The highlights of the weekend included a new American Record in the 4x800m relay for the men,
Amanda Winslow becoming the 6th fastest U.S. woman in the indoor 1 mile, two more men joining the sub 4:00club, 14 athletes qualifying for the USA Indoor Track & Field Championships, and 5 achieving the World A standard to put themselves in position to qualify for World Indoor Team.
At the NBIGP, and on national television, the men had two 4x800m teams competing in the much anticipated world record attempt. Also entered were the Brooks Beasts Track Club, an all-star team (USA All-Stars), and the Santa Monica Track Club. The Brooks Beasts TC was anchored by World Bronze medalist Nick Symmonds while the USA All-Stars included Duane Solomon who has an 800m PR of 1:42.82. The NJ★NY TC “Blue” team included Kyle Merber,Brian Gagnon, Robby Andrews, and Mike Rutt. The NJ★NY TC “Red” team was Declan Murray, Christian Gonzalez, Ford Palmer, and Selasi Lumax.
The race quickly became a two team race between the all-star team and the NJ★NY Track Club as the lead-off leg for the Brooks Beasts struggled. At the end of the first leg the two NJ★NY TC teams were first and second with Merber (1:49.69) handing the baton to Brian Gagnon in the lead. The all-star team’s lead off leg split was 1:51.01. Gagnon (1:48.60) would hold the lead but the all-star team with a quick 1:47.46 leg by David Torrance closed the gap and at the exchange Gagnon handed the baton to Robby Andrews with a just a one step lead. Andrews (1:48.29) battled Solomon (1:47.99) throughout the third leg and handed to anchorman Mike Rutt evenly with the all-star team. Rutt (1:46.66) would tuck in behind Eric Sowinski (1:46.67) throughout the race and made a move on the inside coming down the final straightway but came up just short of catching Sowinski as they both stumbled across the line under the old world record. In the end the USA All-Stars time of 7:13.11 will go into the books as the official world record. The NJ★NY TC ran 7:13.22. The old record was 7:13.94 set in 2000 by Global Athletics TC. Based on USATF rules (263.11) both the USA All-Stars and the NJ★NY TC will be credited with the american record. TheNJ★NY TC Red team finished fourth running 7:20.21 (splits: Declan Murray 1:50.73; Christian Gonzalez 1:50.90, Ford Palmer 1:48.88, Selasi Lumax 1:49.92).
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Amanda Winslow
Photo: Kevin Morris
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The weekend started on Friday with a bang at the BU Valentine Invitational on the campus of Boston University. Amanda Winslow ran 4:26.24 to lead a 1-2-3-5finish for the team. Following Winslow across the line was Lauren Penney(4:31.30), Nicole Schappert (4:32.37), and Ashley Higginson (4:39.11). Winslow’s time makes her the 6th fastest American of ALL-TIME for the indoor 1 Mile. Only Mary Slaney, Regina Jacobs, Mary Cain, Kim Conley, and Jenny Simpson have run faster times. On the world all-time list she is now the 22nd fastest woman ever. Penney’s time established a personal best time by over 6 seconds.
A special 800m was setup on Friday for the men so they could attempt to run fast times for USA and IAAF championship qualifying (note: all the other men’s event at this meet take place on Saturday). Leading the all NJ★NY TC race was Mike Rutt with an indoor personal best of 1:46.71. He was followed across the line by Brian Gagnon (1:46.98), Robby Andrews (1:47.07), Kyle Merber (1:47.94), Declan Murray (1:48.03), and Christian Gonzalez (1:50.31). The USA championship qualifying time is 1:50.20 and the World A standard is 1:47:00.
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Stephanie Charnigo
Photo: Kevin Morris
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Following the men’s 800m, Stephanie Charnigo kept the NJ★NY TC show going by running a very fast 2:02.15 to win the women’s 800m. Charnigo’s time was a personal best and makes her the 4th fastest performer on the NJ★NY TC club record list. Cydney Ross ran 2:03.91 to finish third. Both Charnigo and Ross qualified for the USA championships.
Nicol Traynor finished off Friday at BU running a very quick 9:10.35 to finish fourth in the 3000m and qualify for the USA championships.
On Saturday at BU, Travis Mahoney(3:58.61) and Pat McGregor (3:58.70) both broke the 4:00 barrier for the first time in the 1 mile as they finished 5th and 6th. With their performance the club now has 9 men who are members of the prestigious Sub-4 club. Finishing the weekend off at BU was Erik Berg who won the 1000m in 2:22.47.
At the New Balance Grand Prix meet the club also had Donn Cabral (3000m) and Heather Wilson (2000m) competing. Cabral ran 7:51.47 to finish thirtieth and Wilson ran 5:50.35 to finish seventh. Cabral’s time was a personal best and broke Travis Mahoney’s 2 week old club record.
This week the club will compete at the Millrose Games (Friday) and the Iowa State Classic (Saturday).
