Benjamin dashes No. 6 a-t 300

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Wintry weather caused New Balance Games in New York City to be merely huge instead of humongous on Saturday. Participation was cut by almost one-third but the meet still lasted from morning until night and offered wall to wall action. 

Four new US#1s included Rai Benjamin churning through 300 meters in 33.40 for the sixth-fastest time all-time. 

C.H. Flowers came up from Maryland to lay down a US#1 time in the 4x200 relay with 1:28.44 and Megdar Evers NY doing the same on the girls side with 1:37.96. 

Cheltenham PA broke the Pennsylvania state record and ran 3:26.11 in the SMR, which was good for US#1 and No. 8 all-time. Chasing them was Boys & Girls of Brooklyn, with Richard Rose anchoring in 1:50.45 for the 800 meters. 

But the split of the night belonged to Izaiah Brown of Amsterdam NY, who tried to bring his team back into contention in the 4x400 with a sizzling 46.59 that brought his team up to a fast-closing third. 

Luke Germanakos of Lynbrook NY, the New York state champion in the 600 meters, got a new personal best with US#2 1:19.82. Greg Stickle of Randolph NJ ran US#4 1:20.56.

Pennsbury's boys PA ran US#3 in the 4x800 with 7:57.76. Collegiate NY, fueled by Marco Pompilj's 4:16.6 anchor, turned in US#6 10:28.93. Pompilj rallied from way back and caught St. Joseph's PA in the final strides. 

In the girls 300, Brandee Johnson of Nansemond River VA ran US#2 38.55 running in Lane 3, scoring an upset over D'Jai Baker of Benjamin Cardozo NY, who was next in US#3 38.61. Later, in the pro section, Taft NY's Ariel Strunkey ran 39.70.

More news came in the miles, which served as final auto qualifers for the Millrose Games. Spencer Brown from Wilton CT took charge of the boys race in the final 600 meters after a slow early pace and took the win in 4:15.94. Racing up from mid-pack to finish second was a relieved Luke Gavigan of Tappan Zee NY, who was second in 4:17.25. 

Gavigan was informed after the race that he had done enough to return to the Millrose Games, where he is the defending boys mile champion. 

Olivia Sargent, winner of the NXN-Northeast regional cross country title last fall, ran very strong in the girls mile and nailed down her spot at Millrose with 4:55.17. That was good for US#4 and she also came back later to helpd Pennsbury PA win the 4x800 relay with a 2:16 split.

Penn Wood PA won the boys 4x400 with US#2 3:21.66. 

In the throws, national leader Adam Kelly of Barrington RI heaved the weight 82-5, a little short of his state record 83-0 toss. Jessica Molina of Westwood NJ improved in the shot put to US#6 with 46-11.25.

Meaghan Podlaski of Colonie NY was a standout in the 1500-meter race walk, achieving the No. 12 all-time performance with 6:47.24.