DyeStat


The Internet Home of Track & Field




100th Millrose Games

High School Mile Previews

By Steve Underwood

Much like last week’s races at Boston, the fields for this week’s 100th Millrose Games High School Miles reveal two things: A race with a very strong favorite, and another that features several strong contenders.

The challengers will be different and probably tougher this time, but defending champion Danielle Tauro, who first really hit the national spotlight here a year ago, is still is the runner to beat in the Girls High School Mile. The girls field, with a few exceptions, will be more regionalized that the Boston meet. The Boys High School Mile, however, is completely a Northeastern affair. Still, led by slight favorite Steve Murdock, it should be one of the best indoor miles in the country this year.

 

Boys Preview - Girls Preview

 

Girls Mile: Price and McGee Could Push Tauro The Hardest


This is where it all started for Danielle Tauro last year. She made a stunning come-from-behind run a year ago at the Millrose Girls High School Mile for a 4:51.89 victory, 3rd best ever in that race, that started a string of victories in many of the country’s major miles or 1500s – including Penn, NON, and USATF Juniors. This winter she has wins in fast (New Balance, 4:46.13) and strategic/kickers (Boston, 4:52.20) situations. Will the streak continue Friday?

One of Tauro’s major challengers will be familiar, another will be a first-time opponent on the track. Two weeks ago, Tauro ran away from Easton PA jr Chanelle Price in the final two laps of their mile race, but at least as many eyes popped out at Price’s performance. Her US#2 4:50.65 was a PR by 8 seconds and, for someone known an 800 runner – well, famous as an 800 runner – it was truly notable.

Chanelle emerged as the top 800 runner in the country as a soph, winning NON, finishing as the highest prep at USATF Juniors (3rd overall, 2:06.23 PR), and winning USATF JOs. With her 2:08.76 in December, she showed she is better than ever, and has now made clear that the range she has from the 400 to cross-country is top national-class in at least two championship events. Depending how the race unfolds and if she improves her game, she could give Tauro quite a battle.

The other most intriguing challenger is Cory McGee, the Pass Christian MS freshman who won so impressively last year at the NSIC mile in 4:49.xx. She also qualified for FL Finals last fall, taking 5th at FL South, then 15th in San Diego. That followed a spring that saw her deal with recovery from mono.

Her NSIC mile remains McGee’s most impressive performance. She won a few low-key races so far this winter, pointing toward this race. She’s not the type of runner who will normally let a pace lag, so she should make things interesting.

The rest of the field includes runners who have starred on the indoor circuit in the Northeast this year, including others who competed either in the New Balance and/or Boston meets.

Racing really well recently, of course, has also been Tauro’s teammate, soph Jillian Smith. She was a strong 2nd last weekend in Boston (4:53.58), following a 3rd behind Price and Tauro in New York.

New Yorkers Brittany Sheffey, Caroline King, Callie Hogan, Kristin Reese, and Suejin Ahn are pretty closely matched after that, along with Colleen Weatherbee of MA. Weatherbee, a Dennis-Yarmouth sr, certainly has good memories of this meet, as she was a super 2nd last year in 4:52.78. Her time and place last week (5:00.14/8th) shows she’s not back in top form just yet.

Sheffey, the Bellport sr, was the US leader at 4:54.09y off her Stanner Games win before Tauro’s 4:46.13. She was on the list to run the NB meet, but did not start. In Boston, however, she was a solid 6th in 4:56.30. King, a sr at Scotia-Glenville HS, won Brown in 4:55.56, Yale in 4:57.46, and has good 800 speed (2:12).

Reese, the Carmel HS jr, took the Hispanic Games field in 4:55.66, won the Bishop Loughlin 2M early on in 10:49.77, and has a 4:54 1600 relay leg to her credit. She was also 2nd at Brown in 5:00.89. Hogan, the Bay Shore sr, had a fine meet at Yale, with a US#2 9:52.83 (losing by .01) and a 4:56 relay leg. She also won the Stanner 1k in 2;53.81 and was 3rd in the Hispanic mile in 4:56.28. Ahn, the Ward-Melville sr, was the Hispanic runner-up in 4:56.22 and took 4th at Yale in 4:59.09.

