Sloan Wasserman runs fastest Steeplechase time in the nation

John Jay’s Sloan Wasserman emerges from the water pit on her way to a nation's best time as she runs to victory in the steeplechase at the Loucks Games in White Plains on Saturday, May 9. JIM MACLEAN PHOTO

By Jim MacLean

Conditions were not ideal; in fact, they were horrible as the runners lined up for the start of the 2,000-meter steeplechase race at the 58th annual Glenn D. Loucks Memorial Track and Field Games at White Plains High School on May 9.

A dark and gloomy overcast sky turned into a torrential downpour just in time to drench the track and the runners as the gun sounded for the start of the race. It didn’t help matters that it was the first time this season that John Jay senior Sloan Wasserman was able to compete in the steeplechase event.

Despite the conditions and lack of practice, all Wasserman did was go out and turn in the fastest steeplechase time in the country for high school girls this season. She pulled away from the field to cross the finish line in first with a time of 6:41.07, the current No. 1 time in the U.S.A.

“It was not a good race, the conditions were terrible, it was cold, I wasn’t warmed up, and it was not a good performance,” Wasserman said after receiving her championship statue. “I think I have a lot better in me.”

Wasserman entered the race as the defending Loucks Games champion in the event, but she had not had the chance to compete in the steeplechase event at all this spring. It is different from other distance races with hurdles and a water pit obstacle to deal with on the course.

And then the rains came down, fast and heavy, making it a slippery track as Wasserman and the field took off. She was second on the first lap heading into the water jump, but took the lead on the second lap and never looked back, finishing 11 seconds ahead of second-place finisher Anna Furman of Tri-Valley.

For Wasserman it was her second time as a Loucks Games champion after she won the steeplechase event last year. She adds another championship statue to her collection of awards, and she admits the Loucks Games are one of her favorite meets of the year. The Glenn D. Loucks Games attract the top track and field competitors from around the northeast each year as a total of 3,000 athletes competed in the three-day meet.

“I really wanted to win, I wanted to come back and defend my title,” Wasserman said of the Loucks Games. “I love this meet, it’s really special and I’ve been coming here since eighth grade, so this means a lot to me.”

She defended her title in less than ideal running conditions, and she was not the only one who feels she can do even better on a dry track in the weeks ahead.

“It was a good race for her first steeplechase of the year,” John Jay coach Dey Dey said of Wasserman. “I expect that from her, all the training she has done, steeplechase is different. She’s working hard and I know she can do better.”

John Jay had other varsity athletes compete at the Loucks Games, as senior Emma Barniv was 17th in the 3,000-meter race, with teammate Rylee Gaudron in 22nd. Mia Haimelin was 21st in the 800-meter race.

Sloan Wasserman on the podium with her Loucks Games championship trophy. Her winning time, 6:41.07, is the fastest in America this year. JIM MACLEAN PHOTO

A storied career

Hopefully, the Loucks Games title is a sign of good things to come for Wasserman as she wraps up her storied running career at John Jay before heading off to compete at Boston College next fall. She was the New York State Class B champion and led John Jay to the team title in cross country, won the New York state indoor 3,000-meter championship this winter, and now she hopes for a big finish at the New York state championships on June 13-14 up near Rochester and a chance to compete at nationals.

“It’s coming along, race by race and I hope everything comes together by the end of the season,” admitted Wasserman. “I plan to do the 3K and steeplechase at states. Hopefully, it’s not raining.”