Toe the Line Wednesdays (Week 3)

After facing the harsh elements of scorching heat on July 6th, followed by a torrential down poor of rain canceling racing action on July 13th, fair weather finally smiled down upon the Westchester Summer Twilight Track &Field Series, as the track meet saw its largest crowd along with some of its best competition thus far in the 2010 summer campaign.

Hendrick Hudson High School was the site of the high-octane action, where youngsters like 6-year-old Elton Howard kicked events off. Howard won both the 50-meter (9.7sec) and 100-meter (18.7sec) dashes in his 6 to 7 age bracket. After the race, young Elton struck the pose of track icon Usian Bolt stating, “I wanted to win and run hard so I could win a blue ribbon,” Howard said.

Others followed that mentality as two future bright stars in 12-year-old Benito Muniz of the Carmel Running Club and 13-year-old Veeral Shah of Westchester Striders raced in the Boy’s 1600-meter run. Muniz finished in first with a time of (5:19.6), followed by Shah in 2nd with a time of (5:23.6) for the boys 12-to 14-age bracket. Muniz spoke about his approach and goals stating, “My game plane is to keep my mile splits at a certain time, so when the third and forth laps come, it’s make it or break it. My fastest mile is 5:02. But my goal for next year is to win the Nation Scholastic Indoor Championships for the 7th and 8th grade mile and run a time of 4:45.” Benito Muniz would finish the evening winning the 400-meter dash with a time of 63.9sec.

But in the end, the star of the night 12-year-old Chelsea Ogindo. Ogindo won all of her races with fast times, running 28.4sec in the 200meter dash, beating out fellow Westchester Strider teammate Avalon Garrick with his boy’s winning 200 meter dash time of 28.9sec. Ogindo also edged out another male competitor in the 400-meter dash, where she ran a time of 63.9sec. That surpassed the boy’s 400-meter winner Benito Muniz's mark of 63.9sec, just a mere four tenths of a second. If that was not enough, Chelsea Ogindo would go onto help her female teammates win the girls 4 by 100 meter relay with a time of 59.8 sec in the 12 to 14-age bracket. That mark would again beat the boys, as the male Westchester Striders 4 by 100-meter relay team ran a time of 61.0sec compared to the girls 59.8. Chelsea Ogindo commented on her work with the Westchester Striders saying, “The training has been kind of tough. Our coaches just want us to do our best at Nations and get a top eight finish."

Other notable performances were Avalon Garrick and Shenece Davis winning the 100-meter dash. Garrick's winning mark was 14.2sec in the 12 to 14-age bracket, followed by Davis’s girl’s winning time of 14.7sec in the 10 to 11 grouping. Ramma Blasdele won the girls 12 to 14 long jump with a distance of 11’ 11”. Ten-year-old Matt Trainer won the boys long jump with a leap of 13’ 6”. The boy’s shot put and discus winner was Harry Lieblich with throws of 34’ 5” in the shot put, and 98’ in the discus. The winners in the javelin were 14 year-old Pat Shaia with a throw of 64’ 2” for the boys, and Kelly Weinborg with a throw of 35’ 3” for the girls 12 to 14-age brackets.

Adult race action kicked off on the Hendrick Hudson track at its regular 6: 30pm to a great race that has only gotten better. On July 6th Herbert Okuti was the winner in the 1600-meter run with a time of 5:00.9, that was two weeks ago. This week, on July 20th, Okuti turned on the gas as he cruised to a time of 4 min 36sec to win his second meet victory in the 1600-meter run.

But Herbert Okuti is no stranger to these times due to the fact that it was only last year when he ran 4min 5sec in the 1600-meter. Unfortunately he developed a stress fracture injury in his ankle, ultimately leaving him sidelined for months. The Iona College graduate spoke about the relief of his performance stating, “I think I am heading in the right direction. It is a good thing to see where I am going.” When ask about the difference in his training Okuti stated, “Coach Mike Barnow of the Westchester track Club gives you a training program that is made to make you sore but not break you down.” Okuti’s goal is to reach one of tracks biggest stages that, if reached, could evaluate his running carrier to a whole new level. “Last year I set a goal to compete in this year's Millrose games at Madison Square Garden, and that is still my target.” Okuti finished the night as the winner in the 800-meter dash with a time of 2:20.8. He did that to help pace fellow Westchester Track Club teammate Kristina Kates to a Women’s 800-meter win. Kates wins the event for the second time this summer with a time of 2:21.9, bettering her previous mark of 2:25.3 two weeks ago. Look for more stellar races from Okuti, as he continues his quest each Tuesday night at the Westchester Summer Twilight Track & Field Series.

Additional action came from Saunders native Rob Aryeoquyz who won the 100meter dash with a time of 11.7sec. Talented 10th grader Korey Christian of Lakeland Panas High School came in second with a time 12.0sec. Christian came back in the 200-meter dash, getting the win with a quick time of 24.1 sec. With continued training, Lakeland Panas appears to have a bright star in Korey Christian.

The Dover’s cross country team showed up with six of their Varsity runners on Tuesday. Many of which, including Cody Orton, competed in the 5 Kilometer race. The 12th grade Orton was first to cross the finish line with a time of 16: 58.7, and spoke after the race about his aspirations for his final High School Cross Country season. “I really want to win Section 1 Class C. If we could bring that home, it would mean a lot. We have a lot of seniors this year, so this is our last shot to make something happen.” The 3K winner was John Dean with a time of 10:55.7.

The field events section of the Westchester Summer Twilight Track & Field Series welcomed in a big time hammer thrower native to Hendrick Hudson in Harry Weintraub. Coming into the meet, Weintraub has shined on all of tracks largest stages placing eighth at Nationals and second at Eastern States. Tuesday night ended up being no different as he won the hammer throw with a mammoth shot of 180’10”. Also in attendance was Manhattan College Graduate Mike Pellet who in his carrier has throw distances of 60ft in the shot put. Pellet ultimately finished with a throw of 44’10”, placing second to Tristan Leclere who threw the shot a distance of 45’6”.

Be sure to take note that the final three weeks of the six-week series will conclude at Somers High School on Aug 3 and Aug 10. Every week first gun is set to go off at 4:30p.m. for kid’s events, followed by the adult races slated to begin at 6:30 p.m. Entry fees are $5 per event or $6 for unlimited events. For more information, visit www.runner.org/summertrack.