From AYF Olympics 2012 Special Issue
BOSTON, Mass.—It was an all Greater Boston finish in the pentathlon this year as Vigen Sarkisov and Nairi Krafian brought home their first titles with clear-cut conquests, scoring 2,560 and 2,080 points, respectively.
Each athlete prevailed in four of the five events and gave notice of what appears a long and illustrious skein to follow.
Sarkisov, a former Soviet citizen with three-quarters Armenian blood, captured the shot-put (38’9 ¾”), discus (98’1/2”), 200 meters (24.3), and long jump (19’11”). By the time he reached the 1,600, the matter was settled. All he had to do was finish—and he coasted. Two relay races were waiting his services. As it turned out, Greater Boston won both.
Krafian, a highly touted athlete, with sister Araxi took care of matters at her end for her Boston teammates. No way was this going to escape her grasp after the training and hard work she put in this summer. Araxi prevailed last year with 1,803 points. The sisters are coached by their dad, Ara, an Olympic King this year.
The 17-year-old Nairi captured the long jump (14’4”), high jump (4’4”), 200 (28.2), and 800 (3:03). The shot-put did her no favors at 21’7”.
In all, three women vied for the title with the remaining two well off the mark at 1,220 and 1,144 points.
Sarkisov, meanwhile, was pushed by Detroit’s Ara Markarian (2,268) and Philly’s Aram Keshgegian (2,171). The men’s ledger featured six competitors in all.
Despite their victories, the two champions were a distance away from the record. The women’s standard is held by Allison Aylaian (Boston) with 3,256 points. Leo Kashian (Boston) holds the men’s mark at 3,178 points.
Vigen Sarkisov
This 20-year-old first-time Olympian hails from a town in southern Russia called Rostov on Don. And he’s proud of his Russian-Armenian roots, having immigrated here 17 years ago.
Both his parents were gymnasts while the 6-‘2”, 205-pounder opted to play basketball and soccer. In reality, his best sport is track, as proven. He graduated from Belmont High in 2009 as a two-sport athlete and made the honor roll his junior and senior years.
He’s now a senior at UMass Boston, majoring in psychology with a pre-med background. An aspiring career as a pediatrician awaits him. An internship at Boston Children’s Hospital last year went very well.
The reason he nixed plans to compete in Chicago last year was a family commitment. His sister got married in Armenia and that’s where he was. As for the pent, that, too, was haphazard.
“My chapter guided me into the event,” he said. “Ara’s trust and belief in me helped me succeed. We trained for a month together. He never pushed me and knew where to draw the line. He thought I could win it last year.”
On hand to cheer him on were his parents, siblings, and other relatives. Vigen had a regular cheering section going in his corner.
“The Olympics proved to me that I can be a gold medalist with the right work ethic and coaching,” he pointed out. “You can achieve anything if you put your mind to it and give your best. I hope to be around for the next six years.”
Nairi Krafian
A year ago, sister Araxi took this event but decided to venture back to the individual events, particularly the dashes, where she excelled with golds in the 50 and 100. The pent title was kept in the Krafian family and it appears ingrained for years to come.
Two other sisters are waiting in transit, Anoush, 13, and Knar, 9, both gifted runners. The chances of them forming their own relay quartet was inevitable, even though Araxi turns 25 in 6 years. If all goes well, she’ll have two years remaining.
“We’d love to be around to see that moment,” rejoiced their grandparents, Ned and Araxi Apigian.
In the meantime, the older sisters will enjoy their moment of glory.
Nairi is a junior at Belmont High, runs track there, presides over the Armenian Club, plays soccer and basketball, and enjoys science and math. With little time on her hands, she’d like to join the Sayat Nova Dance Company.
“With three girls in the pent, it was nice knowing you were going to medal,” she confessed. “It made us relax a little but I had to give it my very best.”
After finishing last in the shot-put, an ordinary athlete would have been demoralized. But Nairi persevered. She ran two victories and did the same in two other field events. No doubt, the experience she gained as a junior paid dividends.
Still, it was no cakewalk for the youngster. After the pent, three relays were at her beckoning call—and Greater Boston won them all.
A year ago as a 16-year-old, Nairi won the 200 and was second in the long jump and triple jump for 11 points. The pent was a natural progression, given the girl’s athletic prowess.
“It’s great competing for a chapter in which my dad competed and now coaches,” she confirmed. “My mom [Heather] competed for Detroit and overcame a lot of obstacles these past few years with illness and everything. They’ve been an inspiration to me.”
Tom Vartabedian
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