A Legend Passes but His Legacy Will Live On...
 The Randall's Island Sports Foundation's Hall of Famer, Al Oerter passes.
Winner of Four Olympic Gold Medals

“I saw athletes in their 30’s training full time,” he said. “That’s their life. What happened to the rest of it? I’m happy that I had a normal life, with a career and family. That makes a person whole.”
		Al Oerter 1939-2007
October 1, 2007 - 4 time Olympic Gold Medalist Al Oerter passed away today at the age of 71.  During his career in track and field Oerter became one of two athletes to win 4 consecutive gold medals at the Olympic Games (1956, 1960, 1964, 1968) a honor he shares with Carl Lewis.  In each of the Olympic Games Oerter amazingly broke the world record each time out. Oerter was a native of Astoria, NY.  He attended Sewanhaka High School he began to compete in the discus and went on to the University of Kansas winning two NCAA titles and his first Olympic gold medal. During the autumn of 1975, the TV producer Bud Greenspan asked Oerter if he wanted to take part in a TV series about Olympic athletes. He agreed and did some voice-overs when they filmed in Downing Stadium on Randall's Island, New York. It was at that moment that Oerter started thinking about a comeback, and one and a half years later he was throwing over 60 meters, and his goal was set: to qualify for the Olympic Games in Moscow 1980. After a eight year long break he was back on track! In the end of May 1980, Oerter set a personal record with a throw of 69.46m (2nd furthest in the world), which exceeded his winning throw in Mexico City by almost five meters! He finished fourth in the "US Olympic Trials" but the athletes already knew that no American would compete in Moscow. President Jimmy Carter had called for a US boycott months earlier, protesting against the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.

"It’s not whether you get there. It’s the journey.”

Oerter was elected to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame in 1974 and the U.S. Olympic Hall of Fame in 1983.  In 2006, the Randall's Island Sports Foundation also honored Oerter with a additional Hall of Fame induction.  Oerter will always be remembered as one of the greatest track and field athletes of all time.  Upon his death he lived in Fort Myers, Fla with his wife Cathy. To read more about Al Oerter visit the New York Times Article written by Frank Litsky.

USA Track and Field Club Championships
July 12-13, 2007

The Shore Athletic Club of New Jersey swept the men's and women's team titles amid tough competition last weekend at the seventh annual USATF National Club Track & Field Championships Championship records established on the men's side included performances in the following events: 1500m (3:54.03, Robert Duncan - KC Smoke), 110m hurdles (13.70, Justin Lindsey - Shore AC), 400m hurdles (49.41, Adrian Findlay - Executive TC), High Jump (2.21 meters/7 feet 3 inches, Joe Kindred - Executive TC), Triple Jump (16.12m/52-10.75, Ryon Taylor - Nike Central Park TC), Sprint Medley Relay (1:29.29 , U.S. Elite International).

The Shore Athletic Club swept the men's and women's team titles at the USATF Championships

On the women's side, five championship records were established: 400m (51.61, Aliann Pompey - Shore AC), 800m (2:03.94, Neisha Bernard-Thomas - U.S. Elite International), 3000m Steeplechase (10:08.80, Dawn Cromer - Pacers /Brooks), Triple Jump (12.43m/40-9.50, Sherita Williams - Greater Boston TC), Sprint Medley Relay (1:29.29 , U.S. Elite International).

The top men's performance, based on the IAAF scoring tables, went to Adrian Findlay of Executive TC for winning the 400m Hurdles in 49.41. Aliann Pompey was awarded the top women's performance for winning the 400m in 51.61.

For compete results please visit the official website of the Club Championships.

Reebok Grand Prix - June 2, 2007

AMERICAN RECORD

Jenny Stuczynski breaks her own AR in the Pole Vault and becomes the first American woman to clear the 16 feet (4.88 meters) barrier. Also, in the Pole Vault China’s Gao Shuying, who vaulted 15 feet, 2.75 inches broke the Chinese and Asian Area records. Tariku Bekele won the 5000m in 13:04.05, bettering the US All-Comer’s Record set here last year by Abraham Chebii of Kenya.

In the women’s 100m, Jamaica’s Veronica Campbell winning the race while turning in a meet record 10.93.

The men’s Mile race featuring American Bernard Lagat and Australia’s Craig Mottram, and American Alan Webb who stole the show. Following Mottram for 3.5 laps and fending off a Mottram move with 200m to go, Webb sprinted past his top US rival and came in for a meet record 3:52.94 victory. Lagat was second, with Mottram third.

Altogether, 10 meet records were set and another was tied. Entering the record books in addition to Stuczynski, Liu , Bekele, Webb and Campbell were Hazel Clark (800m, 1:59.07); Rachelle Smith (200m, 22.31); Wallace Spearmon (200m, 19.82); James Carter (400m hurdles, 48.37); Virginia Powell (100m hurdles, 12:45); Allyson Felix (400m, 50.53).

For complete results please visit the official site of the Reebok Grand Prix.

  New York Relays  
April 20-22, 2007

NYC Mayor's Cup - April 13-14, 2007
Farrell wins 4th straight team

Vincenzo Chiariello of Farrell won the disc at 157-0 and shot put at 53-3.25.

Stephen McLean (Transit Tech) edges Brian Furr (Sheepshead Bay) in 400m hurdles 55.02 to 55.03.

Collegiate runs 7:56.26 4x800.

Boys and Girls win Team Title for the Girls

Zoey Russell (Frederick Douglas) 56.60 400m.