“Around the Oval’’
RAMS’ SALISBURY FINISHES 3rd IN
PREFONTAINE CLASSIC PREP MILE
His time currently No. 5 in U.S.
By BOB LEDDY (TAFWA)
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
30 May – – La Salle junior distance ace Jack Salisbury finished third on Friday night at the Prefontaine Classic track meet’s mile run for prep athletes at Hayward Field, Eugene, Ore. He clocked a strong, and personal-record, 4 minutes 6.74 seconds (= 3:48.2 @ 1500m) in a field of 11 of the country’s top runners. Salisbury’s clocking ranks him fifth nationally for the imperial mile.
“He’s very happy with that,’’ said Ram assistant track coach Bill Myers of Salisbury’s effort. “He looked relaxed.’’
The winner was Carlos Villarreal, a senior from Rio Rico, Arizona in 4:05.25.
The race was run in perfect weather conditions, before a sold-out crown at Hayward, located on the University of Oregon campus. Temperatures were in the mid-60s.
“A rabbit went out in 2:03 for the first 800 meters,’’ Myers said. “Then, with about 150 [meters] to go, Jack put on the burners. He went from sixth to third.
“He went to the track [Friday] morning and did his work-outs, came to the track [Friday night] and got down to business.’’
Placing second in the mile run was Mike Brannigan, a senior from Northport, N.Y. in 4:05.78. Adam Barnard, a junior from Johnson City, Tenn., hit the tape in fourth behind Salisbury with a time of 4:07.18.