Thursday, July 30, 2009
The 2009 JFK Catholic Sterling Invitational is an ESPN RISE DYESTATMETRO Featured Event
Join us on September 26th, 2009 for the 49th Annual JFK Catholic Sterling Invitational. We are a nationally featured meet this year at DyestatMetro and Dyestat. Coaches can sign up for our event in the following way: Google DyestatMetro & Click calendar. Choose our event & click more info or Sterling Invite. Go to the entry process and "click here." Fax the form to Sister Janet. Thank you.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
The Journal News: Predictions... Cross Country... Class B Girls
On July 21st, 2009, The Journal News reporter, Dan Marra, blogged (at Varsity Central) his predictions for the 2009 Cross Country season for the various classes in Section 1. He wrote about nine talented runners in Section 1, Class B. He wrote "individuals who are really talented in this class... Jessica Kendzor and Breeda Mannion (Kennedy)," crediting Kennedy with 2 of the top 9 runners in this class. - The JFK Observer
Friday, July 10, 2009
SPRING ALL-STARS - The Journal News - GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD - Jessica Kendzor, Jr., Kennedy
Taken from SPRING ALL-STARS, GIRLS TRACK AND FIELD, The Journal News, Friday, July 10, 2009, Page 5
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
The JFK Roving Reporter, Armory Website: Visit Armory Track - Go to the 2009 XC Calendar - Scroll to 9/26/09; Click JFK Sterling Invitational
Be sure to visit the Armory Track Homepage. Go to the 2009 Cross Country Calendar. Scroll down to 9/26/09. Click the JFK Sterling Invitational entry. The information posted there and added here comes from the ATRA website and describes the fast-becoming-famous Kennedy trails. From these original trails, Coach Jake Bergmeier has carved the challenging, yet fast, scenic Sterling Invitational XC Courses as described below:
The JFK Sterling XC courses have been newly designed by Coach Jake Bergmeier. The courses were completed with the approval of long time New York Section 1 lead administrator, Coach Sister Janet Meehan. The trails have been nicely groomed thanks to the hard work of the coaches, the runners, and their families.
The 70 acres of school property is an ideal setting for a Cross Country course and for a class XC Invitational. Runners and coaches in last year's Sterling Invitational used the words - beautiful, gorgeous, and enchanting to describe the trails and the grounds.
The charm of the area's trails that the couse was designed from is partially captured in the following thoughts that I have taken the liberty to quote from: http://www.trailrunner.com/state_trails/ny_kennedy....
Kennedy Trail, Somers
The trail was a part of the Old Putnam Railroad line between the Bronx and Putnam County and you can still find some old railroad ties along the trail. From Route 100 or Route 684, go to Kennedy Catholic High School at 54 Route 138 in Somers, NY.
Go to the back of the parking lot where you'll see a chain link fence. The trail starts behind that fence. Or... From Route 139 or Route 202 in Somers, turn onto Brick Hill Road.
When you reach the side street Palma Road, stay on Brick Hill, and go down hill. On the right hand side you will find the entrance to the trail, marked by 4 or 5 boulders. Just hop over them or go around. Its a cinder trail, relatively flat and straight.
There are a few places where erosion has washed out the original trail, but alternate routes have been carved out by ATV's and runners.
It is 2 miles from the Kennedy High School entrance to Brick Hill Road. The trail continues on after that... The mid-way point is marked by a large felled tree on the side of the trail closest to the lake. Watch out for deer and the occasional howling coyotes before dawn or after dusk.
The trail is owned by the Town of Somers, but some of it does pass through watershed property, so all NYC Watershed laws must be obeyed.
If you take the trail from Brick Hill road and just before you get to Kennedy HS you make a right and keep staying to the right, there is a very pleasant run on a trail that runs adjacent to the Resevoir. This trail hits Plum Brook road, and if you turn right on Plum Brook road, you can go over a no longer used bridge whch is quite old. That road is closed at that point and very nice to run on.
If you make that left onto Plum Brook road, go down about 1/4 mile and make a right onto rt. 138, go down another 1/4 mile, you can make a right onto an old dirt road and tack on another 1.5 miles going out. This can make the run a nice long run.
There are many trails in this area that are worth checking out.
