New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory, December 29^th, 2014 – When Strymar Livingston graduated from Christopher Columbus High School – heading first for Mississippi State University and then Iowa Western Community College – he expected the records he left behind to endure.

Among them were his National Scholastic best-evers of 1:01.68 for the indoor 500m (set at the New Balance Games) and 1:17.99 for the 600m (set at the PSAL Championships). Both records were set at The Armory among his many splendid performances during the memorable winter of 2012.

Well, those two are still in the books, but another Livingston mark is already gone. That was his meet record 1:52.94 clocking at the December 2011 edition of the Marine Corps Classic. It was erased Monday afternoon when Sam Ritz of Germantown, Pa. Academy blasted out to a 1:52.81 triumph in the 15th edition of the Marine Corps Holiday Classic.

It wasn't easy.

John Lewis, a fellow Pennsylvanian from nearby Cheltenham High School, gave Ritz an all-out battle and dipped under Livingston's former record figures, too, with his 1:52.88 silver -medal performance.

Ritz and Lewis are hot commodities in their sport at the moment, but they will have a long way to go to reach higher niches on their respective schools' "famous alumni" lists.

These days, Germantown Academy grad Bradley Cooper makes the headlines as a leading Broadway and Hollywood actor and producer. Cheltenham alumnus Benjamin Netanyahu is prime minister of Israel. And baseball fans will recognize Hall of Famer Reginald Martinez "Reggie" Jackson as a Cheltenham alum, too.

Ritz now stands two-for-two at the Armory this month after taking the 1000m in 2:28.81 at the Bishop Loughlin Games.

"I fealt great," said Ritz after catching his breath. "That was my fastest ever 800. I wasn't thinking about how fast I was running, not at all.  I just let it happen."

With 1:52.81 in the books and the season less than a month old, Ritz has heightened expectations for the balance of the winter campaign.

"How about a sub-1:50?" he was asked.

"Well sure, why not?"

He'll be back for the upcoming Hispanic Games and likely other Armory big meets. Already set for Columbia University next fall, that assures there will be a lot of Armory running in Ritz’s future, too, under the direction of Lions' coach Dan Ireland.

"I'm certainly looking ahead to Columbia," Ritz said. "Coach Ireland is a great guy. I'm leaning to a major in film, but I'm open to history or philosophy, or something along those lines, too."

A big kick was Kieran Tuntivate's route to success, too.

The senior at Charter School of Wilmington, Delaware bided his time and then came on in a huge rush to win the Mile Invitational in 4:22.09, besting Eastern High's Nicholas Pschunder (4:24.34), Ward Melville's Charlie Theiss (4:25.68) and 13 others.

The win made Tuntivate an automatic qualifier for the NYRR Millrose Games mile on Feb. 14^th, but he'd still have to post a sub-4:20 clocking in an upcoming meet to secure his spot.

"I'm sure I'll get that (a sub-4:20)," said the Harvard-bound Charter School senior. "I knew this one was going to be tactical. A lot of these big races always are. It always comes down to the last quarter-mile or so. I just had to be in good position at that point."

He had just that and won it impressively – in his first major start of the winter season.

Another Loughlin winner taking Marine Corps gold was Ursuline Academy junior distance ace Anna Flynn. Nine days after winning the Loughlin girls two-miler in 10:51.65, she ran off with the Marine Corps girls mile in a PR 5:01.70.

Like Tuntivate, her win was a Millrose qualifier, but she'd still have to post a sub-5:00 to assure the spot.

Ocean City senior Epiphany Grisbaum ran her best race since taking the NJSIAA Meet of Champions cross country title with an 18:20 triumph over Holmdel Park's tough 5K course on November 22^nd. But all it could get her Monday was a 5:08.86 second place back of Flynn.

"Winning's certainly nice," said Flynn. "I wasn't really focusing on time. Winning's more important at this point."

Flynn was a Foot Locker Cross Country finalist, but her memories of the San Diego race aren't golden.

"My mind probably got ahead of my physicality," said Flynn, who placed 31st at Foot Locker. "I wasn't really disappointed, though. I'd hoped to qualify for Millrose last year, but didn't make it. But all this now makes it more exciting."

Shaka Shomari of Hicksville's Holy Trinity proved himself the quickest man on the premises with his 6.51 victory in the boys 55m, following a 6.53 qualifying trial. Charles Snorweah of Pennsbury was his closest rival at 6.59.

But Shomari will soon run into a crossroad – will it be football or track, or both, in his future?

As a star running back at Holy Trinity, he drew the attention of football coaches who recognized his speed as a big-game breaker.

"I'm trying to find a school where I can do both sports," said Shomari, "but that might not be too easy."

And, as a top student with plans to study medicine for an eventual career as an obstetrician, he knows he can't neglect academics, either.

"As my parents always tell me, it's got to be school first, sports second. And I know they're right,” said Shomari.

A trip to the National Junior Olympics track finals last summer was an eye-opener to him.

"I saw how competitive I could be against some of the best guys in the country," he said. "But I love football, too. Actually, I've been playing football since I was four years old.”

Lots of track goals remain for Shomari. He's yet to run a 300m race, and that might prove to be his best distance. 

"I will definitely run a 300 at some point," he said. "I just don't know when."

One-mile steeplechase races – typifying, perhaps, the challenges all Marines face – were again a meet feature. North Bergen High's Mathew Gonzalez was a runaway winner of the boys event in 5:14.14 (over NB teammate Ramses Leon's 5:49.85).

Yahminah Smith took the girls race in 5:36.94.

Other boys Marine Corps footracing winners included: Anton Porter of Mount St. Micahel's in the 200m (21.73 after a 21.98 trial); Union Catholic's Taylor McLaughlin (33.85) in the 300m, and Msgr. McClancy's Sidney Gibbons in the 55m hurdles (7.43.)

Other girls racing champions: Taylor Chapman of Penn Ridge in the 200m (24.72), Brooklyn Broadwater of Springside South (39.66) over teammate Alexandria Kitchell in the 300m (40.94); and Sammy Watson of Rush-Henrietta, N.Y. in the 800m (2:13.45).

Medgar Evers speedsters dominated the straightaway - Brenessa Thompson replicated her Loughlin win, with a 7.09 55m dash, and Shayla Broughton ran off with the 55m hurdles in 8.09.

Boys field winners were Concord high jumper Garth Warner (6-4), Iona Prep pole vaulter Matt Fay (15-9), Beacon long jumper Rayvon Grey (22-7), Columbia, N.J. triple jumper Dean Uduh (46-7), Union Catholic shot putter Sean Brennan (57-5.) and Lakeland weight thrower Cameron Thompson (56-3.)

Girls field titlists were Ursuline high jumper Kene Odenigbo (5-3), Darien pole vaulter Maddie Schneider (11-6), Cheltenham long jumper Madison Langley-Walker (17-7), Longwood triple jumper Crystal Henderson (38-9 1/2); Donovan Catholic shot putter Alyssa Wilson (43-4) and Holy Trinity weight thrower Kristina Insingo (44-1 1/2).

Team scoring duels went right down to the wire.

Iona Prep (with 33 points), edged Union Catholic (31) and Beacon (30 1/2) in boys scoring, where 73 schools broke in to the points column. 

Western Branch of Chesapeake, Va. (45 points) nosed out Cheltenham (44) and Rush-Henrietta (42) for the girls crown, with 55 teams scoring.

This upcoming Tuesday's Track Universe Invitational will put a wrap on the 2014 Armory season. And the 2015 campaign gets rolling with the PSAL Distance Night on January 2^nd.

By Elliot Denman // Photos by Karthik Adimula

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