This Week at the Armory 3.2.2006

*More than 3,000 runners will compete in the Coogan?s Salsa, Blues & Shamrocks 5K Race to benefit the New Balance Track & Field Center at the Armory and celebrate the Washington Heights neighborhood on Sunday morning at 9 a.m. The race will start and finish in front of the Armory. Children?s events for ages 2 to 12 will be held starting at 10 a.m. The main race will include a race-within-a-race: the Firefighter Frederick Ill Victory Run for Uniform Services. Firefighter Ill lost his life at the World Trade Center. There will also be the Norbert Sander High School Challenge, named for the President of the Armory Foundation. Winning teams earn $500 for their schools? sports programs. The race also includes the Medical Center Challenge, with Columbia University Medical Center taking on New York Presbyterian Hospital.

* CONGRATULATIONS!!! to Coach Jim Mitchell of Bronxville H.S., NY He was inducted into the Armory?s FIRST Coaches Hall of Fame. Coach Mitchell has been a track & field coach for over 40 years. Prior to coaching at the Bronxville High School, Mitchell coached at Fordham University for six years and at Cathedral Prep for seven years. In addition to his coaching duties, he has also been a teacher of Latin in the Bronxville High School since 1978. Bronxville H.S. achieved 88 league titles, 66 sectional titles, 11 state championships and 3 national championship titles. In addition to athletic achievement Jim Mitchell?s student athletes have one of the most successful records in the country for acceptance at the nation?s finest colleges and universities. His wife Jo Anne whom he met at Fordham is a great support. His daughter Dana, is a standout runner for Somerset H.S.

*Two outstanding college and high school events resulted in many fine performances at the Armory:

At the NYU Fast Track Invitational Friday, Robert Kiplagat of Iona ran the fastest 3000 Meters by a collegian this year and set an Armory record when he clocked in 7:49.98. The meet, which concluded the Armory?s Friday Night Collegiate Series, included more than 800 athletes from over 40 schools. For further results, please visit www.armorytrack.com

*At the PSAL Indoor Championships Saturday, Christine Milone of McKee/Staten Island Tech set the girls PSAL record in the Pole Vault twice, clearing 9-9 on her first attempt, then reaching 10-0 on her second attempt at that height. Also Saturday, Makalia Griffith of Hillcrest won the girls 600 Meters in 1:30.81, the fastest time in the country this year. Clemore Henry of East New York Transit Tech ran 600 Meters in 1:20.62, the second fastest time in New York State this season. Devotia Moore of Townsend Harris won both the 1000 Meters (2:56.47) and 1500 Meters (4:57.63). Roje Robinson of Middle College at Medgar Evers won both the High Jump (6-4) and the Long Jump (22-7 ?). East New York Transit Tech took the boys title for the second straight year with 74 points, followed by South Shore with 50 and Sheepshead Bay with 40. Boys & Girls won the girls crown for the second consecutive year with 69 points, followed by Benjamin Cardozo with 48 1/2 and Samuel J. Tilden with 32. For more results, please visit www.armorytrack.com

*At the CUNY Men?s Championships Saturday evening, York won its second straight men?s title with 127 points, followed by CCNY with 97 and Lehman with 58. York?s Michael Brown set meet records in the 200 Meters (22.07) and 400 Meters (48.47). CCNY?s Andrew Stahl-David set a meet record in the 1500 Meters at 4:14.17.

*At the Eastern States Indoor Championships Tuesday evening, Lynne Layne of New Rochelle set a meet record in the 55 Meters at 6.91 and also won the Long Jump at 19-7 ?. Will Brown of Palmyra won the boys 55 Meter Hurdles in 7.29, and Nia Ali of Pleasantville won the girls event in 7.89, both the third best times in New Jersey state history. Craig Forys of Colts Neck ran the fastest indoor anchor leg on a Distance Medley Relay team in New Jersey state history and the second fastest ever indoors or outdoors when he was clocked in 4:05.7. Only the legendary Marty Liquori ran the mile leg faster when he ran 4:04.4 for Essex Catholic at the Penn Relays in 1967. Forys got the baton in 16^{th place and crossed third in 10:20.70. For further results, please visit www.armorytrack.com}