Randy Patterson

Across New York State, there are particular programs who find themselves on a significant streak, a testament to a training plan put into action year-over-year.

MIDDLETOWN – Ryan Brennan kept looking over his shoulder. It didn’t matter how fast the Monroe-Woodbury junior ran. He knew Newburgh’s Randy Patterson was coming. “He makes a living out of walking people down,” Brennan said. “I couldn’t believe I hadn't seen him yet.”

Newburgh coach Malcolm Burks felt like senior Randy Patterson had become a forgotten man.  Patterson enjoyed a breakthrough indoor season, where he clocked 1:19.92 for 600 meters, the second-fastest time in the state, yet he hadn’t quite broken into the elite class of long sprinters. Worst yet, college coaches weren’t biting. Not like he wanted them to.

WHITE PLAINS – Daquan Brickhouse only joined the track team to keep himself busy before he heads to Central Connecticut State on a basketball scholarship next year. Track and field was just something to do. Now the Westchester County slam-dunk champ is the newest novelty to the New York track and field scene.

Neither Blake Heriot nor Brady Gehret had raced 300 meters before. Yet, in two different sections of the junior boys 300 they notched the two fastest times in the country this season.

Before the start of every season, there are those people that look at the class that just graduated and those that returned to their team and they ask, who will be stars this year? Who will make an impact?