The USA Track & Field Niagara Association’s family of runners, officials and coaches extends our thoughts and prayers to the victims of today's explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. We deplore these acts of senseless violence at this truly international sporting event. We pray for the safe return of all Niagara participants and their families.

We recommend Dave Zirin's article "The Boston Marathon: All My Tears. All My Love." at http://bit.ly/1183Wfs

“If you are losing faith in human nature, go out and watch a marathon.” – Katherine Switzer

Katie Lembo, Maddie Kopp and Desmond Mobley crowned All-American

Rush-Henrietta sets Section V Records in Four Relay Events

Katie Lembo of Penfield broke the Section V record in the 2 mile with a time of 10:28.93 (=9:48.38 3000m), which broke the record last set by Deresa Waters of Penfield 25 years ago in 1988. Lembo placed 5^thfor All-American Honors. Lembo was also on Penfield’s 4x1 mile with Lindsay Heyer, Megan Sedita, and Trista Leo and they placed 12^thwith a time of 21:37.19.

Maddie Kopp of Spencerport broke her own Section V record in the 400m with a time of 56.01 and placed 5^thfor All-American Honors.

Desmond Mobley of Greece Olympia took 6^thin the Long Jump for All-American Honors with a jump of 7.05m(=23-01.75). Mobley also took 10^thin the High Jump with 1.96m(6-5).

Rush-Henrietta’s Girls 4x1 Mile team of Alana MacDonald, Emma Jones, Alexandra Cooper and Siobhan Quinn broke Penfield’s Section V record in the 4x1 mile and took 7^thwith a time of 21:10.82, and their Distance Medley team of Alana MacDonald, Elvira Martinez, Ceara Watson and Alexandra Cooper broke Penfield’s Section V record and took 13^thwith 12:18.62.

Rush-Henrietta’s Boys Distance Medley team of Brennan Root, Josh Wray, Pat Shenal and Mickey Burke broke R-H’s own Section V record and took 7^th with a time of 10:18.36, and their 4x1 Mile team of Mikey Schantz, Brennan Root, Pat Shenal and Mickey Burke set the Section V record and took 23^rdwith 18:04.50.

Rubin Owens of LeRoy took 8^thin the High Jump with 2.01m(6-7). (Note: that was on misses though and only 2 boys at nationals jumped the higher winning height of 6-9). (Note 2: maybe high jump should go by 1 or 2 cm instead of 5cm increments).

Rebekah Champlin of Marcus Whitman took 8^thin the 1 mile Racewalk with a time of 7:45.73(=7:14.18 1500m).

Mackenzie Sturtz of Marion took 10^thin the High Jump with 1.66m(5-5.25) (only 4 girls jumped higher).

Karmen Auble of Warsaw took 11^thin the Pole Vault with 3.68m(12-0.75)

Eileen O'Hara of Webster Thomas took 12^thin the 1 mile with 4:57.97 (=4:38.78 1500m)

Melissa Tylock of Penfield took 12^thin the 1 mile Racewalk with 8:03.13(=7:30.40 1500m)

Brian Smith of Greece Athena took 16^thin the 60m with 7.04 (=6.566 55m).

Keith Pease of Greece Athena took 16^thin the 1 mile with 4:18.22 (=4:16.77 1500m)

Amir Rogers of NE/NW Prep was Section V’s top placing Emerging Elite with a 4^th in the 60m Hurdles at 8.16 (=7.577 for 55m Hurdles). Including the championship division competitors Rogers placed 17th overall.

Chauncey Scissum of Rush-Henrietta took 19^thin the Triple Jump with 13.80m(45-03.50)

Penfield's Girls 4x55 Meter Shuttle Hurdle team of Harper Stewart, Melody Hancock, Eboni Jackson and Abby Bourcy took 26th with 39.32.

Jenn Suhr isn't just a newly crowned World Record Holder, she's the Queen of the vault.  Not only did Jenn Suhr cruise to a new World Record of 5.02 meters at the USA Indoor Championships in Alburquerque, New Mexico March 2nd, she capped off an incredible weekend for female pole vaulters originally from Western New York and the USATF Niagara Association. Just behind Jenn in 3rd place at USA Indoors was Lancaster, NY native Mary Saxer who cleared 4.60 meters.  Medina, NY native Janice Keppler finished 4th also at 4.60 meters, which is her personal best.

The New York State High School Indoor Championships were held at Cornell University's Barton Hall also on March 2nd.  The girls from Western New York reigned supreme in the vault too.  Jenny Thill, of Lancaster won the Girls Pole Vault at 12 feet 6 inches. Karmen Auble of Warsaw finished second at 12 feet 3 inches. Charlene Kearns of Gates-Chili finished third at 11 feet 6 inches. Kari Stromhaug of Vestal finished in a tie for fourth with Ireland Armstrong at 11 feet zero.

What an incredible legacy being built by these high flying women from Western New York.  You can follow these women on Twitter.com @JennSuhr @Saxdefygravity @janicekeppler @USATFNiagara