Since 1985, every decent distance runner to come out of Western New York has craved one thing — to leave as the Section VI record holder in the 3,200 meters. All had tried and failed, but not Scott Anderson.

The East Aurora senior passed high school’s ultimate test of endurance and human spirit at last weekend’s New York State Track and Field Championships in Cicero. He ran a gutsy 9:03.91 to break the record of 9:05.69 that had been held since 1985 by Ron Markezich of Williamsville North.

“He told me before the race, he goes, ‘Coach, I think I can run under nine [minutes],’ ” said East Aurora coach Walt McLaughlin. “I said ‘OK, let’s just do it smart.’ He ran a really smart race. He didn’t waste a lot of energy battling guys. He ran with a lot of tact. He’s a talented kid.”

You could say the about many of the athletes who represented Western New York at the two-day event. WNY runners took an impressive 21 state titles, surpassing the 20 they won the last time Cicero hosted the meet in 2005. The long-standing record in the 3,200 was just one of six Section VI records that were broken.

Sophomore Ashley Fields has her name attached to three of those marks. The sprinter from Amherst is the new record holder in the 100, 200 and, along with Katie Gross, Rebekah Carson and Allison Rogers, in the 4x100 relay. Her coach, Dan Tryon, can’t help but compare her with another elite athlete he coached at Amherst— Mark Rubin (2003). After a record-breaking career in swimming and football, Rubin went on to play football at Penn State.

“Those kids can do anything. Mark was an All-American swimmer and just a very bright kid,” said Tryon. “Along with their athletic abilities, it’s their personalities too. She’s so humble. She getting so many awards and accolades. She just goes about her business, and you don’t even have to think twice about the type of person she is.”

Around the tracks

It was inspiring to see the world leader in the women’s pole vault at the meet on Friday. Fredonia graduate Jen Stuczynski, who has cleared 15 feet, 10 inches, was there with her coach Rick Suhr. “From the time I started you had pride in your school. It was Fredonia, then it’s Section VI, then it’s New York State, then it’s USA. It’s amazing where things have come from, but the feeling is still the same,” she said.

Section VI bids farewell to a crop of distance runners whom coaches knew as freshmen would leave their mark. Besides Anderson, who is off to Edinboro, Joe Whelan of Hamburg will run for Syracuse next fall, Evan Tsembelis of Grand Island will attend Columbia and Jordan Hamm of Canisius is signed with Boston College. “Those kids will make an immediate impact on their universities, no doubt,” said JFK coach Pete Szymanski. . . . The University at Buffalo is thrilled to be getting hurdler Will Cole of Hamburg, sprinter/jumper Brian Archie of Niagara Falls and shot put/discus thrower Erin Miller of Lockport.

Melissa Kurzdorfer of Lancaster has now won the state and Federation titles in the shot put and discus in back-to-back years.

Rhakeem Wiggins of Cleveland Hill will head off to a football career at Albany as the state track champion in the 200 meters and the 4x100 relay.

There was some serious speed at this state meet. In the boys 4x800 relay, an amazing 11 teams finished in under eight minutes.