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Symone Darius (300), Keturah Orji (LJ) big winners at NB Games - 2014 DyeStat

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DyeStat.com   Jan 25th 2014, 10:16pm
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Six US#1s include Darius, Orji at NB Games

 

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

 

RESULTS | TFX ELITES


Symone Darius of New Rochelle (N.Y.) made a quantum leap in her budding track career on Saturday at The Armory in New York, trimming more than a second and a half from her time in 300 meters.


With a winning time of 38.07 seconds, the sophomore has joined select company and moved to No. 9 all-time in the event (No. 11 performance). The names ahead of her include Olympians -- Francena McCorory, Natasha Hastings, Maicel Malone, Shana Cox.


The indoor 300 is a particularly big event in New York, where Darius is No. 5 on the state list.

 

"It tells me I'm way stronger than I thought I was, and that if I keep pushing to the end that I can, like, make some huge records for myself," Darius said. 


Darius' previous best was 39.7. Running in lane 6, she couldn't see any of the other competitors but ran as if she were being chased all the way through the race. What she couldn't tell is that she was gapping the rest of the field.

 

"I just imagined them behind me so I kept pushing," she said. 


Later, Darius ran the opening leg for New Rochelle as the 4x200 relay team ran a US#1 1:39.39. For her efforts, Darius was the girls track athlete of the meet. 


One of her relay teammates, Ashley Wiggins, won the 55-meter hurdles in US#3 7.03 seconds.


On the long jump runway, Mount Olive (N.J.) standout Keturah Orji took three preliminary jumps and produced a best of 20-8.75, good for a US#1. After her prelim flight finished there was a long gap prior to the finals. The elite men's triple jumpers arrived and they were given the runway to warmup.


Orji was quick to snap a photo with Olympian Will Claye and then stayed nearby to watch him and the other elite men jump. Then, when she left to grab something to eat for lunch, she missed the finals.

 

"When I heard (Claye) was coming to this meet I was like 'Oh, I have to get a picture with him,'" Orji said. "(Watching him) was very impressive. I liked the way he got the crowd involved."


Regardless of missing her final three attempts it was a strong opener for Orji, who has her sights set on high school records in the triple jump and long jump this year. She was named the outstanding girls field athlete of the meet. 


Millrose Games qualifiers were at stake in the invitational miles, where Louis Colson of Edison (Va.) and Laura Leff of West Genesee (N.Y.) scored big wins. Colson, still regaining his track speed after competing at Foot Locker last month, got out well to set the pace in the first three laps and then relied on his reserves in the final lap to move from fourth to first in the final 200. He crossed the finish line in 4:18.49.


In the girls race, Leff put herself in the lead group and was near the front all the way. She closed well and took the win in 5:00.49. It's not an eye-popping time but Leff has broken five minutes already this season. And in a high school career that has had more than its share of ups and downs, this was a big win.

 

The top boys awards of the meet went to Efekoro Oghenakpobo of Forest Hills (N.Y.), who won the shot put with 59-1.25 and Anton Porter of Mt. St. Michael (N.Y.), who won the 300 meters in a time of 33.82 seconds for US#2. 

 

Christian Kidal-Brandt from West Mendham (N.J.) ran US#2 1:20.50 for 600 meters and Simon Nwana of Syosset (N.Y.) ran US#8 2:31.24 for 1,000.

 

The Cheltenham (Pa.) boys 4x200 relay posted a US#2 1:28.87 time and also a US#2 3:21.22 4x400. Warwick Valley (N.Y.) scored a US#1 in the sprint medley with 3:28.48.

 

Sophomore Emily Stauffer of Cocalico (Pa.) improved to 45-4 to win the girls shot put. That's good for US#6. 

 

Maddy Berkson from Classical (R.I.) demonstrated her vast range by running 1:32.96 for a US#1 in the 600 meters. She is also ranked third nationally in the 3,000.

 

Garden City (N.Y.) got a US#1 in the girls SMR with 4:07.78 and Benjamin Cardozo (N.Y.) ran 9:21.71 with Denise Branch on the anchor for US#2 in the girls 4x800.  



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