Toe The Line Wednesdays (Week 6)

Coming into the final week of the 2010 Westchester Twilight Track & Field Series, athletes were sure to put their best on the line.

Among those who were there on Tuesday, Aug. 10 was Beacon grad and North Eastern University-bound Alex Shapiro. The Section 1 champion in the indoor 600 meters, outdoor 400 meters, and the winner in both the indoor and outdoor long jump has been recovering from knee tendonitis. Showing heart and perseverance to get back to the top of his game, Shapiro won the 100 meters with a time of 11.3.

"The series is just fantastic," said Shapiro. "It allows me a great opportunity to get some recovery work in and still have fun with other competitors."

Athletes from all over the Tri-State area have come to compete and make a name for themselves. Take for example Saunders High School grad Joe Gibbs, the 19-year old who won the high jump with a height of 6-feet. He said the series can help him make a case to get on a premium college track team.

"For me to compete is a blessing, "said Gibbs. "I just plan to train more and enter any open meets that are available. Just try to improve enough to be able to get on a college team soon."

Stories of this kind of persistence string throughout the fabric of the Westchester Twilight Series, even to the older runners. Overall point's winner for the 50-59 age bracket, Nick Mitchell, has toed the line almost every week in field events like javelin and discus, throwing distances of 140-0 in the javelin and 20-0 in the disc. Not to mention the occasional one-mile run or 5K Mitchell will appear in.
Mitchell not only brought his winning spirit as an athlete, but also as a coach. Mitchell, who is the head coach of the Wings Like Eagles Track Club, led his team to a decisive point's victory for the Youth Westchester Twilight Track and Field Series Overall Points Crown. The kids' overall points victory was a major accomplishment in what was a very competitive and populated field. The highly talented Westchester Striders Team finished second, followed by the Taconic Youth Track Club for third.

From the throwing circle came other notable stellar performances from athletes like James Hall. Hall launched a mammoth shot into the stratosphere during the hammer throw, sending his winning toss a total distance of 207-5. Manhattan College graduate Mike Pellet, a competitor who has thrown distances of 60-0 in the shot put, threw 49-1 with a 14-pound shot. The 29-year old Pellet ultimately finished second to Taylor Bernstein, who threw 52-5 ½ with a 12-pound shot. Bernstein was again in the winners' circle, recording the farthest throw in the discus with a distance of 142-7.
A top distance performance came from Carmel Assistant Coach Mike Coffey. Coffey crossed the finish line in the 5K first in 16:51.

Somers's Kevin Nolan pole vaulted 12-6 at the Jersey Jumps Beach Vault in Seaside Heights, N.J. Nolan, a returning junior, will be a key piece for the defending Section 1 champions for the upcoming season.

With such talented groups of track clubs running alongside a dedicated cast of veteran track athletes, the series looks to continue to grow.

Head Meet Director Roy Arnesen thanked everyone for their support.

"We owe a huge thank you to the both the Town of Cortland Recreation Department and the Taconic Road Runners Organization," Arnesen said. "With both their added efforts to support our summer program, it is clear the friendship they have with running programs and the running community in general."

Find entire meet results at: ny.milesplit.us/.