Scaled-Down Version Of Hispanic Games Offers Rare Opportunity To Compete In New York

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

Isaiah Givens of Pasadena TC CA has sought out track races in Oregon and Arizona along with a cross country meet in Utah in order to compete. 

On Saturday, Givens won the miles while wearing a facemask at the U.S. Air Force Hispanic Games in New York City, running a US#3 time of 4:21.43. 

Givens, according to meet director Tim Fulton, was the only athlete in this weekend's Armory event that was from a state outside of New York or one that shares a border with it, due to the ongoing pandemic. As such, he was subject to New York state travel restrictions that include testing and quarantine protocols. 

The Hispanic Games began with high school (club and unattached) competition Saturday and will conclude Sunday with age-group events (ages 11 to 23). 

All athletes competing this weekend at The Armory, as in previous meets there this season, are required to wear masks at all times while in the building.

RESULTS | MEET VIDEOS | JOHN NEPOLITAN PHOTOS

Givens went out quickly in 62 seconds and was at 2:07 through 800 meters. He won the race by nearly seven seconds. 

Karrilyn Baloga of Cornwall Central NY, running unattached, improved her season's best time to 5:04.74. The 2019 Foot Locker finalist, a sophomore, defeated Katie Altieri of Island Express (Staten Island) by four seconds. 

Leah Moore (unattached/Hillhouse CT) was a double winner, taking the weight throw wtih 53-0.25 and the shot put with US#2 42-3.25. She is already the leader in the weight.

U.S. leader Collin Burkhart (unattached/Nazareth Area PA) won the weight throw with a mark of 69-8. 

Emmanuel Joseph of the Multisport Workshopt TC NY improved on his US#2 60-meter hurdles time with a 7.93 clocking. 

Chris Adekoya of Island Express, already the U.S. leader in the 55-meter dash, eked out a photo finish over Kaelen Mitchell (unattached) after both ran 6.54 seconds. 

Jada Ellis (unattached/Manchester Township NJ) ran 7.27 for a US#2 time in the 55 dash. 

James Onwuka of Newburgh Elite NY won the boys 400 meters in US#7 49.20. Avery Lewis (unattached) was the girls winner in 57.81. She also won the long jump with US#2 19-6.

Rene Newton of Long Island won the girls 800 meters in US#2 2:16.63.

Michael Rodriguez-King of Island Express won the boys 800 meters in 1:57.95. 

The runner-up in last year's state 1,500-meter racewalk final, Ciara Durcan (unattached/Pearl River) won the event in 7:07.92 and by a margin of 14 seconds. 

Michael Pinckney (unattached) won the shot put with 54-10.50.

Sabrina Imes of Infinity Track NY won the triple jump with 38-1.25. Jayden Louis-Charles won the boys triple jump with US#3 45-6.75.

SUNDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Baden Seabury from Sky's The Limit TC (Ichabod Crane NY) was a double winner on Sunday in the Youth/HS/Open portion of the U.S. Air Force Hispanic Games. Seabury, competing in the 15-16 age group, ran the fastest times of the day in the 55-meter dash (6.68 seconds) and the 200 (22.98). 

Natalia Surdej (unattached/Lancaster Central NY) won a matchup with Leah Moore (unattached/Hillhouse CT), Saturday's weight throw winner, with a mark of 56-5 that moves her to US#2. Moore remains the national leader at 57-5.75.

Sanaa Hebron (unattached/George School PA) swept the 17-18 200 meters (25.24) and 300 meters (39.25) and the latter is a new US#1.

Dayahana Douglas from Ruff Kutz (Midwood NY) ran a personal best 7.27 to win the 17-18 55-meter dash.

Joseph Cardascia of Athletics Westchester (Harrison NY) lowered his US#1 time in the 300 meters to 34.91.

Victoria Vidolova of the Chelsea Greyhounds NY ran a US#1 time of 1:35.85 to win the 15-16 600 meters. Her little sister, Anna, was just as impressive in winning the 11-12 age group in 1:40.50. 

Hatim Bouktam (unattached/Mamaroneck NY) ran 1:26.09 to win the 17-18 600 meters.