What a meet. What a meet. Would have been a great one to get on youtube, but alas, alas. I’m going to take this one by order of events because I don’t know how else to pace myself.
Before I roll, are you not entertained?!? Every event, track or field, boys or girls, stuff is happening. All-Time performances everywhere we look. If you’re new to the spectacle, I humbly encourage you to grab some heat sheets, load up the battle notes from nh.staterunning.net and the record sheets from paxctrack.com and just pick something and watch the PRs roll in. Your athletes are killin’ it. So many good stories.
Gabby Beddard blows into career PR territory in the 3000m, finishing first in 10:30.27 and earning the US #84 tag. She improves her No. 4 All-Time position but moves up on the senior list to No. 2, passing Megan Cross ’20.
NEW SCHOOL RECORD!
Jason Robie must have led from the gun to win by a minute; running a school record time like that takes serious effort. 8:42.31, US #17! And what a record! Jason, you broke a Matt Downin record. Matt freaking Downin. National High School XC champion. Our most decorated post-secondary track and field athlete, with two Big 10 XC championships and twice finishing 4th at NCAA Nationals. That’s the context. THAT’S the former record holder, over 30 years ago, that Jason broke by FIVE. SECONDS.
Hey, Demitro Rufo, the 3rd of the flying Rufos? His 9:40.53 PR is No. 7 on the frosh list, faster than Joe Gustavson’s and just 3 seconds from Jason Robie’s. They turned out ok.
In the girls HH, Abby Stienecker got her first sub-9.00 time in the trials, and then went way under to win the finals at 8.80. She strengthens her hold on No. 8 All-Time but pushes into the junior list at No. 3. Mollie Wheale put in a fin 9.16 PR in the trials — what a squad.
John Child duplicated his electric 7.64 he attained at the Reggie last week. Quality.
Nora Brayall dropped double 7.51s in the 55m to take the win. Ashley Morrison? She’s starting to approach the same times a freshman Nora attained, so this will be fun.
The boys 55m depth and high-end talent is yet another must-watch event. The flooded the final of 8 with 5 Astros, all on or past the PRs. New bests for Elijah Roberts, Hanna, and Hewes.
NEW SCHOOL RECORD!!
Joe Gustsavson wasn’t even on the Top 10 list yet. I know, opportunities, but still. STILL. He goes by aaaaallllll the names and straight to the top with his winning 2:32.76 at US #38. That last name he flew by was Chris Poggi ’13. Same treatment: Chris freaking Poggi. I remember writing that he was ranked Top 10 in the *state* in everything from the 300m to the 3000m. The first sub-50 400m Astro and multiple records. Again, I know it’s weird to talk about the other guy but it isn’t just some list that Joe is at the top of, it’s this kind of talent that he has surpassed.
Sometimes game has to recognize game, even when it isn’t yours. Bedford’s Mikita Bary dropped a US #26 1:36.46 in the 600m. <low whistle>
The boys weren’t done taking shots at the 1500m, where Jason Robie (4:14.76 US #90) was chased in by Trainer Mailloux (4:15.74 US #95).
Off the track, Ryan Robinson got over 6 ft in HJ for the first time and Thomas Blaszka put the shot over 50 ft again. Mollie Wheale and freshman Ella Kubat cleared 4-10 in the HJ, which means they were taking shots at 5-0. Mollie, pleeeeeaaase come to outdoor track so we can see you in the heptathlon.
New PRs:
