Patterson breaks through, signs with Miss. St. Christopher Hunt May 20, 2010

Newburgh coach Malcolm Burks felt like senior Randy Patterson had become a forgotten man.  Patterson enjoyed a breakthrough indoor season, where he clocked 1:19.92 for 600 meters, the second-fastest time in the state, yet he hadn’t quite broken into the elite class of long sprinters. Worst yet, college coaches weren’t biting. Not like he wanted them to.

Kurzdorfer shakes senior fever, looks to become one of the best Christopher Hunt May 18, 2010

Lancaster’s Melissa Kurzdorfer is two weeks off of the best performance of her storied high school career. She called it a breakthough. The senior broke the state record in the shot put, tossing 49 feet, 9.5 inches before dominating the discus and later the hammer throw. She broke three meet records at the Hartford Invitational in Connecticut in one of the most commanding all-around throwing performances in recent memory.

Garden City looks to join Sub-9 Club Christopher Hunt May 16, 2010

GARDEN CITY -- There’s only one question that matters in track and field: How fast can you run? When Garden City looks at its four best half-milers on paper that question could put the Eagles’ 4x800 relay in elite company. There are five teams in New York history that have even broken the 9-minute barrier.

Upon further review... .Sheepshead Bay Christopher Hunt May 11, 2010

Sheepshead Bay coach John Padula said he called 10 people. He didn’t believe. He needed confirmation.

LOUCKS GAMES: Daquan Brickhouse raises the bar, Yamoah, Liverpool take meet records Christopher Hunt May 09, 2010

WHITE PLAINS – Daquan Brickhouse only joined the track team to keep himself busy before he heads to Central Connecticut State on a basketball scholarship next year. Track and field was just something to do. Now the Westchester County slam-dunk champ is the newest novelty to the New York track and field scene.

LOUCKS GAMES: Stewart takes another MR Christopher Hunt May 09, 2010

WHITE PLAINS – North Babylon’s Vanessa Stewart collapsed on the infield while she waited for her award. She laid flat on her back and stretched like she would sleep right there on the artificial turf at White Plains -- a well-deserved rest after she rewritten the record books at the Loucks Games.

Cuffe outlasts Lipari with US #2 3,200, NYS Jr Class Rec Christopher Hunt May 08, 2010

WHITE PLAINS – Over the course of two years and many head-to-head races, Roslyn’s Emily Lipari and Aisling Cuffe of Cornwall have become good friends, although it’s been a one-sided friendship. At least on the track.

Querica takes 800, Vena crushes meet record in SP at Loucks Christopher Hunt May 08, 2010

WHITE PLAINS – It wasn’t a tactical race. It was a waiting game.

Columbus finds new star in Styrmar Livingston Christopher Hunt May 07, 2010

The equation was simple for Strymar Livingston. He worked hard. He ran fast.

Saratoga handed Loucks Games Christopher Hunt May 07, 2010

WHITE PLAINS -- The last time Saratoga Springs attended the Glenn D. Loucks Games was when the team fielded a superstar distance runner named Nicole Blood, who outdueled Notre Dame’s Molly Huddle in a historic race at 1,600 meters.

Farmer stars, Longwood Christopher Hunt May 02, 2010

HUNTINGTON – Patrick Farmer is a spectacle now. Like a circus act. An event unto itself. It’s barely five months into his track career and when it took the starting line at the St. Anthony’s Invitational, home turf for the Friars’ senior, the air changed. The rest of the meet stopped. Kids lined the back straightaway and stood up in the bleechers. They stood up in the infield. Those outside the track and pressed against the surrounding gate.

Lipari, Vannon double up at St. Anthony Christopher Hunt May 02, 2010

HUNTINGTON – Emily Lipari doesn’t know if this will be her last 800-meter race. But she knows it’ll be her last one in high school and it was haunting the Roslyn senior that she had never broken 2:10.

Ricketts soars to US #1 TJ; Charles leaps US #7 LJ Christopher Hunt May 01, 2010

HUNTINGTON – A lone clap sounded in the distance. It started slow and built in momentum, just the way claps sound by the triple jump runway but there was no crowd to join in.

