The Hispanic Games: Ten Storylines

By Chris Lotsbom 

NEW YORK (2-Jan) -- The temperatures are dropping and snow is expected. But these ten storylines are sure to get your adrenaline pumping for the Hispanic Games, set for Friday and Saturday here at The Armory. 

1. Garden City junior Emma Gallagher is off and running, already having a stellar indoor season. At the Marine Corps Holiday Classic, Gallagher won the 800m in 2:13.61 by over a second. Now, Gallagher will look to claim victory in the 400m, which promises to be fast. In 2013, the then-sophomore finished second to Benjamin Cardozo standout Deajah Stevens; this year, she'll battle challengers Candace Taylor (Friends, LI) and Dominique Watkins (Abraham Clark) for the top spot. All three are seeded under 56 seconds.  

2. A deep showdown seems to be in store for the Boys 55m Dash. All ten athletes set for the Varsity prelims are seeded under 6.53 seconds; in 2013, it took a time of 6.54 to win. Times should be faster come Saturday, judging by those run on The Armory's center stage so far this season. Harold Cooper of Hillhouse tops the seeds heading in at 6.42 seconds.

3. A spot in the New Balance High School Mile at the NYRR Millrose Games will be up for grabs come Saturday. Both the Boys and Girls winner of the Invitational Mile at the Hispanic Games will earn an automatic entry to one of the most prestigious high school races in America. Entering the meet, the tops seeds are Sam Ritz of Germantown Academy (4:11.73) and Laura Leff of West Genesee (4:48.96). Leff was third at last year's Millrose Games High School Mile in 4:54.71.

4. In the Girl's field events, look out for Elizabeth Seton's Javonne Antoine in the triple jump, and Mahasset's Tara Belinsky in the shot put. On the boys side, high jumper Alex McCord (Warwick, RI) and shot putter Benjamin Bonhurst (Smithtown East) are one's to watch. Antoine, Belinsky, and Bonhurst all competed at New Balance Nationals Indoor last year at The Armory.

5. More on Bonhurst: the shot putter from Smithtown East came close to the top spot at last year's Hispanic Games, with only Iona Prep's Will Pope throwing further. Now that Pope has graduated and moved on to Penn State, the competition looks to be in Bonhurst's control: he is seeded a full 1.4 meters ahead of the next closest competitor, Forest Hills' Oghenakpob Efekoro. Bonhurst is one of the top shot putters in the nation, finishing seventh overall at New Balance Nationals Indoor last year.

6. Relays, Relays, Relays. The Hispanic Games wouldn't be complete without some awesome relay action. Entered in the Girl's 4x200m relay is Medgar Evers Prep, who last year won the New Balance Nationals Indoor crown in 1:37.29. Another relay to watch for is the Shenendehowa Sprint Medley Relay quartet, which will take the track on Friday.

7. One question to be answered is can Newburgh Free Academy take victories in both the Boy's 4x200m and 4x400m Varsity relays? At the Bishop Loughlin Games, Newburgh showed promise, placing fourth in the 4x200m prelims (1:32.53), fourth in the 800m Sprint Medley (4:01.38), and winning the freshman 800m Sprint Medley in 4:07.10.

8. Any time there is an indoor steeplechase, it's surely worthy of watching. The Boys and Girls Invitational Mile Steeplechase is eight laps of fun, with athletes hurdling two barriers per lap. Kalleigh Forrester of Newburgh and Jeremy Miekley of Miller Place --both of whom claimed victory in the event at the Marine Corps Holiday Classic-- will return to try and make it a pair of wins this indoor season. 

9. The Girls 3000m Invitational race is loaded, with the two killer B's leading the charge: Bella Burda (Arlington) and Maddy Berkson (Classical). Both are coming off stellar cross country seasons, which saw Burda take eighth at the NXN New York Regional and Berkson eighth at the New England Championships. 

10. Between Friday and Saturday, 10 Freshman and Sophomore events will be contested, giving underclassmen the chance to shine at The Armory. You never know if one of the athletes running, jumping, or throwing will turn into the next young superstar -- think Mary Cain or Ajee' Wilson!


Photo: ArmoryTrack.com