2013 New York Indoor State Champs To Reunite At World's For Team USA in the 100m


Being a New York State Champion means your are one of the best in the country.  In one of the most densely populated States, that title means something.  For two athletes, the path started at Cornell in 2013, and has led them here, representing Team USA at the World Championships.  Here are their stories.


Deajah Stevens Takes Second in the 100m in 11.08

For Stevens, this is nothing new.  She made Team USA last summer, for the Rio Olympics, however, there, it was in the 200m.  Stevens is also running that event this weekend, with the finals to come.  Stevens is coming off an up-and-down NCAA Championship, which saw her DNF in the 200m, then come back for a Collegiate Record 4x400m.   But before she was at Oregon, she was at a Junior College in California.  And back in High School, she was a standout for Benjamin Cardozo, in her senior year, after some moves had seen her transfer in the earlier years.


At the 2013 Indoor State Meet, Deajah Stevens was entered in the 300m Dash.  She had the fastest time through the qualifier, running a 39.01, no small feat on the Cornell track.  In the finals, she did much the same, clocking a 39.64 over Maddie Kopp (who ran the 800m at the USA Champs this year as well), and Arianne Strunkey, who would take the 300m title 2 years later.  Hear from her after States Below.

Hear From Stevens After Qualifying For Worlds



Chris Belcher Takes Third in The 100m at 10.06

This is Chris Belcher's first big team to make, after having a breakout year at North Carolina A&T.  He was already having a big year, breaking the NY Graduate State Records in the 100m and 200m earlier in the year.  He became the first NY'er ever under 10seconds, and did so again at the NCAA Championships.  He came to A&T after attending a Junior College for a number of years, and has become a force as of late.  But back then, he was a simple sprinter out of Long Island's Sayville, surprising the field at States.


Coming into the State Meet, it was Greece-Athena's Brian Smith who was the heavy favorite in Belcher's 55m.  He had run 6.36 earlier in the season, and was the reigning champ in the event.  However, at Cornell, Erasmus Hall's Curtis Samuel had been looking good in the rounds, winning the Trials and Semi's.  In the final, it was a big personal best for Belcher, who scorched a 6.35 to win the title.  That still stands as NY #9 All-Time.  Hear from Belcher below on his States win, then follow that up with his first World's Team.

Hear From Belcher After Making First World's Team