Sousis all smiles after breaking steeplechase records

Lansingburgh High School junior C.J. Sousis set a Cohoes Relays (and the Lansingburgh school) record in the 3,000 meter steeplechase last weekend, running in a time of 9:49.3.

Lansingburgh High School junior C.J. Sousis shows his form in jumping over a steeplechase barrier after breaking the school and Cohoes Invitational Relays record Saturday at Cohoes' Alumni Track and Field. (Photos by Tom Killips - The Record).

Fourteen meet records fell at the 13th annual Cohoes Invitational Relays last Saturday and Lansingburgh High School junior C.J. Sousis made sure to get things off on the right foot on the day’s first event - the steeplechase.

In an event predicated on the balance between long-distance running and a few brief seconds of panic in jumping over four large hurdles per lap, Sousis stumbled on his second circuit at Cohoes, just before the single hurdle with a water pit behind it.

"He had one barrier, the second time around on the water barrier, where he really got his steps messed up and he didn’t accelerate and he didn’t push off well," said Dale Broomhead, Lansingburgh’s distance coach. "But he recovered very nicely."

That he did. Sousis finished the race in 9:49.3, shattering the meet record of 10:13.88, set one year before by Shaker High’s Casey Gilboy.

"I was trying to get my steps down and completely messed up and fell in," Sousis said. "Then I saw the Shaker kid (Gilboy, the record-holder) go and I just lift¬ed my knees and sped up to catch up to him and I was right behind him again."

Even more impressive for Sousis was that he broke the school record, which was held by current Lansingburgh senior Alney Tobias, who run a 3,000 meter steeplechase course in 10:03.5 just weeks before.

"He (Tobias) definitely pushes me, but he’s one of the top Section II runners," Sousis said. "He has school records that I definitely want. He had this one before today and I ended up getting 9:49 and smashing his. So it really was an inspiration."

For the full story, check out Friday's edition of The Record.

Weekend Meet Schedule
Saturday, May 1, 2010

Colonie Relay Carnival South Colonie High School, 8:30 a.m.
The Colonie Track and Field Booster Club and the Colonie Parks and recreation department co-sponsor the 45th annual running of the Colonie Relay Carnival. In the inaugural 1966 meet, six boys teams competed. Now, 20 boys teams and 20 girls teams will compete in what has been billed as the biggest and most competitive Colonie meet ever.
JV races start at 8:30 a.m. The varsity portion is scheduled to conclude around 6:15 p.m.

Fonda-Fultonville Relays Fonda-Fultonville High School, Noon
The 4x1600 relays start at noon and action continues all day in a competitive meet for the schools based on the western edge of Section II. The Braves will run a 200 meter lolly pop race for children ages 4-8 as well.

George Muse Relays Glens Falls High School, 1 p.m.
One the region’s long-time traditions, the George Muse Relays will be run for the 53rd time Saturday at Glens Falls High School.