Something's Missing
by Don Rich
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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