BOYS
Warwick Valley (NY) and Old Bridge (NJ) had run 10:20, St. Benedict’s (NJ) and Glastonbury (Conn) 10:23, and then there were threats looming from another Connecticut team, Danbury, and other Jersey teams, St. Benedict’s Prep and Colts Neck. The biggest danger was the Colts Neck anchor, Craig Forys, who ran 4:09 on this track a year ago in the mile.
The contenders were in it right away, with Matt Frawley of Monsignor Farrell pushing the pace along with surprising Gloucester, Maine. Glastonbury took the lead at the first exchange in 3:04.6, followed by Gloucester (3:05.6), Farrell and Old Bridge. Colts Neck had faded all the way to 3:14.6.
Glastonbury stubbornly clung to the lead through the 400, under pressure from Old Bridge’s 48.5 leg, with CN slipping further back after a 51.8. Old Bridge made up the remaining gap with 1:56.9 in the 800, Glastonbury 2:00, Colts Neck 2:06, giving Forys, 150 meters behind, no chance.
That didn’t mean it wasn’t dramatic, however. Forys had plenty of runners to chase, so he roared through 59.3/2:01.7/3:03.5, passing most of the field, while up at the front, Glastonbury pulled away from Old Bridge, eventually winning in 10:08.49, #4 all-time. Old Bridge ran 10:15.84, and in the closing strides Brandon Jarrett repassed Forys to get 2nd for St. Benedict’s, 10:18.34-10:18.56. Forys split 4:05.9.
GIRLS
Bay Shore won a spirited race from two other New York teams and one from Rhode Island. The first five teams broke 12:00, and Bay Shore ran 11:48.54 to take the national lead from Southern Regional (NJ), which had run 11:49 here at the Eastern States.
Sarah McCurdy set the tone right away with a front-running 1,200 in 3:32.8. Warwick Valley’s freshman Lillian Greibesland was in it with 3:35, and when Claire Pettit ran 56.9, Warwick was at the front along with LaSalle Academy (RI) and Bay Shore.
Kristen Peluso split 2:19 to keep Warwick Valley in front, with Tori Pennings set up for the anchor against Callie Hogan of Bay Shore.
Pennings and Hogan were back and forth until Pennings abruply faded, but just as suddenly here came Jeanne Mack of LaSalle, Kristin Reese of Carmel and Meaghan Gregory of Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake.
Gregory had the best closing speed, bringing BHBL in 2nd with 11:51.74. Mack, the Rhode Island state 1,500 champion, finished in 4:54.8, as LaSalle ran 11:52.95, a New England record. Hogan split 4:54.0, Reese 4:52.3. Glastonbury (Conn) was the 5th team under 12:00, with 11:59.63, and Pope John XXIII (NJ) just missed with 12:00.53. Eleven teams ran 12:10 or faster.
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