Bronxville's Rizzo Punches Ticket To NYRR Millrose Games

By Brian Towey of DyeStat

NEW YORK -- Bronxville NY's Matthew Rizzo already had a US#1 under his belt as part of his team's sprint medley relay (3:33.79) victory Friday night.

So when he hit a crucial juncture of the 25th Hispanic Games' NYRR Millrose Mile qualifier Saturday, he knew he had to dig deep.

"There was a point where I wanted to give up and I realized I was only one of two guys (with a chance to win)," Rizzo said. "I said, 'I might as well go for it.'"

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Rizzo, with a sub-2:10 closing 800, overtook Northport NY's Sean Ryan to win the mile in 4:17.32.

"It means even more to qualify for the Millrose Games being that I'm local," Rizzo said. "When you live in Westchester County and you come down to the Armory every single weekend, it's everybody's goal. 

"When you were in eighth grade, in middle school, you saw the older guys go. We had Conor Lundy and John Flannery. I wanted to be that."

Marymount NY sophomore Lauryn Heskin typically runs from the front. In that inimitable style, she led from start to finish (5:02.68) to win the girls mile and earn a Millrose qualifier.

"I knew this season I was definitely shooting to qualify," Heskin said. "I ran in the Marine Corps Mile and the Hall of Fame Invitational and in both (races) I got third. I just went for the win today."

Cumberland RI senior Cole Hooper won a weight throw duel with Rham CT's Michael Browning, 62-5.50 to 61-1. Coventry CT senior Joe Lanham placed third with 59-4.50. 

"It's fun to be able to throw with really good competition all the time," Hooper said. "In Rhode Island, there's always someone better than you. There's always a new distance, always a new goal."

The shot put winner, Browning (56-0.50), who apprenticed under throws specialist Damian Larkins of the Throw Hawks Club and Bloomfield CT, has watched his repertoire grow.

"Up until this point I saw myself primarily as a shot putter," Browning said. "But a lot of schools that are recruiting me see me as a hammer thrower, weight thrower and discus thrower because of my size."

Cheltenham PA's Bria Barnes won the invitational girls 400 in 55.93 seconds.

"There's a lot of really intense workouts (at Cheltenham) that prepare me for the 400 and 300,"  said Barnes, who recently committed to Iowa State. "(Coach Jerome Lowery) does a good job to prepare us for the endurance to finish the race."

DeMatha Catholic MD put an exclamation mark on the boys 4x200-meter relay, winning in 1:29.67, while the school's "B" unit placed fourth (1:31.00).

"No matter what we run, we always know we can do better," DeMatha junior Brian West said. "It doesn't matter what we run. We ran 1:29 today, but we have to get back to 1:27."

DeMatha's winning quartet of Damon Green, Caleb Dean, Deion Green and West were running without a key leg. Nick Cross, a safety on the football team,was playing in the All-America Bowl in Texas. (He is committed to Florida State for football).

 Paul Robeson NY swept the girls sprint relays, winning the 4x200 (1:40.98) and 4x400 (3:55.35). Senior Toshel Goffe, a senior who ran on both relays, was honored for her academic work in a ceremony at the Armory. 

Uniondale NY's Jadan Hanson won the boys triple jump (48-9) over Taft Educational Campus NY's Salif Mane (47-9.50).

Moforehan Abinusawa of Gremantown Academy PA lowered her US#1 time in the 55 meters to 6.89 seconds. Girard College PA's Thelma Davies won the girls 200 in 24.06.

Warwick NY's Kaeli Thompson won the girls pole vault, clearing 13-0. She beat U.S. leader Sydney Woods of Northern Valley NJ (13-0) on a fewer misses. Both jumpers missed at 13-1.

Perkiomen Valley PA's Christina Warren won the girls 55-meter hurdles (7.95) and triple jump (38-9).