Race Walkers
(From Left)
Rebecca Lavallee (3rd), Kirsten Jordan (1st), Robyn Stevens (2nd) 
(From Left)
Zachary Pollinger (3rd), Benjamin Shorey (1st), Owen Schoppe (2nd)
Parents from Westwood MA
Mary and Neil Mac Isaac cheering for son Daniel and Paul Stanton, here
for son Robert "Gordy" with Xaverian Brothers High School.
The boys ran the 4x800.
Workerbees
Derek Dye and Dorothy Clinton, Meet Director
Rich Marshall and Dan Grossman, Officials. Friends since they met
at Brown University.
Lucia Carroll, Score Keeper. It's a family affair. Lucia
was here with husband John Joseph Carroll II who coordinated a variety of
activities and son John Joseph Carroll III who was announcer
Officials researching a pole vault question: Louis Vazquez Senior
and Bob Rothenburg, Coach at Brown University while Sandy Pashkin looks on
A Footnote.
There was another meet held on the same weekend as the NSIC. Curious to learn why athletes came to the NSIC, I did a little survey during the meet. I asked "You had two national meets to chose from this weekend. You chose the NSIC. Why?" The responses I got most often were: Close to Home; Compete here all season. Why would I go anywhere else?; I went with my team even though I was invited to attend the other meet; Wanted to come here; It's home.....best track around.....why would I want to go anywhere else? Some good answers. Don't you think?
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