Junior Joe Spernyak is one of Liverpool's outstanding runners. Photo by George Clarke

The Liverpool Warriors indoor track program is doing BIG things this season, moving marks and running laps around sectional, state, and even national records.

The Warriors have a veteran core of senior studs running this year, led by the likes of Colin Savage, Chris Clemons and Alex Wilke. However, the addition of one sophomoric sensation has turned the Liverpool indoor track squad into a national power.

Sophomore Zavon Watkins has had a Wes Johnson-like impact on this team. And much like Wes, Watkins is having an impact on the national scene.

Watkins is the fastest sophomore in America – he owns the national sophomore record for the fastest 1000 meter with a time of 2 minutes and 27 seconds.

That’s no typo- THE NATIONAL RECORD belongs to our very own Liverpudlian Zavon Watkins.

On Febuary 6 and 7, the Warriors raced at the Collegiate Games at Armory Tracks in New York City. When Watkins ran the 1000 meter and broke the national sophomore record time, he also did something even more spectacular…

Watkins became the second fastest high school runner in the country at the 1000 meter. In an ironic  twist, the only high school runner in the country faster than Watkins raced against him over the weekend in NYC. Watkins finished the race in second place, despite setting the sophomore record.

According to Liverpool senior star Colin Savage, “(Watkins) was in the lead the whole race, he just didn’t have enough left in the tank to hold it. But hey, (Watkins) is doing great, he is literally the fastest sophomore ever in the nation. That is unbelievably impressive.”

The event that the Liverpool team collectively dominated in over the weekend was the 3200 meter relay, or “the four person relay.”

The Warriors are the defending outdoor state champs at the 3200 meter relay. In fact, the Warriors haven’t lost such a match since April 2009.

The key to the Warriors’ success is the great strength of their runners, and the impeccable order they chose to run the match in. The Warriors sent senior Chris Clemons to start the event, whose powerful running style allows the Warriors to steal a lead before the first pass.

The second runner, senior Alex Wilke, has a consistent yet devilishly fast approach, which advanced Clemons’ lead and gave Liverpool a qrealadvantage. Savage recieved the baton from Wilke and proceeded to run the fastest time yet, bringing the Warriors’ first place finish well within reach.

On top of the significant lead, the Warriors’ fourth runner, and closer, also happens to be Watkins, the “fastest sophomore in the nation.”

Liverpool won this race easily, continuing their chokehold on New York track and even earning the attention of national media.

“We know a lot of the attention nationally is because of Zavon, but we will certainly take it,” chuckles Savage, “I mean, when Nike offers to pay for the team’s future trips and sports gear, that’s a great thing for the team.”

What’s next? The Section III Championships began Febuary 9, and the Warriors are heavily favored to do well.

State qualifers begin in two weeks, and will be held at Cornell University. If the Warriors continue to run at this pace, they will qualify for the nationals in March, which will be hosted in Boston.