Fordham Prep squeezes win in 4x800
By Christopher Hunt
WARWICK – In just a few words, Warwick Valley’s Lillian Greibesland explained the entire meet and the reason everyone showed up.
“Magic happens here,” she said. “I can’t explain it.”
Whatever the reason, without fail, year after year, in front of a small crowd, teams produce dynamic performances on a warm night, while the sun falls at Warwick Valley High at the Lenox/Warwick Fast Times Relays.
First, Kristen Janos (2:19.0), Greibesland (2:09.3), Claire Pettit (2:13.2) and Tori Pennings (2:13.2) crushed the 4x800 relay field by 10 seconds, winning in 8:55.61, a school record and the second fastest time in the country this season. Lenape (N.J.) and Valley Central attempted to take over the race on the first leg but Janos left enough room for Greibesland to work.
“I’m more of a hunter,” Greibesland said.
In a flurry of legs, Greibesland zoomed down the backstretch and before long she owned a 10-meter lead. What was meant to be a tight race transformed into a race for second. Warwick is one of two teams to break nine minutes this season. The time is the 11th fastest in United States history.
“We just wanted to put everything out there,” she said.
If they did put out everything, they did it twice. The same group returned to win the 4x400 and break another school record. Pennings (59.9), Greibesland (57.3), Petit (56.4) and Janos (57.5) won in 3:51.48.
“We just wanted to run fast,” Janos said. “It’s called Fast Times for a reason.”
While Warwick dominated both relays, the boys 4x800 could have just as easily been the state championship final. Somers sprinted out to a giant lead for two legs until the field, bunched tightly behind engulfed the leader and the lead shuffling began.
Michael Elnick of Kellenberg captured the lead with 200 left with Fordham Prep’s Mike Jennings pressed on his shoulder and Michael Schieck of Chaminade charging. Elnick and Scheick had both done plenty work to get in striking position but the three of them mashed the accelerator coming off the turn. That’s when Jennings pulled ahead.
“Once Kellenberg passed me I got a little nervous,” Jennings said. “I started to die but I knew that he had to do a lot just to catch up to me so I just sat on him. It’s just awesome to win against teams like this.”
Actually, the top five finishers were from the CHSAA. Fordham Prep’s Zach Keefer (1:59.0), Carlos Petrovich (1:56.2), Harley Griffiths (1:57.7) and Jennings (1:53.9) won in 7:47.35, the fastest time in the state this season. Chaminade finished second in 7:47.79, Kellenberg third in 7:47.83, Farrell fourth (7:51.43) and Iona Prep fifth (7:51.58).
Brian McGovern of the CHSAA’s Mount St. Michael broke the meet record in the pole vault, clearning 16 feet on his third attempt at nearly 11 p.m. with roughly 40 people left in attendance. He admitted that he rushed through his attempts, knowing it was late. But he did have one close attempt at a state record on his third attempt at 16-6.
Port Jervis junior Sydnie LeRoy topped a meet record as well in the girls pole vault. She cleared a personal best 12-4. She said the placement of the runway, right in front of the bleachers on the home straightaway helped drive her.
“I felt good today,” she said. “Everything just felt good and the crowd was great. This is like, perfect for premiering the pole vault.”
Arlington’s Sean Reilly continued his stranglehold on the high jump. He cleared 6-7 to win but said he felt slow on his approach.
“It’s kind of hard to change things when you get that high,” he said. “I’m trying to clear 6-9 by the end of the season.”
Ramapo, after losing a 4x100 relay for the first time in over a month Saturday at the Reebok Grand Prix, won the event in 42.45 Monday with Shaquan Belizare, Nick Padilla, Mike Abelard and Kevin Malivert.
“We were aiming for faster,” Padilla said. “(Saturday) was disappointed but we know that we just have to come back stronger at states.”
Ramapo finished third at Reebok behind Jamaica’s Calabar and Sheepshead Bay of Brooklyn, the only New York school to have run faster than them this season. Ryan Whitley, Abelard, Chidi Ezemma and Dozie Ezemma also won the 4x400 relay in 3:18.08.
Reach Christopher Hunt at chunt@armorytrack.com.