For more information about the Kennedy Trails, from which our Sterling Invitational XC courses were designed, visit the ATRA - American Trail Running Association website (www.trailrunner.com)
The JFK Sterling XC courses have been newly designed by Coach Jake Bergmeier. The courses were completed with the approval of long time New York Section 1 lead administrator, Coach Sister Janet Meehan. The trails have been nicely groomed thanks to the hard work of the coaches, the runners, and their families.
The 70 acres of school property is an ideal setting for a Cross Country course and for a class XC Invitational. Runners and coaches in last year's Sterling Invitational used the words - beautiful, gorgeous, and enchanting to describe the trails and the grounds.
The charm of the area's trails that the couse was designed from is partially captured in the following thoughts that I have taken the liberty to quote from: http://www.trailrunner.com/state_trails/ny_kennedy....
Kennedy Trail, Somers
The trail was a part of the Old Putnam Railroad line between the Bronx and Putnam County and you can still find some old railroad ties along the trail. From Route 100 or Route 684, go to Kennedy Catholic High School at 54 Route 138 in Somers, NY.
Go to the back of the parking lot where you'll see a chain link fence. The trail starts behind that fence. Or... From Route 139 or Route 202 in Somers, turn onto Brick Hill Road.
When you reach the side street Palma Road, stay on Brick Hill, and go down hill. On the right hand side you will find the entrance to the trail, marked by 4 or 5 boulders. Just hop over them or go around. Its a cinder trail, relatively flat and straight.
There are a few places where erosion has washed out the original trail, but alternate routes have been carved out by ATV's and runners.
It is 2 miles from the Kennedy High School entrance to Brick Hill Road. The trail continues on after that... The mid-way point is marked by a large felled tree on the side of the trail closest to the lake. Watch out for deer and the occasional howling coyotes before dawn or after dusk.
The trail is owned by the Town of Somers, but some of it does pass through watershed property, so all NYC Watershed laws must be obeyed.
If you take the trail from Brick Hill road and just before you get to Kennedy HS you make a right and keep staying to the right, there is a very pleasant run on a trail that runs adjacent to the Resevoir. This trail hits Plum Brook road, and if you turn right on Plum Brook road, you can go over a no longer used bridge whch is quite old. That road is closed at that point and very nice to run on.
If you make that left onto Plum Brook road, go down about 1/4 mile and make a right onto rt. 138, go down another 1/4 mile, you can make a right onto an old dirt road and tack on another 1.5 miles going out. This can make the run a nice long run.
There are many trails in this area that are worth checking out.
For more information about the Kennedy Trails, from which our Sterling Invitational XC courses were designed, visit the ATRA - American Trail Running Association website (www.trailrunner.com)
The JFK Sterling Invitational - September 26th, 2009
The JFK Cross Country Boosters write:
Join us for the oldest, finest, and continuous Cross Country Invitational of its kind in beautiful Westchester County, New York. As we approach our 50th year, we want you to know that we have a newly designed and tested course which highlights our scenic 70 acres of property in historic Somers, New York.
Visit http://ny.milesplit.us/meets/38990 to see information and photos from last year's Sterling Invitational. Here you can see great pictures of many of our local runners, as well as runners from competitive teams like Fordham, Nottingham, Jamesville-Dewitt, and George Fowler that made the trip from a distance. From this webpage, you can click our Official Meet Website to see maps of our newly designed XC courses and explore more about the Sterling Invitational.
Visit our XC websites at Armory Track - JFK Catholic and at www.kchsxc.blogspot.com for more information about our XC, Winter Track and Spring Track programs. Go to www.kennedycatholic.org - click on news - to learn more about our school and recent events. For example, our XC and Track teams captured 4 league championships this past year.
We are fortunate to have supporters who come back year after year to volunteer for the Sterling Invitational (some for over 40 years). Our families and friends at JFK have worked hard to help our legendary coaching staff to upgrade our Sterling Invitational. We hope that you will join us. If so, we know that you will have a wonderful day.
Thank you for your interest!
Join us for the oldest, finest, and continuous Cross Country Invitational of its kind in beautiful Westchester County, New York. As we approach our 50th year, we want you to know that we have a newly designed and tested course which highlights our scenic 70 acres of property in historic Somers, New York.
