Port Jeff Athlete Runs into the Record Books

Earl L. Vandermeulen High School’s James Burke not only won the 1,000-meter race at the Malloy Stanner Games at the Armory in Manhattan on Jan. 17, but his race time of 2 minutes and 26.75 seconds broke the Long Island record of 2:27.39, which was set last season.

This is not Burke’s first win or even first broken record. During his running career, he has broken the high school’s record for the 1,000, 800 and 600-meter races and earned several championship titles on the National, State and County levels.

“Breaking records is awesome, but winning a title is equally as awesome since records can be broken, but title’s can’t be taken away,” said Burke, who has his sights set on continuing his running streak through the end of the season.

With six out of six wins so far this season, Burke, who has been running since the fifth-grade, now faces several more championship races with expectations to once again compete in the nationals.

Photo Caption: James Burke, of Port Jefferson, broke a Long Island’s 1,000-meter race record on Jan. 17.

Photo courtesy of the Port Jefferson School District