It was the beginning of the 3rd Annual Empire State Liberty Tour Track & Field Series.  The weather was sunny and warm, the atmosphere filled with anticipation, and the athletes ready to go!  It was a Patriotic Take-off with the Patriot's Invitational registration up more than 20% over it's previous record high attendance. 

    More than 30 meet records were either broken or set, such as Master's Women competitor, Hillen Von Maltzahn, who was responsible for six of them.  She not only broke Patriot's Invitational records, but also Empire State Liberty Tour records in the 80m High Hurdles, Pole Vault, Triple Jump, Javelin, Shot Put, and Discus.

    At the other end of the age spectrum, it was a good day for Bantam Boys, as the Delmar Track & Field 4 x 100 team broke the previous Patriot's Invitational record, and the Empire State Liberty Tour record with a time of 1:13.46.  Mitch Capitula set a  Patriot's Invitational record in the Bantam Boys Shot Put with a toss of 5.46m, shattering the old record back in 2005 of 4.73m.

    The record of the day would have to go to Timathy Holzhauer, who broke the 100m Dash record with a sprint time of 12:04.  Tim also set records in the 200m Dash and the Long Jump in the Intermediate Boys division.  Not far behind would be a great performance in the Young Mens 110m High Hurdles by Shane Wagner who set an Empire State Liberty Tour record with a time of 15.98.

    To view all of the results from the Patriot's Invitational, log onto www.EmpireLibertyTour.com, and click "Results".

Pictured Above:  Quinn Capitula of the Country Mills Eagles, gives the Patriot's Invitational a great take-off with near perfect form as he leaves the toe board in the Midget Boys Long Jump.  Watching very closely is USATF Official Duncan Payne.