Visit http://ny.milesplit.us/meets/38990 to see information and photos from last year's Sterling Invitational. Here you can see great pictures of many of our local runners, as well as runners from competitive teams like Fordham, Nottingham, Jamesville-Dewitt, and George Fowler that made the trip from a distance. From this webpage, you can click our Official Meet Website to see maps of our newly designed XC courses and explore more about the Sterling Invitational.
Visit our XC websites at Armory Track - JFK Catholic and at www.kchsxc.blogspot.com for more information about our XC, Winter Track and Spring Track programs. Go to www.kennedycatholic.org - click on news - to learn more about our school and recent events. For example, our XC and Track teams captured 4 league championships this past year.
We are fortunate to have supporters who come back year after year to volunteer for the Sterling Invitational (some for over 40 years). Our families and friends at JFK have worked hard to help our legendary coaching staff to upgrade our Sterling Invitational. We hope that you will join us. If so, we know that you will have a wonderful day.
Thank you for your interest!
Friday, July 3, 2009
Chuck Slater, North County News: Good Health Yields Great Results for Kendzor
Freakish foot injuries curtailed Jessica Kendzor’s running accomplishments in her freshman and sophomore seasons. Plus she abandoned track for lacrosse in the spring both times.
For her just-concluded junior year, however, the Kennedy runner stayed healthy and stayed with track and field for the full school year. The results? The single greatest accomplishment in Kennedy’s Track and Field history as well as the finest all-around year ever authored by a runner from the little Catholic school in Somers.
Kendzor advanced to state competition in all three seasons: cross country in the fall, indoor track in the winter and outdoor track in the spring. She was one of the few Class 2 (schools of 600 or less) athletes to match strides with the big girls all year.
Undefeated in dual meets in the fall, Kendzor was in the top trio at the sectional cross-country championships. Indoors, she started impressing stopwatches and rival coaches from the opening competition.
At the Kickoff Classic, Kendzor was relegated to the second fastest heat in the 300-meter dash but her 43.5 clocking was fourth overall, bumping girls from the top heat off the medal stand. Then, she won the 1,000.
At the sectionals indoors, she finished 3rd against predominantly big-school competition. This earned her a spot on the intersectional relay (the 1,200 leg), which medaled in both public school and Federation competition.
Outdoors, Kendzor was a one-woman point machine as Coach Larry Elliott used her to score (usually a first) in everything from the 100-meter dash to the 1500-meter run.
She was undefeated through league championships in both the 400 and 800 meters, took 3rd in the 800 at the Lions Club Invitational in 2:16.7, took the sectional 800 and there also sparked Kennedy to a school record of 4:10.9 in the four by 400 relay; her 59-second anchor leg was the fastest on the squad by almost four seconds.
“Jessie surged from fifth to third on the last lap and was still passing people after the tape,” Elliott said.
Earlier, she had picked up three medals at the open county competition, fourth in the 800, fifth in the 400 and fifth anchoring the four by 400 relay.
Then at the state meet, Kendzor ran a personal best of 2:15.38 in the 800 for second overall in Class 2. Fifth after 600 meters, she quickly moved up, and then passed two more girls on the final straightaway.
“We researched it,” said Kennedy Catholic spokesman Alex Malecki, “and that’s the highest individual finish a school athlete has ever had at a state track meet.”
As a freshman competing in the prestigious Manhattan Invitational on the Van Cortlandt Park’s cross-country course, Kendzor badly sprained her left ankle. Later, on crutches, she fell down the stairs at school, putting the right ankle in a matching cast as the fall season ended.
The next fall, Kendzor stepped into a leaf-covered hole while running, leading to another severely sprained ankle and another cast. By the time she was 100 percent, it was lacrosse time in both cases.
“Did being healthy all year matter this time? Oh, definitely,” Kendzor said, “I was able to get in all the workouts without taking time off. And, of course, I had three seasons of running.”
Interestingly, she entered high school with no seasons of running. To her, the track had always been foreign territory.
“My dad, Peter, had been a star distance runner in high school and college,” Kendzor said, “and as a girl my mom, Eileen, could out sprint all the boys on the block, but running never interested me. In high school, however, I thought I needed a sport.”
