Video (15) HAYNESY runs hard in the 200 Video (19) GIRLS 4×200 Relay Video (17) BOYS set MNTC record in 4×200 Relay
Video_2 (7) HAYNESY wins 400 meter heat Video_1 (9) JAY JAY and JOJO zip thru the 200 Video (16) TUFFY wins 200 heat, SU-BOU in 3rd
Video_1 (8) JOSH takes down MNTC 200 record Video (20) JDUB establishes new MNTC 400 record
After a month-long hiatus from competition, MNTC returned to action this past weekend, racing in two meets at the cavernous Ocean Breeze complex on Staten Island. Eighteen athletes piled up 25 Personal Records, 16 MNTC All-Time Top Ten performances, and 3 new club records. Saturday’s meet, an annual event attended by Open and Masters runners from New York and New Jersey, always includes a number of athletes who knew Merrell back in the day. This year I saw Harry Nolan and John Kuhi who compete for New Jersey’s Shore Athletic Club, the same team Merrell and I belonged to in the mid 70s. Harry and John, still running hard at 75 and 78, respectively, have fond memories of racing with Merrell in long ago summer meets, and are always happy to see our young runners circling the track, wearing their MNTC singlets. Another highlight at this meet was delivered by the speedy Norma Minkowitz. Running the 400 in the 85-89 division, she set a World Record for that age group, completing two laps in 1:50.99! If you’re a casual runner and not savvy about track times, perhaps you can appreciate that Norma was running at 7:24 mile pace! Norma and all the Senior athletes at this meet are great examples for our youngsters, ably demonstrating that running can be a sport for a lifetime. In Sunday’s USATF Youth Championship meet, new MNTC records were set by freshman phenom Josh Moore in the 200 (24.09), Jin “JDUB” Watanabe in the 400 (55.16), and the 4×200 relay team of Jin, Josh, Jayden “HAYNESY” Haynes, and JUMPIN’ JOHN Manning (1:38.52). On the GIRLS’ side, CoCo “2COs” Sagoo-Jones moved to No. 3 All-Time in the 60 Meter Dash (8.87), and No. 2 All-Time in the 200 (28.76). Rachel “BINKY” Fine zipped through 400 meters in 69.51, good enough for the No. 5 spot on the All-Time list. Please visit our INDOOR RECORDS section to view this weekend’s updates to the All-Time lists, along with 4×200 relay splits for all you track nerds. MNTC will next compete in the Armory Youth Championships on March 18th. Come on down!