Newark track team competes in NYC

While most of the team was competing at St. John Fisher College, 14 members of the Newark Indoor Track team traveled to New York City to participate in the 5th annual Hispanic Games in the 168th Street Armory.

"We've always wanted to run at the Armory. It's really the home of American indoor track. There have been meets there for 50 years," explained Newark Coach Joe Contario.

Making the site even more enticing was the fact that the armory just got a new six-lane banked track with the same surface as the last two Olympic tracks. "We thought that we'd try to take advantage of good competition on a fast track," said Contario,

The Reds really had a great day, breaking three school records. Sophomore Dwayne Parker, Jr. won the 55 meter dash with a time of :6.56, breaking the meet record of 6.58. As of Saturday, his time was the 12th fastest in the entire northeastern United States. The former Newark record was shared by Parker, teammate Corey Stirpe, and '95 grad Cisco Cruz.

"Dwayne looked great, especially his start. I think that he could have gone even faster if someone could have stayed with him early in the race," said Contario.

Also breaking a school record was sophomore Jesse Contario. In the 3200 meter run, Jesse's time of :9.42.08 placed third and broke the record of :9.44.6 held by Newark great Joe Matias.

"Jesse almost won the whole race. He was caught right at the tape and the winner was less than two seconds ahead of him. I know that he's pleased; to break one of Joe's records is a great achievement."

The third record to fall was the boys 4 X 200 meter relay. Parker, Stirpe, Greg Switzer, and Brandon Schroeder broke the mark set last week at Syracuse University. Their time was 1:35.77, breaking the former record of 1:36.1.

"Dwayne led off the relay, he got out quickly but then began to cramp-up. He did a good job just holding it together and getting the stick to Corey. The other 3 guys ran exceptionally well. I think that, had Dwayne been 100 percent, we had a good chance to place."

Besides the record-breaking marks, Newark also had some other great performances. Jason Cruz continued his outstanding season. The Senior Red placed 4th in the Long Jump with a leap of 20 ft. 9 in. and tied for 4th in the High Jump at 6'0. Laurie Bastian jumped 5.0' for 6th place in the girls High Jump.

In the 3000, freshman Erin Daly took 7th in 11.02.40. Notable non-placing performances were Greg Switzer's :52.4 in the 400 and Corey Stirpe's :23.6 in the 200.

"Our school records are pretty tough. We usually only break one or two a season. To get three in one day is amazing. Although our team is a little smaller than usual, our athletes are working hard to keep our tradition going. I know that when it gets to be Sectional time, our kids will come through," summarized Contario.

Dwayne's time is the second fastest in the U.S.

top of page

Copyright © 1999
Courier-Gazette, 613 S. Main St. Newark, N.Y. 14513
All Rights Reserved