Don’t look for Tauro to be well behind the leaders early on, as she was here last year; she will not be far from the lead unless someone goes out at a maniacal pace, which is unlikely. But also look for McGee or someone else to keep the pace honest and for Price to be prepared to finish more strongly than two weeks ago. It will take something extraordinary, though, for an upset.


SUEJIN AHN, 2008, Ward Melville, Setauket, NY
2007 Indoor: 2nd Hispanic 4:56.22y, 4th Yale 4:59.09y, 1st Stanner 10:09.21 (3k), 4th Bishop Loughlin 5:04.82,
2006 XC: 20th Feds 19:14, 16th AA State 18:47, 1st Manhattan ‘A’ 15:10 (2.5M),
2006 Track: 6th State 4:39.66 (1500), Sect D1 2nd-4:38.14/1st 10:34.40 1500/3k,


CALLIE HOGAN, 2007, Bay Shore, NY
2007 Indoor: 2nd Yale 9:52.83 (3k), 1st Stanner 2:53.81 1k, 3rd Hispanic 4:56.28, 4:56.1 relay leg
2006 XC: 3rd Feds 18:29, 3rd AA State 17:52, 62nd FL NE 19:17, 2nd Brown 17:56,
2006 Track: 11th NON 10:37.05y, 2nd State 9:50.09 3k, 4th NSIC 4:54.28y, 6th Penn 10:01.95 3k, 1st D1 Sect 4:36.48 1500,


CAROLINE KING, 2007, Scotia-Glenville, Scotia, NY
2007 Indoor: 1st Brown 4:55.56y, 1st Yale 4:57.46y, 3:35 1200 relay leg, 1st Dartmouth 2:13.45,
2006 XC: 3rd ‘A’ State 18:10, 41st Feds 19:50,
2006 Track: 1st Sect Qual 2:12.07, 4th State D1 2:12.07, 5th State 2:13.32, 10th NSIC 5:01.67, 23rd NON 5:14.26y


CORY McGEE, 2010, Pass Christian, MS
2007 Indoor: 1st Arkansas 4:59.43y, 1st LSU 11:10.17
2006 CC: 15th FL Finals 18:33, 5th FL South 17:19, 10th Great American ROC 19:14 (12th overall), 1st 4A State 14:13
2006 Track: 1st NSIC 4:49.32y, 4A State 2:20.27-1st/5:20.82-1st/11:58.00-1st, 2nd Mobile MOC 2:14.07,


CHANELLE PRICE, 2008, Easton, PA
2007 Indoor: 2nd New Balance 4:50.65y, 1st Kutztown 4:58.62, 1st Burdette 2:08.76,
2006 XC: 3rd 3A state 18:28, 2nd Paul Short 18:21
2006 Track: 1st NON 2:07.71, 3rd USATF Jr. 2:06.23, 1st USATF JOs 2:06.64, 2nd NSIC 2:08.47, 1st 3A state 2:09.58


KRISTIN REESE, 2008, Carmel, NY
2007 Indoor: 1st Hispanic 4:55.66y, 1st Bishop Loughlin 10:49.77y, 2nd Brown 5:00.89, 15th Yale 10:28.49 3k (also 4:54 1600 relay leg)
2006 XC:
2006 Track: 3rd State 4:36.63, 1st Sect Qual 4:35.5, 1st Sect. 2:13.5


JILLIAN SMITH, 2009, Southern Regional, Manahawkin, NJ
2007 Indoor: 2nd Boston 4;53.58y, 3rd New Balance 4:55.27y
2006 Track: Grp IV State 2:12.16 2nd/4:51.48 2nd,


DANIELLE TAURO, 2007, Southern Regional, Manahawkin, NJ
2007 Indoor – 1st Boston 4:52.20y, 1st New Balance 4:46.13y, 4:53 1600 leg (in 11:59 DMR)
2006 XC – 1st NJ MOC 17:47, 1st NJ Grp4 18:06, 10th FL NE 18:14
2006 Track – 1st NON 4:39.25y, 1st USATF 1500 4:24.53, 5th-H1 World Jr 1500 4:24.16, 1st Penn 4:48.51y, 1st Millrose 4:51.89yi, NJ MOC 1st-4:49.17/1st-2:10.88. Grp4 4:48.40-1st/2:09.54-1st,


