by Larry Eder
Will Claye, photo by PhotoRun.net
In the excitement over the New Balance Games yesterday, we missed Will Claye’s opening salvo for the World Indoor Champs. Will Claye is one of the best combo LJ and TJer in U.S. history.
Olympian Will Claye Sets Armory RecordIn 19th Annual New Balance GamesNEW YORK – USA Olympic medalist Will Claye opened his indoor seasonSaturday with an Armory record of 17.04 meters (55 feet, 11 inches) in the Men’s Triple Jump at the 19thannual New Balance Games.“I did what I wanted to do in my first meet of the season,” said Claye, who captured the triple jump silver medal at the 2012 London Olympics. “The surface here is really fast. The crowd was wonderful and there was a lot of attention and spotlight on me and that felt good.“I have some big goals for Rio [2016 Olympics]. I want to win the gold in both the long jump and the triple jump. Right now I feel I’m on pace to do that.”Professional events were part of the two-day competition at The New Balance Track & Field Center at The Armory, which attracted more than 5,000 high school athletes.In a rematch of last year’s NYRR Millrose Games 600m, Olympic finalist Duane Solomon edged American-record holder Erik Sowinski with a winning time of 1:16.67 to Sowinski’s 1:16.78. Last year, Sowinski established the current American record of 1:15.61.Facility records were also established by Olympian Kim Conley in the mile (4:24.54) and Shaunae Miller in the 300 meters (36.40 seconds).Great Britain’s Lee Emanuel won the men’s mile in 3:54.30, just ahead of American Garrett Heath (3:54.59). In total, four athletes broke four-minutes in the men’s mile.The NYRR 107th Millrose Games will take place February 15 at The Armory, beginning at 12:30 p.m.
