Toe the Line Wednesdays (Week 1)

Since the 1982 birth of the Westchester Summer Twilight Track & Field Series, the program has only canceled two of its weekly Tuesday meets in its history. So on Tuesday, July 6th that mark would be challenged when the track & field series opened for its 2010 summer season in a blistering 100-degree heat. But from little 3-year old racing beginners to your longtime running warriors, the stage was set for a great start to a yearly running tradition. Longtime Meet Coordinators Marcia Bailey (track coach of Hendrick Hudson HS), Keith Smith (track coach of Yorktown HS), and Roy Arneson (track coach of Somers HS) have run the meet together since 1987. During that time they have brought a long standing family and running veteran turnout crowd that continues to come every Tuesday night.

The meet’s first event was underway at (4: 30pm at Hendrick Hudson High School) where the youth events, (ages 14 and under), competed. The 1600meter run was canceled for the young kids events due to heat. But even with the elimination, it soon became a winning family affair, as sisters Lily and Emily were both able to take 1^st place in their 55meter dash age brackets. Lily running in the (ages 6-7 section) with a time of (11.3 sec), and older sister Emily in the (ages 10- 11 section) cruised to a time of (8.7 sec). When asked about competing and getting a good outcome, both girls happily smiled and said, “It was exciting even though the heat was hot.”

The Westchester Striders track club might have added to that heat on the track by putting on a talented showing. Considering the team will be sending 6 children to compete at Nationals in Virginia, the team took a clean 1-2-3 sweep in the boy’s 400meter dash. The first place winner in the combined heat was Sheldon Davis in the (ages 10- 11section) with a time of (64.4 sec). Sheldon Davis added to his win by coming back to run (29.3sec) in 200meters, just edging out teammate Veral Shah by two tenths of a second. Veral Shah won the Long Jump in the (12- 14 section) with a jump of (14ft- 1in). The girl’s winner in the Long Jump was Elisa Weir who jumped 12ft- 10in for her Wings track club squad. The girl’s winners in the 400meters, 200meters, and 100meter dashes were also members of the Westchester Striders track club. Chelsea Ogindo won the Girl’s 400meter dash with a time of (63. 6sec) in her (ages 12- 14 section). Fellow teammate Shenece Davis finishing first in the Girls 200meter and 100meter dash with a time of (28.7 sec) in the 200meters and (14. 8sec) in the 100meters.

On hand Tuesday night were supportive parents like Sage Shah who explained why she brings her kids every week to compete. “They love it, the kids love running. It keeps them out of trouble. An event like this teaches about character, and shows your dedication even in times when you don’t anticipate things in life.” Shah went on further to describe the atmosphere at the event saying, “You should see all the kids rooting for each other. It really feels like a family.”

The family oriented crowd carried that spirit over into the (6: 30 adult start) where racers like Brie Roller looked to get back into form. Coming off a hampered hamstring during spring season, Roller won the Girls 400meters dash with a time of (58. 3). She will look to surpass her personal best of (54sec) in the 400meter dash this summer. Rich Meyer took the men’s 400meter crown with a time of (57. 3sec). Another good performance came from Herbert Okuti winning both the 1mile (5:00.9sec) and the 800meters (2:25sec). When asked about his goal coming into the race Okuti said, “I just wanted to come here and have a nice workout. This is a good environment, I would wish to come back again and race competitively.”  Herbert Okuti has run times in the low 4minete ranges in the 1600meter run. Look to see him continue his fast work as he trains with Coach Mike Barnow and the Westchester Track Club. Another member of the Westchester Track Club that raced well was Kristina Kates. Kates won the women’s 800meter run with a time of (2:25.3). Kates will also look to come off of injury after suffering a stress fracture foot injury. When asked about the heat and her performance Kates said, “You defiantly have to be hydrate to go out there and run a fast half mile. But I’m trying to run around (2: 15) by the end of the 6-week series. So we will have to see.”

To close a night that marked another start to a great Westchester tradition. 59-year-old Bob Pertak, a competitor at the meet since 1978, commented on what makes the meet so special. “What makes this event so great is that you can have all sorts of people run. You don’t have to be the best of the best. It is also good for the younger kids, giving them their first taste of the sport and for guys like me getting one last chance get on the track and see what we can do.”

The first three weeks of the Westchester Summer Twilight Track & Field Series will take place at Hendrick Hudson High School on dates July 6th, July 13th, and July 20th. With the final three weeks of the 6 weeks series concluding at Somers High School on dates July 27th, August 3rd, and August 10th (All dates are on Tuesdays). First gun will be set to go off at 4: 30pm for kids events, followed by the adult races slated to begin at 6: 30pm. Entry fees are $5 per event or $6 for unlimited events. This makes a great event to support a healthy and fit life style and get any person on track.