The White Plains Examiner

The 48th Annual Glenn D. Loucks Track & Field Games

Al Coqueran
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The 48th Annual Glenn D. Loucks Track & Field Games were kicked-off at White Plains High School, on Saturday, by the Lighting of the Olympic Torch, as male and female members of the White Plains High School Tigers Track Team ran the track with the torch. Lauren Woods and Edward Leo Fisher lit the Torch to commence the games. Albert Coqueran Photos
The 48th Annual Glenn D. Loucks Track & Field Games were kicked-off at White Plains High School, on Saturday, by the Lighting of the Olympic Torch, as male and female members of the White Plains High School Tigers Track Team ran the track with the torch. Lauren Woods and Edward Leo Fisher lit the Torch to commence the games. Albert Coqueran Photos

The 48th Annual Glenn D. Loucks Track & Field Games encompassed White Plains High School from Thursday, May 7 through Saturday, May 9.

The Glenn D. Loucks Games is the largest high school Track & Field event in the country held at a high school site. This year 3442 athletes participated on 348 teams that hailed from 233 high schools.

“When you compare the number of participants we started with 47 years ago, which was about 500, to today, about 3500 competing athletes, it makes us happy that we are satisfying the opportunity for more student/athletes to display their talents in Track & Field,” said Loucks Games Chairman Dan Woodard, one of the founders of the Glenn D. Loucks Games.

The Olympian Trophy was presented to each of The Outstanding Athletes of the 48th Annual Glenn D. Loucks Games. [L-r] Shayla Broughton from Medgar Evers for Female-Field Events, Rai Benjamin from Mt. Vernon is a Co-Winner for Male-Runner Events, Samantha Watson from Rush Henrietta for Runner-Female Events and Rayvon Gruy from Beacon for Male-Field Events. Also not pictured was Co-Winner for Male-Runner Events Mike Branigan from Northport.
The Olympian Trophy was presented to each of The Outstanding Athletes of the 48th Annual Glenn D. Loucks Games. [L-r] Shayla Broughton from Medgar Evers for Female-Field Events, Rai Benjamin from Mt. Vernon is a Co-Winner for Male-Runner Events, Samantha Watson from Rush Henrietta for Runner-Female Events and Rayvon Gruy from Beacon for Male-Field Events. Also not pictured was Co-Winner for Male-Runner Events Mike Branigan from Northport.
The official Opening Ceremony was held on Saturday, May 9, with an array of dignitaries in attendance. City of White Plains Mayor Tom Roach, who is an ardent runner, stood on the field watching the events. “This is a tremendous event and I am very proud to have it here in White Plains,” said Mayor Roach.

Roach ran track during his high school years at Mahopac High School. “Track to me is the purest form of athleticism. It is not about what kind of equipment you have but what you have and what you put into it,” commented the Mayor.

The Eleanor Loucks Memorial Award stayed within the Loucks Family this year, with the late Glenn D. Loucks’ son Dean Loucks awarded the Memorial Trophy named after his mother Eleanor.

The late Dean Loucks, son of Glenn D. Loucks, the namesake of the Annual Track & Field Games, was honored with The 2015 Eleanor Loucks Memorial Award. Dean Loucks passed away in October 2014. He was represented at the award ceremony by his widow Barbara Loucks (left) and daughter Kathy Loucks (center). Assistant Meet Director Nick Panaro presented the Award.
The late Dean Loucks, son of Glenn D. Loucks, the namesake of the Annual Track & Field Games, was honored with The 2015 Eleanor Loucks Memorial Award. Dean Loucks passed away in October 2014. He was represented at the award ceremony by his widow Barbara Loucks (left) and daughter Kathy Loucks (center). Assistant Meet Director Nick Panaro presented the Award.

The Eleanor Loucks Memorial Award is the highest form of recognition presented at the Loucks Games. Dean Loucks, who passed away last year in October, was an outstanding athlete at WPHS. He graduated in 1953 and went on to play at Yale University, before returning to the Tigers as their football coach. Loucks later became the Head Football Coach at Fordham University.

“This is a wonderful tribute to my husband Dean and I am sure he would be so happy to know that the community remembers him like this, and for me and his daughter Kathy it is equally wonderful,” stated Barbara Loucks, the widow of Dean Loucks, who accepted the Award with her daughter Kathy.

Dr. Paul Fried will take over as White Plains Superintendent of Public Schools, on July 1. Fried got his first look at the Loucks Games on Saturday. “This is very impressive. There are students from all over the country. I understand over 3000 students are participating, this in incredible,” said Fried.

White Plains High School Steeplechase runner Adrian Ojeda leaps the barrier and runs through the water obstruction in the Men’s 3000 Meter Steeplechase in the Glenn D. Loucks Games, on Saturday, at WPHS. Ojeda ran a good race, finishing 21st with a time of 10:35.06.
White Plains High School Steeplechase runner Adrian Ojeda leaps the barrier and runs through the water obstruction in the Men’s 3000 Meter Steeplechase in the Glenn D. Loucks Games, on Saturday, at WPHS. Ojeda ran a good race, finishing 21st with a time of 10:35.06.

Interim Superintendent of Schools Tim Connors has 49 years working in education and is planning to go home to Massachusetts, work one more year in his beloved field, and then retire after 50 years of service. “What a wonderful opportunity for young people to compete. We are just proud of White Plains for hosting the Loucks Games,” said Connors.

The Team Champions of the 48th Annual Loucks Track & Field Games were Mt. Vernon High School, presented with the Men’s Teams Trophy for scoring 28 points. The Women’s Team Champions were Rush Henrietta High School with 46 points and North Rockland High School won the Combined Team Championship scoring an impressive 50 points.

Biff Henderson (right holding trophy), the Stage Manager for The Late Show with David Letterman, presents The Olympian Trophy to 3000 Meter Men’s Steeplechase Champion Jake Gibb (center), who ran the third fastest time in Loucks Games history at 9.16.47, which was also the fastest high-school time in the United States this year. Henderson, a Greenburgh resident, and Letterman will air their last Late Show, on CBS, on Monday, May 20, after 34 years.
Biff Henderson (right holding trophy), the Stage Manager for The Late Show with David Letterman, presents The Olympian Trophy to 3000 Meter Men’s Steeplechase Champion Jake Gibb (center), who ran the third fastest time in Loucks Games history at 9.16.47, which was also the fastest high-school time in the United States this year. Henderson, a Greenburgh resident, and Letterman will air their last Late Show, on CBS, on Monday, May 20, after 34 years.

Congratulations to Glenn D. Loucks Games Meet Director Fred Singleton and Assistant Meet Director Nick Panaro, for organizing another wonderful, competitive and well participated event again this year at WPHS.

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