New Balance Grand Prix and Spire
Watson and Thomas make near-top USA performances in Mile, 200m & 60m
Sammy Watson of Rush-Henrietta was invited to the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston, to compete in the Girls' 1 Mile Run Junior where she ran a 4:47.49 to take second by the smallest of margins (0.01 behind Stephanie Jenks from Iowa). This race moved Jenks and Watson into 3 and 4 respectively on the USA Girls High School Ranking and Watson to Number 1 in NYS. This is faster than the Section V Record of 4:56.57 (Deresa Walters Penfield 1988). Watson’s time converts to a 4:26.27 for 1500m.
Lanae-Tava Thomas of Rush-Henrietta and Elsa Cole of Fillmore traveled to the Spire Scholastic Showcase in Ohio.
Thomas won the girls 60m dash with a 7.44 which is better than her Section V record 7.62 and ranks her NY1 and 4th in the USA.
Thomas also won the 200m with a 23.90 (NY1 and USA3) which is faster than the Section V record of 24.85 (Zila Higgs, East, 1992) but this is an oversized track and not eligible for records. (which meets are eligible for records is also being determined).
Cole took 8th in the 1600m with at time of 5:06.89 which ranks NY6 among girls 1600m performances and converts to a 1500m of 4:45.87