Princeton- The Larry Ellis Invitational has long been one of the East Coast's premier track meets, as just getting accepted into it can be challenging. Winning two events, however, is unheard of.
Unless, of course, you're Jessie Gaines.
Gaines, the #3 finisher in the USA Indoor Championships months ago in the long jump, had two impressive victories this weekend in the 100 high hurdles and long jump. After owning the fastest time in the trials, she blasted a 13.57 to win the final. Teammate Bianca Marten, who had the second fastest time in the trials with a 14.01, clipped several hurdles and didn't finish the final.
She bombed away in the long jump, her best event, winning the event with a solid 20-7.75 effort.
| |
| Marten hands off to Davis in the 4x100 |
The 4x100 relay continued a strong season, as Marten, Shene Davis, Alica Ross, and Antoinette Padilla won their heat easily, clocking 47.42 to break their club record from the week before. Davis later took third in the triple jump (40-6.75), and Padilla ran a PR in the 200m in 24.77. Kelsey Lewis cleared 5-3 for 9th place in the high jump.
In the distance events, Ally Black rolled through two miles at 11:15, after clicking off a 5:35 then 5:40 miles. Her hips tightened up with 1200m to go, and she went from running 17:30 to 17:55 in the 5k. In the 1500m, Robyn Evangelist made her spring debut, opening up in 4:47.39, as Lindsay Prettyman broke the 800m club record with a 2:13.79 clocking. On Saturday afternoon, Nicole Salge opened up her spring 800m season with a 2:20.48.
4x400, Kirkland Shine at Princeton
Long jumper Herman Kirkland was struggling to knock the rust off for hours. Adjusting his steps and approach nearly every jump, he hadn't competed since the USA Indoor Championships in mid-March.
Then he uncorked a 25'2" jump, and with that, the rust was off for good.
Kirkland won the event by over a foot, as he also ran the third leg on the 42.08 relay that was running 40.xx until anchor Chris Turner slowed in the final 20 meters due to a tightening in his hip flexor. Ish Robbins and Derrhyl Duncan ran the first two legs on that relay which hopes to break 41.00 this Friday at Penn Relays.
Also in the field, veteran pole vaulter Craig Van Leeuwen finished fourth (15-11), with former club record holder Matt Tholis finished 3rd in the javelin with a 207-4 throw.
| |
| Sharpe winning his 800m heat |
Several solid performances came in the 1500m, as Josh Neyhart (3:56.66) and Kyle Price (3:58.64) both cracked 4:00. In the 800, Logan Sharpe continued his winning ways, winning his second straight 800m heat, this time in a PR of 1:51.23. Teammate Dylan Lowry, the club's winning Millrose Games sprint medley anchor, got bumped and boxed in, settling for a 1:52.10 finish.
Will Taylor made an impressive club debut with a 49.40 400m. He later teamed with Duncan, Robbins, and Mark Parisen to finish in 3:17.58, the club's fastest relay time ever in April.
| |
| Both 4x400 relays after the race at Princeton |
Podium Finishes for Wesley, Leonard
Cyrus Wesley finished second in both the 100m and 200m this weekend at the Greyhound Invitational at Moravian College. After being the top finisher in the trials in 10.75, he came back with a 10.68 for second in the final. He came back and ran 21.85 in the 200m.
Micah Leonard won the triple jump with a 38-00 jump.
Chegwiddin Wins KEA 5k
Aimee Chegwidden (left) was the second finisher overall, and the first women finisher, on Sunday's KEA Pot of Gold 5k. She came in at 19:31, impressive for her spring racing debut
. Teammate Karen Auteri
, middle, finished in 19:58 and was the second woman finisher. Don Weiss won his age group and finished 6th overall with a 21:07 time.
Fonder Wins 5k; Castro Sub-20
River Edge, NJ: Mike Fonder, running his hometown 5k race, won by 2:17, as he blitzed the River Edge Recreation Annual River edge 5k course in 15:45.2.
Katie Castroagudin was second overall, running an all-time PR of 19:50--her first time dipping under 20:00.
The USA Today and ESPN covered the event, but they wouldn't disclose any pictures, citing privacy infringement issues. So we haven't any.
Callan Wins 5k
Usually club officials get nervous when club members are being escorted by police, but this time, it was for all the right reasons.
Chelsea Callan was the overall winner of the Race 4 the Children 5k at Warinanco Park this weekend!
Chefitz: Two Weeks, Two PRs
Ezra Chefitz recorded a second PR in two weeks, as the Rutgers senior won the Hillel 5k Sunday morning on a USATF-certified course Buccleuch Park in 17:36.
Boston Marathon: aGSTC Men, Women, Masters Men Teams Finish Best in NJ
The aGSTC's three marathon teams finished as the highest placing NJ teams, a hard-earned claim after battling rugged winds and rain during the Monday race on Patriots Day.
The men finished 14th out of 62 teams, with a three-man finishing time of 8:01:28. Shawn D'Andrea (2:33:46), Will Appman (2:37:19), Mike Loenser (2:50:23), Mike Anis (2:52:13), and Nick Murphy (2:52:36) were the five club finishers. Cross-river rival Central Park TC was 19th overall with a team time of twelve minutes slower.
The women finished 18th overall in a 51-team field, tallying a team time of 9:45:42. Aya Leitz 3:11:52, Erika Meling 3:14:22, Meghan Bruce 3:19:28, and Jenn Lucas 3:22:19 were the club's finishers. Masters runner Sheera Siegel, returning from injury, ran an impressive 3:17:20.
The masters men finished 27th out of 71 teams with a team time of 9:06:30. The team finishers included Chris Sallade 2:49:22, Yuki Negoro 3:01:21, Brian Harris 3:15:47, Karl Leitz 3:27:47.
This is the busiest month of the club. Between hosting the CAM and aGP Youth Track Meet, competing in Grand Prix races and track meets, volunteering sat the NJ Marathon...it's a lot. Consequently, response time to emails, texts, FB messages, and phone calls will be slower than usual from the aGSTC Headquarters. Thank you for your patience, in advance. xoxoxo
No comments:
Post a Comment