Leading off today: Jacob Tirado was already in the NYSPHSAA bowling record book for the best six-game block, a 1,532 series rolled last February.
Now, the Colonie junior is being credited with a national record by the U.S. High School Bowling Foundation after rolling an unfathomable 890 series during a match on Thursday against Shaker. After an opening-frame spare, Tirado went on to string together 35 straight strikes to cap a 290-300-300 performance.
The USHSBF previously recognized an 867 series by North Babylon's Nick Vuono in 2023 as its state and national record. Vuono rolled games of 278-300-289 in that set.
Warwick Valley's Beattie sets N.Y. pole vault mark
When I was covering high school sports full-time as a newspaper reporter nearly four decades ago, a 15-foot pole vaulter practically qualified as a track and field god in the New York scholastic ranks.
As time has gone on, the athletes and the technology have gotten better, so the 16- and 17-foot barriers have fallen. On Friday, Warwick Valley junior Luke Beattie took he record to a new height by clearing 17-1 1/2 during the Borbet Invitational at The Armory Track & Field Center in Manhattan.
Beattie's performance eclipsed the mark of Arlington's Jordan Yamoah, who cleared 17 feet in December 2010 and then tacked on another inch a month later, also at The Armory.
Beattie and his sister Lily, who graduated last spring, swept the NYSPHSAA indoor and outdoor pole vault championships in 2024.
Awards
Gatorade has honored William Floyd distance runner Zariel Macchia as its New York female cross country athlete of the year.
It represents Macchia's third Gatorade award. She previously won recognition following her 2023 cross country and 2024 outdoor track seasons.
The senior won the NYSPHSAA Class A state title this past fall at Queensbury High School. The Brigham Young University recruit went on to place 19th at the Nike Cross Nationals and third place at the Foot Locker National Championships. She capped her season with first place in the under-20 class at the USATF Cross Country Championships.
