Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 1984. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
The New York Times - December 16, 1984
William J. Miller
"We are not only the oldest, but until this year we were the largest high school indoor track event," said Ed Bowes, meet director. "Now a totally unfounded rumor decimated our entry for this meet and threatens its future. What a pity."
Bowes was referring to a report that AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome), the often-fatal disease, had been contracted by some of the homeless men who are housed in the huge drillshed on the Upper West Side.
The rumor had scared off about a third of the metropolitan area coaches, particularly those from high schools on Long Island. As a result, the meet, which last year had entries from 192 schools and 3,400 individuals, drew only 122 schools and 2,100 boys and girls yesterday.
Steele Wins 600
Among those who showed up yesterday, Kirk Young, Paul Steele and Chris Durant turned in good individual performances. Young, from Central High School, Seat Pleasant, Md., won the mile run in 4 minutes 19.5 sesconds; Steele, a senior at Prospect Heights, Brooklyn, was the winner of the 600-yard run in 1:15.4, and Durant, of Woodlands High School in Westchester, set a meet mark of 32.8 seconds in the 300-yard sophomore dash.
Durant's time was the same as that registered by Errington Lindo of Jefferson High in Brooklyn in winning the 300-yard varsity dash.
But it was the AIDS issue that dominated the meet. "There is absolutely no truth in the AIDS story," Bowes said. "Marty Lewis, the chairman of the Public Schools Athletic League track and field committee, checked with the New York City Department of Health and was told there had been no cases of AIDS reported from the Armory.
"A Health Department spokesman told Marty that if there had been any reports of AIDS, the Armory would have been shut down pronto."
Earlier in the week, Dr. David J. Sencer, the City Health Commissioner, denied that AIDS had been present in the Armory. "It's not a problem," he said, "you don't get AIDS by being around, or having casual contact with someone who has AIDS."
Long Tradition in Track
Indoor track and field meets have been staged at the armory since the 1920's. The city has been housing the homeless at the state armory, and other places in Manhattan, since 1982, moving the tenants out for several hours during the days on which meets are held.
The Loughlin Games is the sole survivor of the major intersectional meets that were staged in the armory for years, Bowes said. The other events, such as the St. Francis Prep, Cardinal Hayes and Iona meets, are no longer held.
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