Far East track off to a record-breaking start

Noah Takato anchors St. Mary’s 3,200 relay team to a Far East meet record performance. (Photo by Dave Ornauer/Stars and Stripes)

MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan – No sooner did the Far East meet begin that a sprinter from host Matthew C. Perry just missed topping the 7-year-old meet record in the sports’ premier speed event.

Jeremiah Wardrobe, a Samurai senior, charged through the preliminary round of the 100-meter dash in 10.78 seconds – just .01 seconds off the meet record set seven years ago by Tevijon Williams of Humphreys.

That performance came just minutes after St. Mary’s foursome broke the boys 3,200 relay record, also set in 2019.

Wardrobe said he believes the best might be yet to come in Tuesday’s final. “I’ll be ready for the moment,” he said. Wardrobe also posted the top time in the 200 prelims (22.36) and leaped to a first-place finish in the long jump (6.31 meters).