By Christopher Hunt
photos by Derek Alvez
Her coach Eric Schwark didn’t just ask her if she felt good. He asked if she felt “dominant.”
She said yes. Carmel’s Kristin Reese felt dominant. And she showed it. The cold she struggled with finally dissipated. Reese could breathe now.
So Reese didn’t hesitate when she took over the 1,000 meters after two lap and a half laps. Her stride was steady and powerful like the current of a steam of water. This was the Kristin Reese people had been waiting to see all season. It was the Kristin Reese that, well, Kristin Reese has been waiting to see all season.
She won the 1,000 at the Molloy Stanner Games in 2 minutes, 53.50 seconds, the 2nd-fastest time in the United States this season.
“It’s feels so good to win one,” the senior said. “My last two races have been a little disappointing.”
In her season debut , Roslyn’s Emily Lipari outkicked Reese in the 3,200 at Bishop Loughlin. Reese finished in 10:49.31. Then, still feeling the effects of a severe cold, Reese crumbled during the mile at Hispanic Games and finished in 5:19.21.
“I felt the cold on Sunday (before the Hispanic Games),” she said. “Then on the Monday I woke up feeling just horrible. (Before the race) I felt OK. I felt recovered. At least I thought so.”
Reese didn’t doubt her fitness in the meantime but there’s nothing wrong with some reassurance.
“I just wanted to prove to myself that I didn’t lose anything,” she said.
Hannah Davidson of Saratoga Springs tried to assert the same type of control during the girls invitational mile. The senior, who committed to Providence last month, took the lead from the start. Suffern’s Shelby Greany latched on to her right shoulder with Heather Stephens of Ridgefield (Conn.) in tow. Davidson kept pounding and Greany kept following until Davidson started lag slightly at the bell lap. Greany inched next to her then zipped by just before the back straightaway. Davidson gave chase, covering the surge that Greany dropped with 150 left. She swallowed Greany just steps before the finish, winning in a personal –best 4:55.05, the fastest time in the nation this season. Greany was second in 4:55.54, the second-fastest time in the country. “I had a good race at Brown (second in the mile, 4:58.48) and I wanted to see if I could come here and run fast,” Davidson said. “Me and Shelby kind of got out together and but she dropped back and settled in behind.” Davidson said she didn’t want to lead the race but accepted the responsibility of holding the pace. She said she didn’t think she had an extra gear to catch Greany but never felt like the race was out of reach. “She did the same thing to me last year,” Davidson said of Greany, remembering last year’s Stanner Games, when Greany finished second and Davidson third. “I just knew that I couldn’t let her get too far ahead.” Danbury senior Parker Boudreau took the same approach as Davidson and Reese in the boys 1,000. But no one could match Boudreau’s tempo and he continued pulling away each lap. He finished in a nation-leading personal-best of 2:28.93. Boudreau struggled at the Hispanic Games last week, finishing the 800 in 1:58.75. He went through his first 800 meters of the 1,000 in 1:59 today. “I figured I was going to have to get out fast so I don’t get boxed in,” he said. “That’s what happened to me last week. I got boxed in a lot and never got out. I’m just really pleased to come back and run this well.” Boudreau had to be encouraged for his chances to qualify for the high school mile at the Millrose Games Feb. 1. He plans to run the mile at the Yale Invitational next week to qualify. She said she mostly wanted to exact revenge for finishing second to McCurdy in the 800 at the Hispanic Games. “It felt good,” she said. “I was just determined to beat her this time. … If I knew she was behind me I would have went earlier but she came up on me and I knew it was time to go.” Brian McGovern of Mount St. Michael extended his undefeated streak at the Armory, winning the pole vault in a meet record 15-5. Boys & Girls senior Nadonnia Rodriquez won the 300 in 38.75 and Khaliff Featherstone of Simon Gratz won the boys 600 in 1:20.67.
Charlene Lipsey of Hempstead continued as one of the most impressive newcomers of the season. The junior won the girls 600 in 1:32.81, the second-fastest time in the country so far and a meet record. Lipsey has shown spectacular speed in both the 400 and 800. She was in third with 200 left but when Bay Shore’s Sarah McCurdy crept up to her shoulder, Lipsey made a move that buried the field with 150 remaining.
Reach Christopher Hunt at chunt@armorytrack.com.
photos by Derek Alvez
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