Anchor Salisbury overtaken by Loudoun Valley’s Hunter
By BOB LEDDY (TAFWA)
R.I. Track & Field Foundation
30 April – – In a true gut-wrenching fashion, the La Salle boys’ distance medley relay placed second to a quartet from Loudoun Valley High, of Purcellville, Va. by a margin of a thousandth of a second on Friday evening at the Penn Relays, Franklin Field, Philadelphia. The Rams were officially clocked in 10:00.004, to Loudoun Valley’s 10:00.003. Nevertheless, La Salle’s time is a new R.I. state record, eclipsing a seven-year-old mark of 10:01.13, posted by a Westerly team.
Last year at Penn, the Ram DMR of Salisbury, Bouthillette, Cam Morenzi and Dan Paiva each took home the meet’s coveted wristwatch prize for winning the event; they clocked 10:12.10. “Our plan [this year] was to defend the title,’’ said La Salle coach Vin McGinn. “It was a great race, but a tough loss to take; the guys are disappointed. But Loudoun Valley was gracious.’’
This year’s Ram contingent at Penn consisted of junior David “DJ’’ Principe and seniors Dave Medeiros, Bouthillette and Salisbury. The Rams wasted no time in establishing themselves, as Principe banged out a 3:01.20 1200-meter lead-off split, the fifth-fastest lead-off DMR leg on Penn Reays legers. Medeiros’ 53.46 split for 400 meters was enhanced by an amazing 800-meter performance by Georgetown University-bound Bouthillette. The Rams’ No. 3 went 1:55.59. “Matt came through big-time,’’ Mc Ginn said.
The race was then in the hands (or more to the point, on the legs) of Jack Salisbury – who will also enroll this fall at Georgetown. The rangy distance man took the baton for the final 1600 meters, in front of Loudoun Valley senior anchor Drew Hunter Hunter made up a 70-yard deficit to hit the tape simultaneously at Salisbury’s right; both runner’s right foot planted on the line at the same instant. As such, the meet’s automatic timing system had to be read out to the 1 1/1000th of a second to decide the winner.
“The guys were motivated,’’ Coach Mc Ginn said. “They exceeded our expectations. We were actually much better that we were last year.’’
Oval Notes: La Salle’s DMR time is currently No. 2 in the United States, and the third-ranked all New England clocking. Among Penn Relays finishes, the Rams’ time is No. 5 all time . . . Loudoun Valley’s Hunter, who will attend the University of Oregon in the fall, has a pair of sub-4-minute indoor times to his credit, one standing as a new U.S. prep record (3:57.81 clocked at this year’s Millrose Games) . . . The next major meet will be the annual Schomp Invitational, to be held on 7 May at the Chariho High School track. The Schomp is the only co-ed event held in advance of the 4 June State Championship.
R.I. GIRLS’ PENN RELAYS RESULTS
4×100 – 7 (H4), Central 52.14.
4×400 – 5, Hope 4:10.72.
DMR- 9, La Salle 12:10.52.
R.I. BOYS’ PENN RELAYS RESULTS
3000 – 23, CJ Berg, MSC 9:11.58.
Mile – 16, Sean Laverty, Cumb. 4:26.92 (= 4:07.2 @ 1500m).
4×400 – 10, Hendricken 3:29.88.
4×800 – 17, Hendricken 8:19.39.
DMR (@ 4000m) – 2, La Salle (Principe, Medeiros, Bouthilette, Salisbury) 10:00.004 (SR. OR: 10:01.13, Westerly, 2009).