March 15, 2024

Allen, Mochizuki, Barton, Beattie selected as February Athletes of the Month

OPEN - BENJAMIN ALLEN
BENJAMIN ALLEN, 25, of Dobbs Ferry, NY has been selected as the USATF New York Open Athlete of the Month for February 2024.

Allen competes for the Empire Elite Track Club.

photo: John Nepolitan

Boston University Valentine University (February 10; Boston, MA)
Event	Place	Performance
1 mile	1st	3:53.17

Fasttrack Last Chance Invitational (February 23; Staten Island, NY)
Event	Place	Performance
1000m	1st	2:16.67 #3 U.S all-time (short track)

Trials of Miles at the Armory (March 2; New York, NY)
Event	Place	Performance
1 mile	4th	3:52.71 #24 U.S all-time (short track)

MASTERS - YOSHIO MOCHIZUKI
YOSHIO MOCHIZUKI, 48, of Harrison, NY has been selected as the USATF New York Masters Athlete of the Month for February 2024.

Mochizuki competes for the Central Park Track Club - Tracksmith

photo: Central Park TC

USATF-NY Indoor Championships (February 24; Staten Island, NY)
Event	Place	Performance
60m	1st (M45-49)	7.50 90.06% age-graded score
60m Hurdles	1st (M45-49)	8.88 89.45% age-graded score
Long Jump	1st (M45-49)	6.09m (19-11¾) 81.68% age-graded score
High Jump	1st (M45-49)	1.60m (5-3)
Triple Jump	1st (M45-49)	11.62m (38-1½)

YOUTH - NAJI BARTON
NAJI BARTON, 9, of Brooklyn, NY has been selected as the USATF New York Youth Athlete of the Month for February 2024.

Barton competes for Club 288 Track Club.

Ocean Breeze Youth Invitational (February 11; Staten Island, NY)
Event	Place	Performance
55m	1st (9-10)	8.03
800m	5th (9-10)	2:45.43
Long Jump	1st (9-10)	13-9¼ Association record

Armory Youth Championships (February 19; New York, NY)
Event	Place	Performance
55m	2nd (9-10)	8.10
800m	3rd (9-10)	2:40.49
Long Jump	1st (9-10)	14-2½ Association record

USATF-NY Youth Indoor Championships (February 25; Staten Island, NY)
Event	Place	Performance
55m	2nd (9-10)	7.97
400m	3rd (9-10)	1:07.09
Long Jump	1st (9-10)	14-6¾ Association record

Millrose Games (February 10; New York, NY)
Event	Place	Performance
400m	1st (12 & under)	57.48

HIGH SCHOOL - LUKE BEATTIE
LUKE BEATTIE, 15, of Warwick, NY has been selected as the USATF New York High School Athlete of the Month for February 2024.

Beattie is a sophmore at Warwick Valley High School.

Photo: John Nepolitan

Section 9 Class A Championship (February 10; West Point, NY)
Event	Place	Performance
Pole Vault	1st	15-0 Association record

Section 9 State Qualifier (February 17; New York, NY)

Event

Place

Performance

Pole Vault

1st

15-0

Association record

OCIAA Divisional Championship (February 23; West Point, NY)

Event

Place

Performance

Pole Vault

1st

16-6¼
Association record
NY High School Sophomore class record

#5 New York all-time (indoor)

NYSPHSAA - NY State Champs (March 2; New York, NY)
Event	Place	Performance
Pole Vault	1st	16-0

Nike Indoor Nationals (March 8; New York, NY)
Event	Place	Performance
Pole Vault	3rd	16-4