Westfield Area Y Flyers Track Club Athletes Shine at USATF NJ Junior Olympic Cross Country Meet

Michelle Almeida

Twenty-five young athletes from the Westfield Area YMCA Flyers Track Club competed alongside nearly 500 other participants at the USATF New Jersey Junior Olympic Cross Country Meet on November 3. Held at Central Park in Morris Plains, the Flyers delivered outstanding performances at the meet and brought home four national qualifiers:

  • Greyson Dunleavy (Boys 7-8) - 3rd Place 

  •  Grayson Van Dyk (Boys 7-8) - 4th Place 

  •  Leo Anspach (Boys 11-12) - 14th Place

  • Luke Barba (Boys 13-14) – 8th Place 

    In addition to individual accomplishments, the team results showcased the Flyers' collective strength and teamwork: 

    • Girls 11-12 team finished 5th in the 3000m race with runners Katalyna Aguilar, Avalee Deutsch, Sandra Jakubiuk, Sarah Licata, and Mika Snyder

    • Boys 11-12 team secured a 4th place finish in the 3000m race with strong showings from Leo Anspach, Slater Centeno, Nicholas DiChiaro, Doruk Karagoz, Deven Lele, and Adrian Wood 

    • Boys 13-14 team earned an impressive 3rd place finish in the 4000m race led by Luke Barba, Benjamin Halpern, Ronan Connolly, Graham Gallagher, Davin Hettiarachchi, and Liam Grunwald 

    The Westfield Area YMCA Flyers Track Club is led by USATF-certified coaches and serves hundreds of athletes ages 7-15 year-round. Athletes learn the fundamentals of distance running and techniques unique to off-track running, with more experienced runners building on fundamental skills through conditioning and in-depth training. Registration is open now for the Flyers Winter Conditioning program beginning December 2, 2024. 

    For more information about Flyers Track Club, visit www.yflyerstrackclub.com or contact Michelle Almeida at malmeida@westfieldynj.org 908-301-9622 ext. 279.     

    The Y is the nation’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility.  Financial assistance is available for those who qualify. Learn more at www.westfieldynj.org.

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