Speed Shatters Patriot’s Records
For the first time in the five (5) year history of the Empire State Liberty Tour Track & Field Series, the Patriot’s Invitational was not hosted at Shenendehowa High School due to the complete reconstruction of a new eight (8) lane track, and an all new field events layout, which will be ready for the 2010 season. The Patriot’s Invitational, instead, was hosted at Saratoga High School, the home of the famous Saratoga Battlefield, a critical turning point in the Revolutionary War. How appropriate that the Patriot’s Invitational was moved to this location.
In addition, it was the very first meet of the Liberty Tour, to be contested under the lights. “We wanted to add a new touch to the Tour this year, and we thought that to experience the feel of competition ‘under the lights’ was a perfect beginning for the fifth season of the Tour”, states Anthony Mills, Executive Producer of the Empire State Liberty tour Track & Field Series. But it was more than bright lights that excited the crowd, as more than 50 records were broken, but 13 of them in Sprint Races. Timathy Holzhauer (Pictured Above) from the Country Mills Eagles broke his previous 100m Young Men’s record with a time of 11.49. In the words of Country Mills Eagles Assistant Coach Jason Willis, “This kid is GOOD!” If you think he’s fast on the track, watch him jump in the sand. Tim is also the current Liberty Tour record holder in the Long Jump at 6.11m.
It was unfortunate that the meet was cut a bit short by thunder and lightning, because three of the best Javelin Throwers in the Northeast endured the delay to be able to still get their throws in. Andrew Soltysiak (Greater Boston) put on a Javelin clinic as he took 1st place with a throw of 58.48m. Scott Hannay (Adirondack) took 2nd with a heave of 51.39m, and that left Anthony Mills Jr. (Country Mills Eagles) in 3rd with a toss of 50.11m.
The 2nd leg of the Empire State Liberty Tour will be the Constitution Classic on June 6th at Averill Park High School. The meet will begin at 10:00 am. The pre – Registration deadline is Tuesday, June 2nd. Also, be sure to register for the President’s Open, which is the host for the Empire State Track & Field Qualifying Trials for the Adirondack Association. It is also the host for the Combined Events for all NY Associations looking to qualify for the Empire State Track & Field Championships.
For more exciting pictures of Record Breaking Performances, just scroll down. Remember to join us on Facebook.
- Nastasja Johnston breaks the 100m Dash for Midget Girls with a sprint time of 13.82, thus shattering the previous record held by Kayla Owens by more than .5 seconds.
- To prove that the boys have speed too, Jacob Gellert (Glencadia Bullets) breaks a three year old Bantam Boys 100m Dash record for the Patriot’s Invitational, and sets the new mark at 15.38 seconds.
- To prove you can get better with age, 34 year old Rawle DeLisle (Nike Central Park) runs a record 11.17 in the 100m Dash, Master’s Men Division (30 -34).
- The sprints weren’t the only records of the day as Aaron Stall (Averill Park Road Runners) sets new records in both the 3000m & 1500m runs with times of 10:28.05 and 4:47.11 respectively.
- Master’s Athlete Richard Harrison (Greater Boston) shows one does not need 400m to gain speed, merely 7′, as he spins across the circle to Put the Shot a record 17.61m.
- Wayne Bequette vaults into the evening lights and sets a Master’s Men Pole Vault Record (50 -54) at 3.05m.
- Throwing in his first ever Liberty Tour meet, Ethan Berberich (Country Mills Eagles) wasted no time making his mark in the record books with a toss of 37.28m in the Young Men’s Discus.
- The most impressive performance of the day goes to Hillen Von Maltzahn, who set four (4) Master’s Women Liberty Tour Records (60 -64) in the 100m Dash, Pole Vault, High Jump, and Long Jump. Here she drives to her record jump of 1.12m