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by Don Rich,
publisher of the Pennsylvania high school web site, penntrackxc
It's March 11, 2002. Six months after the worst terrorist attack
in the history of the United States. And it was a day that was on
everyone's mind March 8-10 - the three days of the National Scholastic
Indoor Championships (NSIC) at the Armory at 168th and Washington
Square in Manhattan. Some people talked about it. It's hard not
to when you visit New York these days. Others took the opportunity
to visit Ground Zero - the site of the attacks. But all stopped
what they were doing as eyes turned toward the flag during the singing
of the National Anthem at Sunday's Opening Ceremony. An honor guard
of the NYPD presented the colors. Everyone appreciated the significance,
and the effort.
But there was a track meet to be run. And despite the approach
of the poignant anniversary, athletes and coaches turned their attention
to the job at hand. Competing in a national championship.
But there was something missing. (more on that soon).
To begin, the NSIC boasted five new national records. Six if you
count one athlete breaking her own national record she had set a
day earlier. The five new marks matched the effort in 2001. But
could there have been more?
First, full attention and props to the five records and the athletes
who accomplished them. Plus the athletes who defended records, despite
injuries.
First, there is Sanya Richards. The Florida senior obliterated
the girls' indoor 400 record by over a second. A record held by
none other than Angel Perkins, who was present, but injured, straining
a hamstring Saturday in the 400 trials late in the afternoon. As
Perkins approached the timer's table, she went down and began to
stretch, obviously in pain. An hour later, she was still limping
badly. But there she was Sunday, coming to the line to give it a
shot. She would finish. Walking. In pain. Through for the meet,
and missing the 200 final, she would not get the opportunity to
win back the record she had lost to Richards only a day earlier.
It was a tough way to go out. But her courage in toeing the line
showed why she had become the champion she is.
Richard's three-record assault was not entirely expected. But when
she went 23.41 (US record) and 53.43 (nearly US record) in Saturday's
two Prelmis - and looked so strong and fluid doing it, expectations
were raised for the two Sunday finals. The first was the eye-popping
52.10 to become the first girl under 53 indoors. The likes of Natasha
Hastings, 8th grade wonder Brandi Cross of Texas, and Tiffany Abney
could only watch the final two turns turn into a victory sprint
for Richards.
As the 200 approached, Richards calmly visualized her race as introductions
blared, and the crowd waited. We waited exactly 23.22 seconds. And
another record was set.
The first record of the meet came at the end of the first day as
the Red Bank NJ and Bronxville NY DMR's both broke the 10-day-old
record of 11:50.86 by Boys and Girls NY (which in turn had broken
the 18-year-old standard of 11:52.80). The two teams went 11:49.34
and 11:49.61, as Red Bank anchor Kathleen Trotter held off Michelle
Rorke, who was closing fast.
The third record of the meet fell on Saturday, as Massachusetts
senior Samantha Shepard broke her own indoor mark in the Pole Vault
by 3/4", going 13-04.25, the 3rd best ever, indoor or out.
"When you do a really, really good jump, you just kind of float
through the air. It goes so fast." The final of three attempts
to get the all-time record was close. But that's what other meets
are for.
The last of the five records came in the boys' 4x200 as Deep Creek
VA came close in Saturday's Prelims, but nailed it on Sunday to
win by over a second. Their 1:27.09 led four other teams under 1:30.
(Note: The Speed City girls (Long Beach, CA) ran the 2nd fast 4x200
of all time, missing the record by .35.)
Each was a remarkable performance. Others, like those of Boys &
Girls' Stacey Livingston, who ran and finished two relays in total
collapse while competing with the flu, were remarkable, as well.
But there was still something missing.
Actually, there was a lot missing. So as most track fans do, I'm
going to do a little speculating. Not about which meet 'won' and
which 'lost.' About what we're in the sport to enjoy, the competition
among the best an event, or a year, has to offer. So here goes.
At NSIC, there were two Canadians crossing the line ahead of the
first American in the Mile. One went 4:12.33; the second, 4:14.09.
And the American, Phil Gaeta of Oakton VA, was across before a third
Canadian, in 4:16.44. But what a race it would have been if Bobby
Curtis, Alex Tatu and Sam Bair had run in the same heat. They were
all in the 4:16 range, and have run faster. Who would have pushed
the pace? If four guys instead of one had gone with the Canadians,
would their strategy have been different?
And what about the two-mile? Nurani Sheikh, by his own admission,
had run a conservative (14:44 second place) 5000 Friday to save
something for the eight-lapper on Sunday, where he expected to 'run
my own race." His own race was alone after the mile, winning
in 9:03.41. But with Bobby Lockhart, Chris Solinsky, Brian Dalpiaz
and Peter Meindl in the mix, would the race have been more tactical?
Would Lockhart have gone faster than 8:58.04? Would Sheikh? I'd
love to know.
Three guys were under 48 in the 400 at the NIC. Would NSIC champ
Raymond Williams have joined them racing on the same track?
Haddonfield traveled four hours (with an overnight stop) between
a winning DMR in New York and a winning 4xMile in Maryland. They
left behind two teams that bettered their winning mark in MD. Could
they have attained new heights racing North Mecklenberg NC, Cardinal
O'Hara PA, and LaSalle OH? Maybe? Maybe not?
Glen Mills has run great all season. They ran well in winning at
NIC, going 3:19.51. But they've gone faster. Twice. Would they have
mixed it up with Taft, Speed City (Long Beach, CA) and Transit Tech
to challenge the John Muir record? Wouldn't we all like to know?
The boys' High Jump was won at both meets with leaps under 6-09.
Another athlete or two at either place could have pushed it higher.
And less than two inches separated the winners of the boys' Triple
Jumps.
And it was no different on the girls' side.
For instance, in the 60 Meter Dash, just .02 separated one-two
and first at the two meets. Girls from TX, PA and CA may always
be guessing.
Julia Lucas ran a great DMR leg on Friday, so was moved to the
hot heat of the Mile for Sunday. She ran alone, going 4:51.56. And
so, apparently did Molly Huddle in MD, going 4:46.42. Lucas - who
has been through three stress fractures, a break, and anemia since
her sophomore year, will have to wait for another day to see if
Huddle is in her sights. "I knew every name in the race, and
all their times, so getting on the line I just told myself I need
to stop thinking about myself as an underdog, I can hang with these
girls, and I did." I can't wait for Lucas to race Huddle.
Megan Kaltenbach would have benefited from the presence of Laura
Zeigle in the 2-mile. And so would the fans.
Only Heidi Magill and Selena Sappleton broke 2:10 in the 800. Mindy
Sullivan and Jennifer Perry would have been right on their heels.
Would a 2:07 or 2:08 have been the result?
Chaunte Howard cleared 5-10, the best she has done this early in
the year. Facing Sheena Gordon, who did clear 6-0 n MD, would she
have surprised herself approaching her PR from last spring?
For me, something was missing in New York.
Not the dedication, perseverance, or sheer joy of competition.
Just the opportunity to see, and enjoy, this year's best in one
meet.
Isn't it time that the marketing acumen and muscle of Nike married
the experience and historical passion of the Metropolitan Athletic
Congress and the National Scholastic Sports Foundation to let us
all find out who the best really are from year to year?
It's for the kids. Or at least that's what I always hear.
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