COLLEEN WETHERBEE, 2007, Dennis-Yarmouth, South Yarmouth, MA
2007 Indoor – 8th Boston 5:00.14y, 7th Brown Inv 5:07.91
2006 Track – 2nd Millrose 4:52.78y, 2nd NIN 4:51.22y, 2:54.81 1k,


BRITTANY SHEFFEY, 2007, Bellport, Brookhaven, NY
2007 Indoor: 6th Boston 4:56.30y, 1st Stanner Games 4:54.09y, 1st Bishop Loughlin 2:53.23 1000m, 1st Hispanic Games 2:10.77
2006 XC: 5th Brown 18:27
2006 Track: 3rd Penn 4:53.96y, 1st Richter (1500) 4:30.98, 1st Hartford 2:10.40, 2nd NSIC 4:50.10y, 1st Sect Qual 2:50.26 (1000)
2005 Track: 9th Boston Indoor 5:02.91y

 

Boys: Murdock Still the Favorite, but Field is Closely Matched

Last week’s Boston Junior Mile may not have been an outstanding race for Steve Murdock. In fact, some might say it was reminiscent of the “old” Doc. Tonight, in the 100th Millrose Games High School Boys Mile, he gets a chance to prove himself again against a field that may not be as talented, but is very evenly matched. A lot could happen on the tight boards here.

After the way he finished the cross-country season, with the NTN victory and Foot Locker Finals third-place finish, Murdock became one of those upon which all eyes are trained every time he races. And he quickly cranked up the indoor season after XC. In Boston, there were others with faster PRs – most of the field, really – but most of them had raced little or not at all during indoor. Here, Murdock has the #2 time overall, as well as the best 2007 time against a field that HAS been racing.

As has been his wont, Murdock went hard from the gun in Boston, making sure the race was fast, but then faded to 9th. After the race, it became known that not only was he under the weather, but he also took college boards earlier in the day. Tonight it will be seen if he toes the line healthy, rested, and ready to run a complete race.

The field is hardly bereft of other contenders for the title. One would certainly think that Chris Moen would be in the thick of things and he has already proven he can win close races. At the Montgomery Invite, he nosed out Jason Weller PA by .14 with his 4:17.33y. At New Balance, his margin was .20 over Ryan McDermott NY as he improved to 4:16.76. Last weekend, he was on the losing end of another wild finish, this time getting beat by .05 at the hands of Dylan Ferris NC. The race won’t be boring if Moen has even a shot in the last lap.

Speaking of Weller and McDermott, both are in the field and certainly have designs on winning. Besides getting another crack at that pesky Moen, each of these runners can use a disappointing finish to their cross-country seasons as motivation. Weller, after an exceedingly impressive win over Paul Springer at his 3A state meet, was just 23rd at Foot Locker Northeast. This winter, he has raced consistently solid, notching an 8:39 3k in December and doubling up with a 9:17 3200 in the Montgomery meet.

McDermott was the CHSAA champ and had great races at places like Manhattan. But he faded badly at Feds (24th) and was just 28th At FL NE. The Chaminade sr’s specialty is the steeplechase, but his fast New Balance time confirmed his speed.

The fastest man in the field? That would be Brockton MA sr Kevin Gill, clearly another who could take the crown. Gill hit 4:14.60y to win his outdoor state meet last spring. His qualifier came at the Hispanic Games, where his 4:18.85y was 2nd. His FL NE race was also less than truly satisfying, as he took 36th after a very solid 2nd to Ryan Collins at state.

Representing New Jersey is Kyle Soloff, who took 3rd (4:19.41) at New Balance. Last spring, he was 2nd in the NJ Meet of Champs (4:17.22 1600) and was feted for his tough opening leg in the NON 4xMile as his team took X. Adam Vess will put it on the line from Connecticut. The Xavier sr had 2nds at Yale (4:18.12y) and Brown (4:23.25y), and won Hartford (4:21.96y).

Two runners will represent Rhode Island, the 1-2 finishers in that state’s XC meet, Andrew Palumbo and Brandon Burns. Palumbo is a Bishop Hendricken sr with wins at Dartmouth (4:21.65y) and Brown (4:21.89), plus a 4th at New Balance (4:20.14y). Burns, a North Kingstown sr, earned his spot with his Yale 3rd (4:19.77y), then followed it up with 4:21.99 in the Boston race.