She tried running, and the genes won out. To Kendzor’s amazement, after one cross-country practice, Sister Janet, the Gaels’ legendary running coach, put her and best-friend-to-be Breeda Mannion with the varsity hill-and-dalers.
“You see her run for the first time, and she’s a natural,” Sister Janet explained. “And she’s very coach-able. Sometimes you get a very talented athlete who thinks she knows it all, but that’s not Jess. I’m so happy for her and her accomplishments this year.”
Kendzor’s value to a team goes far beyond the points she piles up.
“She’s very encouraging to other athletes,” Sister Janet said. We had a girl who came out this winter. She had talent but wasn’t a hard worker. Jessica straightened her out.”
Mannion, a successful distance specialist who usually ran right behind Kendzor in cross-country, trained with her close friend and the graduated boys distance star Brandon Wynne.
“We all had fun so we didn’t focus on how hard we worked,” Mannion said. “And if I had a bad race, Jess was always there to say, ‘Don’t worry; you did great.’ ”
Elliot, who noticed her “sprinter’s speed” during the cross-country season, introduced her to shorter distances.
“We had a thing,” Elliott said. “Whatever the race, I’d ask her “How are you going to run?” and she’d say, ‘the way I always run.’ That meant all-out. She’s a fierce competitor – whatever goes into that, she’s got it. And she’s as tough as they come.”
And has enough natural speed, Elliot said, “That she might still be a great 400 runner. Her 400 leg when we set our team record came after Jess had already run the 800.”
Who knows what records lie ahead of Jessica Kendzor in her senior year and beyond. With a 96 average, Kendzor, who wants to be an environmental engineer, figures to have a college career to build her total.
“I have this little game with my dad,” Kendzor said. “He set seven records in high school and one in college. I tell him I’m going to get eight records, too.”
Peter Kendzor, who went to high school in Western Pennsylvania, then college in Philadelphia, now teaches in New York’s inner city, chuckles at his daughter’s goal.
“I think it was seven records,” he said, “but good. Let her shoot for eight.”
Page S15, North County News, June 24, 2009
Pick up a copy of the North County News. See the photo of Jessica Kendzor by Jacob Bergmeier with the caption that reads: Kennedy Catholic’s Jessica Kendzor competes in the 800 meters at the Class B Sectionals. Kendzor made states in cross-country, indoor track, and outdoor track.
For her just-concluded junior year, however, the Kennedy runner stayed healthy and stayed with track and field for the full school year. The results? The single greatest accomplishment in Kennedy’s Track and Field history as well as the finest all-around year ever authored by a runner from the little Catholic school in Somers.
Kendzor advanced to state competition in all three seasons: cross country in the fall, indoor track in the winter and outdoor track in the spring. She was one of the few Class 2 (schools of 600 or less) athletes to match strides with the big girls all year.
Undefeated in dual meets in the fall, Kendzor was in the top trio at the sectional cross-country championships. Indoors, she started impressing stopwatches and rival coaches from the opening competition.
At the Kickoff Classic, Kendzor was relegated to the second fastest heat in the 300-meter dash but her 43.5 clocking was fourth overall, bumping girls from the top heat off the medal stand. Then, she won the 1,000.
At the sectionals indoors, she finished 3rd against predominantly big-school competition. This earned her a spot on the intersectional relay (the 1,200 leg), which medaled in both public school and Federation competition.
Outdoors, Kendzor was a one-woman point machine as Coach Larry Elliott used her to score (usually a first) in everything from the 100-meter dash to the 1500-meter run.
She was undefeated through league championships in both the 400 and 800 meters, took 3rd in the 800 at the Lions Club Invitational in 2:16.7, took the sectional 800 and there also sparked Kennedy to a school record of 4:10.9 in the four by 400 relay; her 59-second anchor leg was the fastest on the squad by almost four seconds.
“Jessie surged from fifth to third on the last lap and was still passing people after the tape,” Elliott said.
Earlier, she had picked up three medals at the open county competition, fourth in the 800, fifth in the 400 and fifth anchoring the four by 400 relay.
Then at the state meet, Kendzor ran a personal best of 2:15.38 in the 800 for second overall in Class 2. Fifth after 600 meters, she quickly moved up, and then passed two more girls on the final straightaway.
