ONE World A Standard, FOUR World B Standards as NJ-NY Athletes Roll Through OXY High Performance Meet
Thirteen New Jersey New York Track Club athletes headed out West for the Oxy High Performance meet in a trip that produced one IAAF World A and four IAAF World B Championship Games standards.
Ashley Higginson kicked off the meet with a win in the 3,000m steeplechase. Ashley was patient in the early stages of the race before unleashing her kick in the final 200m to take the win in 9:45.83 and earn a IAAF World Championship Games B Standard.
NJNY newcomer Travis Mahoney toed the line next in the 3,000m steeplechase against a loaded field. Travis held his own in the race, besting a 2012 Olympian and former IAAF World Championship qualifiers with his 4th place showing in 8:30.87. The time was good enough for a IAAF World Championships Games B Standard.
In the women’s 800m, Latavia Thomas had a great 3rd place showing in a star-studded field featuring IAAF World Champions and 2012 Olympians. Her time of 2:00.68 was well below the IAAF World Championships Games B Standard and also serves as a season best.
In the men’s 800m, Mike Rutt was 1 of 3 men in the entire meet to achieve the IAAF World Championship Games A standard. The 2013 Penn Relays mile winner, Mike was strong over the second lap to move into 3rd place running 1:45.08. Sadiki White and Jamaal James also competed, running 1:47.32 and 1:48.32.
In the women’s 1500m race, Renee Tomlin finished 9th overall in 4:08.09, a new personal record and IAAF World Championships Games B standard. Nicole Shappert ran a solid 4:11.80, a season best after having foot surgery in December. Heather Wilson ran a new personal record in 4:12.58. Danielle Tauro was running strong until the final meters of the race when she fell. She got up to finish in 4:19.07
In the highly anticipated 1500m run, Liam Boylan-Pett competed well in a race featuring two 2012 Olympic Games silver medalists and the 2011 IAAF World Championships bronze medalist as well as numerous other Olympians. The pacesetters went through 800m in 1:52, but the field was well back. The race instead turned into a kickers race, and Liam held on for a fantastic 8th place in his heat in 3:38.26, just 1.5 seconds off the winner. Christian Gonzalez ran a season best with his 3:40.30. The time also guarantees his spot in the USATF National Championships meet next month. Brian Gagnon was also in the race and ran 3:44.44.
For full results from the Oxy High Performance Meet, click the button below:
Next up, the New Jersey-New York Track Club will have a select group compete at the New York IAAF Diamond League Meet on May 25th at Ichan Stadium in New York City.
For more information on the New York IAAF Diamond League Meet, click the button below:
Taking USA Track to a New Level of Excellence
Welcome to the NJ-NY Track Club, the East Coast's newest and hottest elite professional track team.
Under the direction of famed track and field coach, Frank 'Gags' Gagliano, the NJ NY Track Club is Gags'
newest undertaking, a team on his home turf in the NY/NJ region. With fifteen athletes currently on roster
and a wealth of new talent calling him weekly, this team is destined to be yet another monumental success on Gags'
resume. Combining veteran athletes with fresh out-of-college talent, the group consists of both men and
women ranging from the 800m to the 10,000m on the track with a number of cross country and road racing performers intermixed.
Continuing his tradition of developing and refining the world's best athletes, Coach Gagliano is determined
to instill the same work ethic, event-specific development, and individual life coaching that he has with
every one of his previous success stories. Often known as the 'Godfather' of track and field, Coach Gagliano
has one very basic goal in mind:
“...to develop each individual athlete to make the USATF Championship Finals, to qualify for their individual event for the World Championship & Olympic Teams, make World Championship and Olympic Finals, and medal.”
The formula is the same, but the story continues in a new location.
With the world's finest resources — the East Coast's finest facilities, and the most knowledgeable doctors, therapists, and coaches at our fingertips in the NY/NJ region, the team has all the necessary components to accomplish all that Coach Gagliano sees in each of the team's untapped talent.
Become a part of the USA Running's best kept secret, the NJ-NY Track Club, and support what is destined to be the Coach Gagliano's most successful program yet. Visit our Sponsors Page for information on how your company or organization join us and help take the next great track organization to the highest levels of success.