(January 24th, 2002)

For those who stayed home, you actually had the opportunity to watch the live webcast of the event on the Armory webcam, which looks down to the finish line.

TWO MILES

• Photo 111:  The women's race was won by master runner Madelyn Noe-Schlentz, who is the American indoor mile record holder

• Photo 112:  In the second men's heat, we had Steve Paddock in the race.  To his left is Phil Passen (UATH).

• Photo 113:  In the same heat, Josh Feldman is further up in the so-called California start formation where the outside runners start ahead but will stay on the outside lane for 150m.

• Photo 114:  Josh Feldman was the winner of this heat, by running at his own pace

• Photo 115:  Steve Paddock in mid-race

• Photo 116:  In the third heat, our entries include John Affleck, Tyronne Culpepper and Dave Howard

• Photo 117:  In the same heat, on the outside lane, we have David Bosch and Adam Newman.  This is the type of photo that New Balance pays the Armory for and does not pay us for --- where is the justice?

• Photo 118:  This is in fact Dave Howard first ever track race.

• Photo 119:  Adam Newman (front), David Bosch (right, outside lane), Tyronne Culpepper (left, inside lane) in mid-race

• Photo 120:  David Bosch (front) and Tyronne Culpepper

• Photo 121:  Dave Howard took a big lead, but he is being caught at this point.  Michelle Santomassino is cheering Dave on the sideline.

• Photo 122:  John Affleck with the huge American flag in the background.  Behind him, it is Gordon Holmes in a green shirt.  Gordon said, "Sorry, but I left my team singlet at home as usual."

• Photo 123:  In the fourth and final heat (yes, it was a very long night), our entries were Marty Levine and Bola Awofeso

• Photo 124:  Bola Awofeso and Marty Levine after one lap

• Photo 125:  Bola Awofeso: "I kept hearing Isaya Okwiya giving me instructions ...  "

• Photo 126:  Marty Levine in mid-race

800m

• Photo 151:  After months of lobbying her to get some real running shorts, Lauren Eckhart debuts with the new women's gear.

• Photo 152:  To the right of Lauren Eckhart is Long Island resident Kathryn Martin, who would go on to set the Canadaian Women 50-54 indoor 800m record of 2:30.5 in this race.  Lauren, who is Canadian, will have to wait quite a few years before she gets a crack at that record.

• Photo 153:  About Lauren, teammate Mary V. Rosado said: "Pure power on the run --- she's a triathlete!"

• Photo 154:  Marie Davis at the starting line

• Photo 158:  Oliver Martinez at the start

• Photo 159:  Oliver Martinez in the lead after one lap

• Photo 160:  Craig Chilton at the start

• Photo 161:  Craig Chilton being cheered by Isaya Okwiya to a 3 second PR.

• Photo 162:  Chris Potter and Craig Plummer are in the next heat

• Photo 163:  The next heat has Noah Perlis, Jesse Lansner and Paul Bendich (orange, but not in team uniform)

• Photo 164:  Dave Howard is also in the same race

• Photo 165:  Jesse Lansner at the head of the line

• Photo 166:  The next heat has Zeb Nelessen and Chris Kennan

• Photo 167:  The runaway winner of the heat was Zeb Nelessen in a time of 2:22.7.

• Photo 168:  The last heat has Harry Lichtenstein, Michael Rosenthal and Marty Levine

• Photo 169:  On the last lap, Marty Levine pulled out a sprint over Michael Rosenthal

• Photo 170:  Harry Lichtenstein in mid-race

400m

• Photo 171:  In the second women's heat, Lauren Eckhart negogiates the art of the start

• Photo 172:  In the same heat is Melissa Tidwell

• Photo 173:  Melissa Tidwell, and Sue Krogstad-Hill in mid-race

• Photo 174:  Mary Diver at the start

• Photo 175:  Mary Diver in mid-race, cheered on by Mindy Solkin

• Photo 176:  Alston Brown at the start.  The world indoor men's 50-54 400m record is supposed to be 52.72 by Harold Morioka (CAN) set on February 25, 1995.  We timed Alston at 52:56 while the race officials credited him with 52.3.  However, for official ratification purposes, we would have to notify the officials beforehand so that they can put three different timers on him.  So the time of 52:3 can only be as said to be 'faster than the world record.'  Alston will have more chances (MAC championships, USATF National Masters Championships) later.

• Photo 177:  The last heat of the day had Michael Rosenthal, Harry Lichtenstein and Bola Awofeso.

4x800 RELAY

The marquee events of the night are the attempts by the two Central Park Track Club teams to break age group records (respectively, the World/American indoor record for Men 60-69 and the American indoor record for Women 35-39).  

• Photo 131:  Mary Wittenberg, COO-EVP of NYRR: "There had better be some records set here tonight!  It is the only reason that I am up here so late at night."

• Photo 132:  Luca Trovato is on live broadcast to parties unknown ...

