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Track & Field - 12 Prep Athletes Set 6 New American Records During the Last Week of April

By Ed Bagley

Republish: EasyPublish™ Published: 23May2009 Word count: 664 Viewed: 212 time(s) Get Free Content For Your Site

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley

Perhaps it was the air, or perhaps the water, or even the fact that high school league, district, regional and state meets are fast approaching, but a dozen superb high school athletes set 6 American records during the last week of April.

It is noteworthy that 3 of the new records occurred in the oft-neglected field events which get pushed aside by the more glamorous and popular sprint competition and mile-run variations.

Topping the list was boy and girl discus throwers Mason Finley of Colorado and Anna Jelmini of California. Finley set a new U. S. high school mark with a 236-foot-6-inch effort (236-06) and Jelmini became the best ever with a 188-foot-4-inch effort (188-04). Anna Jelmini also leads the nation in the shot put with a 51-foot-2.25-inch mark (51-2.25).

Toni Young of Oklahoma set her new American record in the high jump with a 6-foot-4-inch (6-04) leap. Curtis Beach of New Mexico topped 7,900+ points (7,909 to be exact) to claim a new American record in the decathlon.

The always fast Track East Carolina team ran 3:19.58 to set a new American record in the 1600-meter sprint medley relay. Track East Carolina is made up of athletes from New Bern (NC) High School.

Leading off in the 200 for Track East Carolina was Fuqauwn Greene in 20.9 followed by Miles Sparks' 21.9 leg in the 200. Then Andrew Hendrix went 46.5 in the 400 and his twin brother Anthony Hendrix brought home the 800 in 1:49.7. It is interesting to note that the fastest open 200 among preps currently is 20.89 by Tavaris Tate of Mississippi, the fastest 400 is 46.38 by Reggie Wyatt of California, and the fastest 800 is 1:50.31 by Mac Fleet of California.

The New Bern speedsters are coached by "Big Dave" Simpson, who will get juniors Greene and Sparks back next year while the Hendrix twins will finish out their year as seniors. The same Track Eastern Carolina team also has the current high school best mark of 3:12.82 in the 4x400 relay.

New Bern has won 4 straight North Carolina state outdoor championships and Simpson is rounding his team into shape for a shot at its 5th straight title.

Albemarle High School of Charlottesville (VA) and Morris Hills High School of Rockaway (NJ) both broke the existing American high school record going head-to-head at the 2009 Penn Relays in arguably the most exciting 4x800 relay race in prep history.

Neither school led after the first leg as Bellefield Comprehensive of Jamaica's Kemoy Campbell ran an opening 1:52.53. Albemarle's Zach Vrhovac ran a 1:50.57 split on the second leg to put his school on top. Morris Hills' Sean Pohorence (1:53.56) ran down Albemarle's Luke Noble (1:55.34) on the third leg and Morris Hills' anchor leg Liam Tansey set a really brisk pace.

Tansey held really tough through 600 meters when Albemarle's anchor Anthony Kostelac edged ahead and then left nothing to chance by taking a commanding lead down the stretch to the finish. Tansey's split was 1:50.65; Kostelac's was 1:49.33.

Albemarle's team ran 7:30.67 and Morris Hills was 7:31.60. Albemarle's time broke the Penn Relays record of 7:35.89 by St. Jago of Spanish Town, Jamaica in 1990 by 5+ seconds, and the National High School record of 7:32.89 by Auburn (WA) High School by 2+ seconds. Morris Hills' team broke the same two records, but Kostelac's come-from-behind victory gave Albemarle the official record.

So what does it take to be one of the two best 4x800 teams in America? This is what is takes: Albemarle - Garrett Bradley (1:55.43), Zach Vrhovac (1:50.57), Luke Noble (1:55.34) and Anthony Kostelac (1:49.33). Morris Hills - Vincent Chiusano (1:55.22), Lucas Clybe (1:52.17), Sean Pohorence (1:55.56) and Liam Tansey (1:50.65).

As a spectator in the stands, you cannot appreciate how fast these high school athletes are running. When you are standing on the side of the track as they come by, you really begin to appreciate the expression "really good and REALLY fast".

All 12 of these national record-setters have a very bright future as emerging elite athletes. When you run with them or compete in field events against them, you are competing with the very best the United States has to offer.

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