The 22nd annual Marine Corps Holiday Classic has a long history of bringing the top regional track

& field student-athletes to The Armory New Balance Track & Field Center for the holiday season.

Photo by John Nepolitan.

NEW YORK, NY, Dec. 22, 2021 – The indoor track & field season is heating up for the

holidays, as more than a dozen meets have already been held at The Armory’s New Balance

Track & Field Center. Up next is one of the country’s largest and most prestigious invitationals

of the indoor season: the 22nd Annual Marine Corps Holiday Classic. The two-day Marine Corps Holiday

Classic is scheduled for Tuesday, December 28th and Wednesday, December 29th.

The Holiday Classic serves as a showcase for the United States Marine Corps, who will be

honored during Wednesday’s Opening Ceremony. This meet provides an opportunity for the

Marines to purposefully engage with high school student-athletes, and share leadership lessons

that will help enable future success In between events, athletes can test their strength in the

Marine Corps Pull-Up Challenge for the chance to win various prizes.

“We always look forward to being a part of the Marine Corps Holiday Classic. The opportunity

for Marines and athletes to share what they do with each other during this event is so special,”

said Captain Robert Zieser-Misenheimer, executive officer of Recruiting Station New York

“We are delighted to welcome back the United States Marine Corps Holiday Classic to The

Armory said Rita Finkel, Armory Foundation Co-President. “There is always a special energy

when the Marines are in the building, and we are counting on this being true again, for the 22nd

year in a row.”

Roughly 2,000 student-athletes are expected to take part in this year’s meet, making the Marine

Corps Holiday Classic one of the largest indoor events in the nation. Some of the country’s

premier student-athletes scheduled to compete include:

 Sanaa Hebron (Neshaminy, PA, US #3 at 400m)

 Micah Trusty (Friends Central, PA, US #2 at 800m)

 David Joseph (North Rockland, NY, US #3 at 55m hurdles)

 Jaavier Jackson (Cardinal Hayes, NY, US #3 at 300m).

The Marine Corps Holiday Classic also will honor five student-athletes with the Semper Fi

award.

“Semper Fi means always faithful,” said Armory Director of Track & Field Bassett Thompson.

“These student-athletes are members of their track teams that are coachable, reliable,

disciplined, and willing to step in when called upon in any way in order to aid in their team's

success.”

This year’s recipients of the Semper Fi award are Diana Campbell of Bronx High of Science;

Jabari Bacriffe of Mount Vernon High School; Alexandra Williams of Elmont Memorial High

School; Tori Daniels of Valley Stream South; and Steven Elcock of Baldwin High School.

Reserved seating is available for this exciting two-day spectacle. For full information about

seating, registration, schedules, live broadcast and more, please click HERE.

Follow The Armory on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @armorynyc. For more information

on all Armory Track events go to www.armorytrack.com and www.armory.nyc. You can follow

the Marines of New York on Instagram at @newyorkmarines or go to www.marines.com.

About The Armory Foundation

The Armory Foundation is a New York City non-profit institution, with the mission of Keeping

Kids on Track. Each season The Armory – the proud home of the Millrose Games – hosts more

than 100 track & field meets and welcomes more than 220,000 visits. Among its many youth

sports and educational programs, including the acclaimed Armory College Prep program, The

Armory runs the leading collegiate indoor track meets with the Dr. Sander Invitational Columbia

Challenge and the HBCU Showcase, and hosts the largest high school indoor track meets with

the U. S. Air Force Hispanic Games, The New Balance Games, New Balance Nationals Indoor,

the Energice Coaches Hall of Fame Invitational and Marine Corps Holiday Classic. New York

Road Runners is a proud sponsor of all athletic events at The Armory. The Armory runs the

Columbia & NewYork – Presbyterian Indoor Marathon Team Relay presented by New York

Road Runners, which is the world’s largest indoor marathon relay. The Armory is also the home

to the National Track & Field Hall of Fame and dozens of very large education-focused events.

For more: Please visit  Armory.NYC  and ArmoryTrack.com.

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