• Photo 133:  Pre-race photo of the Women 30-39 team: Devon Sargent, Sue Pearsall, Kim Mannen, Julia Casals.  To ensure that this is a by-the-book effort, these runners were issued numbers for the officials to follow their progress.  Kim apologises to her fans: "I am the odd woman out here, because I ordered tights that were too big for me!  Sorry."

• Photo 134:  Pre-race photo of the Men 60-69 team: Bob Laufer, Norman Goluskin, Dan Hamner, Sid Howard, Jim Aneshansley.  Bob is chief counsel for the New York Road Runners as well.  Two days before this race, Norman Goluskin pulled his hamstring on the final tune-up run, so Bob was called up as the backup.  Stretching/strengthening guru treated Norman right up till the race began and enabled him to run.   That is why this four-person relay team photo has five people in it.

• Photo 135: To ensure a fair and orderly race, our two teams were in the first heat with four collegiate females teams.  Our leadoff runners are Jim Aneshansley and Devon Sargent, two very experienced track veterans.

After the records were set, there were some poses by the relay teams in front of the time clock

• Photo 143 and Photo 144:  Men's 60-69 relay team (L-R): Dan Hamner, Norman Goluskin, Jim Aneshansley, Sid Howard

• Photo 145 and Photo 146:  Women's 30-39 relay team (L-R):  Julia Casals, Sue Pearsall, Kim Mannen, Devon Sargent

Strategy Analyses:

• Both of our teams came into this event with some level of confidence that these records were within reach, otherwise the race officials would not have made this the feature event of the night.   The teams used exactly opposite strategies with respect to the order of their runners. 

• For the women, it takes 2:44 or better per runner to beat the old record.  Strategically, we used the two fastest runners to start and build up a big buffer so that the other two runners do not have to pull off miracles.  As it stands, the time can be improved significantly in the future, as Devon is just coming back from medical leave, Kim is recovering from a cold, while Sue and Julia are 'rookies' (but not anymore, because they're American record holders!).

• For the men, it takes 2:38 or better per runner to beat the old record.  Strategically, we saved the fastest runner for last.  Following their forms so far this season, the first three runners were able to average around the goal pace, which was all that was needed because we have the world indoor 800m record holder Sid Howard on the anchor leg.  Sid's time of 2:19.6 surprised even  himself, because this was his first indoor race of the season and he had managed only 2:24 in last year's national championships.

THE HATS (from Tom Phillips)

A group of Central Park Track Club folks were recruited to pose for wearing hats tonight, all for a good purpose.  Those hats will be sold to raise money for a new Armory scholarship sponsored by the Armory Foundation. 

• Photo 181:  Subject Isaya Okwyia stands for a police lineup ... come on, relax ... the photographer is not trying to steal your soul ...
• Photo 182:  Supercoach Tony Ruiz pumps his muscles
• Photo 183:  If we define superman as being able run faster than the world record, then Alston Brown would fit the bill.
• Photo 184:  Men's 60-69 relay team: Bob Laufer, Jim Aneshansley, Sid Howard, Dan Hamner
• Photo 185:  Women's 30-39 relay team: Julia Casals, Sue Pearsall, Devon Sargent, Kim Mannen

Coverage on the New York Road Runners' website:

The stage was set: with speakers blasting music from the Rocky soundtrack, Ian Brooks on the microphone, the local running community out in full force and an injury-related drama unfolding, NYC track force Central Park Track Club (CPTC) was up to the task last night, January 24, 2002, when two of its relay teams smashed 4x800m records on the 168th Street Armory’s lightning-fast track.

Buoyed by Sid Howard’s sparkling 2:19.6 (his first race of the indoor season), the men’s 60-69 team broke the world record of 10:32.8. The team, comprised of Jim Aneshansley (66), Dan Hamner (62), Norman Goluskin (63) and Sid Howard (62), ran 10:15.2.

The women’s team, inspired by Cravath, Swaine & Moore attorney and CPTC middle distance coach Devon Sargent’s 2:31.84 lead off leg, ran 10:34.2 flying through the U.S. record for 30-39 of 11:01.44. Sargent’s (34) teammates: Kim Mannen (36), Julia Casals (37) and Sue Pearsall (36) continued to chip away at the record with each 200m.

The drama began for the men’s team on Tuesday night, when team and NYRR Board member, Goluskin pulled his hamstring chasing down women’s team member Mannen at the team’s final tuneup before the big night. Fortunately for all, stretching and strengthening guru Jim Wharton was in town and rescued Goluskin, treating him Wednesday and until the final moments before the race on Thursday. CPTC had a backup plan, with NYRR Executive Bob Laufer (63) warming up in case his friend and teammate Goluskin faltered. With luck and good therapy, Goluskin was fine, and the team went on the victory. Laufer celebrated with a beer—saving his effort for another day.