Warwick Valley wins 4x800 Championship in US #1 Christopher Hunt Apr 24, 2010

PHILADELPHIA – Redemption. It’s the biggest cliché in sport – to try and fail then try again and succeed. It’s a cleansing of sorts, washing away of doubt and memories that make you cringe. And sometimes proof that at least someone was wrong.

Schellberg takes Penn Relays mile record, Hatz Christopher Hunt Apr 23, 2010

PHILADELPHIA – When Pat Schellberg crossed the finish line his jaw dropped as he raised his arms, as if somehow he was the most surprised person in the stadium. The way he raced though, was quite the opposite of the Delbarton (N.J.) senior’s initial reaction.

Blacksburg sets Penn Relays DMR rec, Lipari takes 3K over Cuffe Christopher Hunt Apr 22, 2010

PHILADELPHIA – Joanna Stevens said she knew. She knew it all week. She knew it when she took the baton.

Penn Relays NY Highlights: Garden City, Ursuline, Kellenberg, No. Rockland all qualify for 4x8 final Christopher Hunt Apr 22, 2010

PHILADELPHIA – The Penn Relays was supposed to be the first time that Garden City assembled its best relay team, the first time they made a full-out assault on the 4x800 relay this season.

Penn Relays - NY Boys Preview Christopher Hunt Apr 20, 2010

Penn Relays - NY Girls Preview Christopher Hunt Apr 20, 2010

Who needs shoes? Cardozo runs state-leading 4x100 Christopher Hunt Apr 17, 2010

RANDALLS ISLAND –Ahtyana Johnson had just erased what looked like an impossible gap in the 4x100 relay. But when she finished, she turned around looking confused.

Lipari, Jacobs post US #1 Christopher Hunt Apr 17, 2010

RANDALLS ISLAND -- She finished her race, jogged over to her mom and her Roslyn coach Vera Trenchfield, red-faced by the cold and barely out of breath. She clapped her hands together and spoke easily.

Quercia, St. Joe Christopher Hunt Apr 13, 2010

It was Texas University assistant coach John Hayes who told Marcellus senior Mike Querica that he was going to be a half-miler.

St. John's Frederick flies high Christopher Hunt Apr 10, 2010

NEW YORK – Priscilla Frederick stood just aside the long jump runway at DaSilva Memorial Track at St. John’s talking. She just finished the javelin, an event she hopped in because she said a teammate needed some competition.

McDonald has something to cheer about; Mickens runs 21.5 into headwind Christopher Hunt Apr 10, 2010

UNIONDALE – It’s been awhile since Roosevelt’s Dale McDonald has run races without a hitch in his step. Two weak hamstrings meant that almost every time he raced one leg or the other would cry out in pain. So McDonald went were he could get the most support.

2010 Armory All Star Team: Patrick Farmer named Athlete of the Year Christopher Hunt Mar 30, 2010

2010 Armory All Star Team: Phyllis Francis named Athlete of the Year Christopher Hunt Mar 29, 2010

When Phyllis Francis stepped down off the track after winning her second of back-to-back indoor national 800-meter championships, she took a deep breath, strolled toward a pile of her clothes and started to get dressed.

Evans doubles up, Faldermeyer just misses Henning's state record Christopher Hunt Mar 14, 2010

Sheroid Evans said he knew. He knew for sure. Which means he either has an excellent internal clock or he should buy a lottery ticket on his 18^th birthday.

Purvis takes 60/200 double; Ashe claims Weight NR Christopher Hunt Mar 14, 2010

There was a point in the race, just off the last curve in the 200 meters, where Ashton Purvis showed that no matter what happened she refused to relent. It was when Whitney Fountain came barreling off the turn and into Purvis’s vision.

Record assault: Vena takes Armory SP record; Haddonfield misses national record Christopher Hunt Mar 13, 2010

Nick Vena already locked up his third straight national title. The pressure faded. He found a familiar place. The Morristown junior imagined himself alone at practice.

Haddonfield's Hall becomes 5th girl to break 17 min in 5K Christopher Hunt Mar 12, 2010

Marielle Hall didn’t look at the clock once. That’s what she said. She didn’t look at the clock until she realized that she had a shot to break 17 minutes in her first indoor 5,000 meters.