InternationalPhiladelphia dominates AYF Olympics on home turf
Published: Friday September 17, 2010
Justine Douvadjian (Providence) and Sylvia Zohrabian (Philadelphia) raced to the finish (left) and Stephen Tutunjian (Providence) broke a 52-year-old AYF record. Tom Vartabedian
Philadelphia - Records were broken at the 77th annual AYF Olympics over Labor Day Weekend in this city of brotherly love.
Philadelphia rebounded from last year's defeat to capture its fourth championship in five years with an all-time high of 2961/2 points.
The Sebouhs easily outdistanced a field of nine other teams, including defending champion Providence which pulled up with 119 points in the runnerup spot.
The champs erupted for 81 points in the pool Friday night, carrying an insurmountable lead into Sunday's track and field events.
Individualy, Providence superstar Stephen Tutunjian became the first athlete in AYF history to break two records. One came in the long jump with a leap of 22'1" to eclipse Leo Derderian's 52-year-old record. Tutunjian also topped his own mark in the triple jump by clearing 46'5".
Another record was broken in the discus, thanks to Philly's Emanuel Mkrtchian, who tossed 150'2".
Both Tutunjian and Mkrtchian were among eight athletes to share individual scoring honors with three victories apiece.
New Jersey won its first softball title ever by toppling Providence in the final game, 22-9. The Arsens were also selected as the Most Improved Chapter.
In all, 200 athletes took part in the games, the largest number in recent years, as crowds turned out for the social events at the Marriott downtown. Sunday's Olympic Ball drew some 1,800 guests, following another 1,200 Saturday night. Friday's alumni gathering had 800 attendees. Monday's picnic capped the festivities with another decent turnout.
Sharing the honor as Olympic queens were community activists Virginia Tourigian and Ann Papazian while Steve Dulgarian of Chelmsford, MA, was presented the Varadian Spirit Award for his dedicated efforts in Merrimack Valley.
The AYF Olympics will move to Chicago next year, followed by Boston in 2012 if arrangements can be met.
77th annual AYF Olympics standings
1. Philadelphia --- 296 ½
2. Providence --- 119
3. Detroit --- 68
4. Greater Boston --- 57
5. New Jersey --- 40
6. Granite City --- 27
7. Chicago --- 2
8. North Andover --- 1 ½
9. New York --- 0
10. Racine --- 0
Most Improved Chapter: New Jersey
Softball champion: New Jersey
Women's High Scorers (15 points)
Michelle Hagopian (Granite City), golf, baseball throw, discus
Lara Kaiserian (Philadelphia), 50-yard breaststroke, 50 and 100-yard freestyles
Angela Soorikian (Philadelphia), 50, 100, 200 meters
Sylvia Zohrabian (Philadelphia), 25-yard butterfly, 50-yard backstroke, 400-meter run
Men's High Scorers (15 points)
Andrew Hintlian (Providence), 800, 1600, 3200 meters
Michael Kaiserian (Philadelphia), 50-yard backstroke, 50-yard freestyle, 100-yard freestyle
Emanuel Mkrtchchian (Philadelphia), discus, shotput, javelin
Stephen Tutunjian (Providence), long jump, high jump, triple jump
Women's Pentathlon
1. Justine Douvadjian (Providence) --- 2,795 points
2. Karine Birazian-Shnorhokian (New Jersey) --- 2,482 points
3. Araxi Krafian (Greater Boston) --- 2,195 points
4. Julie Miller (Philadelphia) --- 2,096 points
Men's Pentathlon
1. Mardiros Khatchadrian (Philadelphia) --- 2,177 points
2. Aram Gregoryan (Philadelphia) --- 1,918 points
3. Aurelian Mardirosian (Greater Boston) --- 1,546 points
4. Armen Topouzian (Detroit) --- 1,429 points
Outstanding Records
Stephen Tutunjian (Providence), long jump (22'1")
Stephen Tutunjian (Providence), triple jump (46'5")
Emanuel Mkrtchian (Philadelphia), discus (150'2")
Ernest Nahigian Sportsmanship Award
Ani Megerdichian (Providence)
Cory Tosoian Alumni Golf Award
Jeff Hagopian (Granite City), 81
Women's Track and field results
Baseball throw
1. Michelle Hagopian (Granite City) - 159'4"
2. Sareen Bagdasarian (Detroit) - 134'9"
3. Victoria Sudjian (Philadelphia) - 127'6"
4. Taylor Nedurian (Philadelphia) - 127'2"
Women's discus
1. Michelle Hagopian (Granite City) - 96'6"
2. Ani Sarajian (New Jersey) - 79'0"
3. Tiffany Youssef (Philadelphia) - 78'5"
4. Megan Hagopian (Granite City) - 75'5"
Women's javelin
1. Alexis Williams (Philadelphia) - 72'7"
2. Tiffany Youssef (Philadelphia) - 66'2"
3. Lorig Stepanian (Philadelphia) - 62'9"
4. Ani Sarajian (New Jersey) - 56'11"
Women's high jump
1. Sara Selverian (Philadelphia) - 4'4"
2. Alyssa Soorikian (Philadelphia) - 4'4"
3. Victoria Sudjian (Philadelphia) - 4'0"
4. Tiffany Youssef (Philadelphia)/Sylvahna Menissian (Providence) - 3'10"
Women's long jump
1. Alyssa Soorikian (Philadelphia) - 13'8¼"
2. Sara Selverian (Philadelphia) - 13'4"
3. Melanie Markarian (Detroit) - 12'5½"
4. Sonig Varadian (Providence) - 12'2½"
Women's shotput
1. Ani Sarajian (New Jersey) - 27'5½"
2. Megan Hagopian (Granite City) - 27'1"
3. Ani Hagopian (Detroit) - 25'1½"
4. Abbie Bass (Philadelphia) - 24'10½"
Women's triple jump
1. Alyssa Soorikian (Philadelphia) - 30'6"
2. Sara Selverian (Philadelphia) - 29'1½"
3. Sonig Varadian (Providence) - 28'2½"
4. Melanie Markarian (Detroit) - 24'10"
Women's 50-meter dash
1. Angela Soorikian (Philadelphia) - 7.3
2. Nina Shahikian (Philadelphia) - 7.7
3. Lia Arakelian (Philadelphia) - 7.7
4. Christa Douvadjian (Providence) - 8.0
