Jeff Benjamin sent this piece off to us this morning, and emphasized that t was time sensative. So, here is a quick story on the HOKA ONE ONE NJNY Track Club, who is going to Staten Island, and the Ocean Breeze AC.
Many from the HOKA ONE ONE NJNYTC Squad, photo courtesy of HOKA ONE ONE NJNY TC
The HOKAS are Coming to Ocean Breeze!!
By Jeff Benjamin 1/18
To paraphrase Paul Revere–
“The HOKAS are Coming!
The HOKAS are Coming!”
According to historical tradition the NYC borough of Staten Islands’ disputed possession between New York and New Jersey was settled over a boat race around the Island around 350 years ago.
How fitting it is that competitors from one of the premiere Running clubs, aptly named “The HOKA ONE New Jersey New York Track Club” will be descending upon Staten Island this upcoming Saturday, as athletes will be running, jumping and throwing at the 2nd annual Ocean Breeze Indoor Invitational.
Leading the way will be their legendary Coach Frank “Gags” Gagliano, who, as a coach at Manhattan and Georgetown, is no stranger to the borough. Neither is assistant Coach and former World-Class Steepler Tom Nohilly. As a matter of fact, NJNY Women’s Miler Stephanie van Pelt grew up on Staten Island, competing for the local Notre Dame Academy High School.
Joining Van Pelt in the Women’s Mile will be teammates Heather Wilson and Danielle Aragon. Wilson, a 4:30 Miler is coming back after injury, while Aragon, a 4-time NCAA All-American (whose Dad is 1980’s top Miler Chuck Aragon) looks to improve on her PB on the fast Mondo-Banked track.
In the Bill Welsh Mile (which is named for the 87 year old local running and coaching Legend) defending Champion Robby Andrews is not scheduled to compete, but NJNY will be represented by Ford Palmer, Jesse Garn and Travis Mahoney, who was a 2016 Olympic trials finalist in the Steeplechase and who had an outstanding 2017 Indoor season, clocking 7:47 for the 3000 meters. Palmer sports PRs Of 3:36 (1500) and 3:54 (Mile), while Garn, a top 800 meter runner, also has a Mile PR of 3:57.
The Women’s 600 meters will be comprised of NJNY’s Cecilia Borowski and Ceaira Brown. A 2-Time College All-American Borowski also set 11 school records while competing at Princeton, while Brown, an NCAA Indoor All-American, looks to improve on familiar ground.
Over to the men’s 600, 5-time NCAA Champion and Indoor Worlds Gold Medalist relay Runner Chris Geistang will be competing with his teammate Joe Macasey, who’s a Big 10
800 meter Champion out of the University of Illinois against others in the field.
To paraphrase Jerry Lee Lewis, the Ocean Breeze Invitational looks like it will have
“A Whole Lot Of HOKAS Going On!”
