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STANFORD-BOUND BERKSON, SHEPARD SHINE AT 20th HISPANIC GAMESPublished by
STANFORD-BOUND BERKSON, SHEPARD SHINE AT 20th HISPANIC GAMES By Chris Lotsbom, ArmoryTrack.com In a meet filled with fast times, nation-leading performances, and close finishes, Maddy Berkson and Karina Shepard shined at the 20th annual Hispanic Games held at The Armory. Berkson and Shepard, both bound for Stanford next fall, earned commanding wins in the 3000m and 800m, respectively. Their finishing times of 9:49.35 and 2:10.68 are the fastest in the U.S. so far this season.
"I just wanted to keep an even pace," Berkson said. "After the first few laps I just got into a rhythm and kept moving up." In the Girls 800m run, Shepard -- a native of Dracut, Mass. -- led from wire to wire in the fast heat. Passing 400 meters in roughly 63 seconds, the senior took a glance at the clock with a lap remaining. That's when she went to another gear, going on to win in a US#1 2:10.68. "I was very excited to come to The Armory," said Shepard, who was seventh at New Balance Nationals Outdoor last year. "I wanted to go out hard today and I think I did that." Shepard's commanding victory earned her the Girls MVP Track award. "I think [today] was a good confidence builder. I felt good pushing it and I didn't want anybody to get past me," she said. Setting the only meet record of the day was Kari Stromhaug in the girls pole vault. A junior at Vestal High School, Stromhaug cleared 11 feet, 9 inches. "It's pretty cool, very exciting," said Stromhaug, who bettered Jenna Marrione's 2009 meet best of 11-7. Before the competition even began, Stromhaug knew something special was in the works. While warming up, she had a feeling that a good vault was coming. "We usually spend between 45 minutes and a half an hour warming up," she said. "I was feeling pretty strong today." After clearing the previous meet record, Stromhaug looked to the stands with a big smile on her face. "I was just glad to have gotten a good height," said Stromhaug. "It's very satisfying." Spanning more than 12 hours, the Hispanic Games saw a plethora of national leading marks. Arlington (New York) scored three US#1s, from Trenten Beram (boys 200m, 21.7), Bella Burda (girls mile, 4:58.46) and Zola Golden (girls 400m/56.49). Triple jumper Javonne Antoine (Elizabeth Seton) leaped 40-0.75 for the win, and Milford Mill's Toni Brown won the 400m in 56.70. Melissa June (St. Anthony's) set a US #1 200m, 24.73. New Rochelle High School's 4x200m team bettered their own national mark with an exciting 1:41.32 win. On the boys side, Amsterdam sprinter Izaiah Brown set a US#1 in the 400m, winning a tight race over Richard Rose in 48.46 seconds. "It's always an honor to win, but here it's a whole different level," Brown said. In a matchup of two of the best sprinters in the area, Brown prevailed over Rose by .16 of a second. "It was definitely down to pure power and endurance and mental pushing." The girls invitational distance races did not dissapoint in the slightest. Bella Burda of Arlington battled to the line against Laura Leff, with the former coming out on top in 4:58.46. As winner, Burda secured a spot on the New Balance High School Invitational Mile start line at the NYRR Millrose Games on Feb. 15. The boy's invitational mile saw winner Mike Brannigan of Northport time 4:17.04, also qualifying for the NYRR Millrose Games. Cheltenham had a phenomenal day in the sprints: The school from Pennsylvania set a US #1 in the Boys 4x200m relay (1:29.07) and claimed wins in the girls 55m hurdles (Ciara Leonard) and 55m dash (Chanel Brissett). Warwick Valley's Jordan Burton won the boys 800m by over a second in 1:55.30, also a national lead, while Morristown capped off the evening with a US#1 4x800m (8:05.73). For full Hispanic Games coverage, visit ArmoryTrack.com for race videos and detailed results. More news |