“We researched it,” said Kennedy Catholic spokesman Alex Malecki, “and that’s the highest individual finish a school athlete has ever had at a state track meet.”
As a freshman competing in the prestigious Manhattan Invitational on the Van Cortlandt Park’s cross-country course, Kendzor badly sprained her left ankle. Later, on crutches, she fell down the stairs at school, putting the right ankle in a matching cast as the fall season ended.
The next fall, Kendzor stepped into a leaf-covered hole while running, leading to another severely sprained ankle and another cast. By the time she was 100 percent, it was lacrosse time in both cases.
“Did being healthy all year matter this time? Oh, definitely,” Kendzor said, “I was able to get in all the workouts without taking time off. And, of course, I had three seasons of running.”
Interestingly, she entered high school with no seasons of running. To her, the track had always been foreign territory.
“My dad, Peter, had been a star distance runner in high school and college,” Kendzor said, “and as a girl my mom, Eileen, could out sprint all the boys on the block, but running never interested me. In high school, however, I thought I needed a sport.”
She tried running, and the genes won out. To Kendzor’s amazement, after one cross-country practice, Sister Janet, the Gaels’ legendary running coach, put her and best-friend-to-be Breeda Mannion with the varsity hill-and-dalers.
“You see her run for the first time, and she’s a natural,” Sister Janet explained. “And she’s very coach-able. Sometimes you get a very talented athlete who thinks she knows it all, but that’s not Jess. I’m so happy for her and her accomplishments this year.”
Kendzor’s value to a team goes far beyond the points she piles up.
“She’s very encouraging to other athletes,” Sister Janet said. We had a girl who came out this winter. She had talent but wasn’t a hard worker. Jessica straightened her out.”
Mannion, a successful distance specialist who usually ran right behind Kendzor in cross-country, trained with her close friend and the graduated boys distance star Brandon Wynne.
“We all had fun so we didn’t focus on how hard we worked,” Mannion said. “And if I had a bad race, Jess was always there to say, ‘Don’t worry; you did great.’ ”
Elliot, who noticed her “sprinter’s speed” during the cross-country season, introduced her to shorter distances.
“We had a thing,” Elliott said. “Whatever the race, I’d ask her “How are you going to run?” and she’d say, ‘the way I always run.’ That meant all-out. She’s a fierce competitor – whatever goes into that, she’s got it. And she’s as tough as they come.”
And has enough natural speed, Elliot said, “That she might still be a great 400 runner. Her 400 leg when we set our team record came after Jess had already run the 800.”
Who knows what records lie ahead of Jessica Kendzor in her senior year and beyond. With a 96 average, Kendzor, who wants to be an environmental engineer, figures to have a college career to build her total.
“I have this little game with my dad,” Kendzor said. “He set seven records in high school and one in college. I tell him I’m going to get eight records, too.”
Peter Kendzor, who went to high school in Western Pennsylvania, then college in Philadelphia, now teaches in New York’s inner city, chuckles at his daughter’s goal.
“I think it was seven records,” he said, “but good. Let her shoot for eight.”
Page S15, North County News, June 24, 2009
Pick up a copy of the North County News. See the photo of Jessica Kendzor by Jacob Bergmeier with the caption that reads: Kennedy Catholic’s Jessica Kendzor competes in the 800 meters at the Class B Sectionals. Kendzor made states in cross-country, indoor track, and outdoor track.
JFK's Asaro, Cicchetti, Ekwerekwa, Kendzor, and Mannion are North County News All-Stars
Asaro (100 M), Cicchetti (Pentathalon – 1st Team), Kendzor (800 M – 1st Team), Mannion (1500 M), & JFK’s 4 x 400M Relay Team (Kendzor, Mannion, Asaro, Ekwerekwa) are North County News Track-All Stars.
Taken from Page S13, NCN Sports, June 24, 2009
Taken from Page S13, NCN Sports, June 24, 2009
Aprile (Triple Jump – 1st Team), Schuck (Long Jump), and Visovsky (High Jump) are NCN All-Stars
Kennedy Catholic’s Aprile (Triple Jump – 1st Team), Schuck (Long Jump), and Visovsky (High Jump) are North County News Track All-Stars.
Taken from Page S13, NCN Sports, June 24, 2009
Taken from Page S13, NCN Sports, June 24, 2009
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