Having run cross country in the fall, Tom Faranda’s Folly: The sports seasons have begun at Chez Faranda and not run in the indoor track season, Joe is now on the freshman Fordham Prep track team, and the season is in full swing.
This past Sunday was the Jesuit Championships and Joe ran in the junior varsity 400 and 200 meter races. The way it works, there are heats, with seedings based on past personal bests. You may have, for example, three or four heats of the fastest runners and then one race with everyone else. joe was in the “everyone else’ group for the 400 m., and one of the down-the-list heats for the 200.
There were about six school competing, and probably over 150 boys, but surprisingly few parents. I suppose this is because these meets last a long time – three hours or more – and your own boy may only be running in one or two events. it’s not like watching a team sport, where there’s lots of action.
Here he is with about 80 yards to go in the 400, with his friend Tom Silva a yard ahead of him. There are also three boys out of the picture ahead of this group. joe finished fifth out of ten.
Here Joe is in the 200, with his friend Eduardo just behind him. joe finished fourth out of six.
Lots of socializing between races –
Fordham prep has an excellent track program. A friend of mine, Harley Griffiths (rugby – i actually played against Harley in the mid 70’s, and then when I returned from the Caribbean our clubs had merged, and I played with him) has a son (Harley Jr.) who is a junior at the Prep, and who is really quick. He and three other juniors ran in the 4×800 in the Penn Relays (this is big-time) and came seventh out of 80 competing relay teams. Harley ran a 2:00 800 in the opening leg, and one of his teammates ran a 1:55. Very fast.
Harley Jr. is up on the Fordham Prep track website – here’s the picture – pretty cool
Harley and his wife Tia have three daughters in addition to Harley Jr., who is their youngest. For some odd reason, they’ve just gotten a bunch of dogs – raising four children wasn’t enough. Here are the two of them plus dogs, at Sundya’s meet. Note they adoring look on Tia’s face …
Joe has another four meets to go, before the freshamn and junior varsity season finishes at the end of this month.
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