STEVE MURDOCK, 2007, Shenendehowa, Clifton Park, NY 4:15.21 Yale (1) 1/20
2007 Indoor: 9th Boston 4:21.06y, 1st Yale Classic 4:15.21y (also 3:05 1200 DMR leg), 2nd Dartmouth 4:22.25y, 4:21.1 1600 relay leg Holiday Classic,
2006 CC: 3rd FL Finals 15:24, 1st NTN 16:26, 4th FL NE 15:22, 3rd Feds 15:48, 1st Class AA state 15:12, 2nd Manhattan ‘E’ 12:15 (3rd overall), 2nd Great American ROC 15:49,
2006 Track: (injured most of outdoor), 9:10.33i 1st State Ind, 17th NIN 9:32.73iy, 9:11.54 1st Section, 4:16.83yi 5th Hispanic Games, 4:17.20yi 3rd Yale Inv
2005 Track: 2nd NIN 9:11.40y


CHRISTOPHER MOEN, 2007, Walter Johnson, Bethesda, MD
2007 Indoor: 1st New Balance 4:16.76y, 2nd Va Tech 2:30.96 1k, 1st Montgomery Co Inv 4:17.33y,
2006 XC: 4th 4A State 16:52, 5th Manhattan ‘E’ 12:41,


RYAN McDERMOTT, 2007, Chaminade, Mineola, NY
2007 Indoor 2nd New Balance 4:16.96y, 1st Stanner 9:15.27, 3rd Hispanic 4:19.75y
2006 XC: 28th FL NE 15:57, 1st Manhattan ‘A’ 12:41, 24th Feds 16:33, 1st CHSAA 12:48 (2.5M),
2006 Track: 2nd NON 6:05.50 (2kSt), 3rd State 9:14.57 (3kSt), 1st Eastern States 5:54.40 (2kSt), 4:12 1600 relay leg at Penn


JASON WELLER, 2007, Boyertown, PA 4:17.47 Montgomery (2) 1/13
2007 Indoor Montgomery Co. Inv 2nd-4:17.47y/2nd-9:17.58, 1st TFCAGP D1-#2 8:39.8 3k,
2006 XC: 23rd FL NE 15:52, 1st 3A State 15:04, 2nd District 14:54,
2006 Track: 9:09.14 2nd 3A State, District 9:15.98-2nd/4:22.86-3rd,, Shaner Meet 4:19.19-2nd/9:16.25-1st,


ADAM VESS, 2007, Xavier, Middletown, CT
2007 Indoor: 2nd Yale 4:18.12y, 1st Hartford 4:21.96y, 2nd Brown 4:23.25y,
2006 XC: 60th FL NE 16:26, 1st Manhattan ‘D’ 12:47, 2nd New Englands 15:34, 3rd CT Open 16:13
2006 Track:


KEVIN GILL, 2007, Brockton, MA
2007 Indoor: 2nd Hispanic 4:18.85y,
2006 XC: 36th FL NE 16:05, 2nd MIAA D1 15:59,
2006 Track: 1st All-State 4:14.60y,


KYLE SOLOFF, 2007, Morris Hills, Rockaway, NJ
2007 Indoor: 3rd New Balance 4:19.41y,
2006 XC: 30th NJ MOC 16:34,
2006 Track: 2nd NJ MOC 4:17.22,


BRANDON BURNS, 2007, North Kingstown, Wickford, RI
2007 Indoor: 10th Boston 4:21.99y, 3rd Yale 4:19.77y,
2006 XC: 2nd State 16:11,
2006 Track: Indoor State 1st 4:01.24 (1500)/1st 2:37 (1k), 1000 PR 2:35,


ANDREW PALUMBO, 2007, Bishop Hendricken, Warwick, RI
2007 Indoor: 4th New Balance 4:20.14y, 1st Rhody Classic 2:35.04 1k, 1st Dartmouth 4:21.65y, 1st Brown 4:21.89y,
2006 XC: 99th FL NE 16:45, 1st State 16:04,
2006 Track:

100th Millrose Games

High School Mile Previews

By Steve Underwood

Much like last week’s races at Boston, the fields for this week’s 100th Millrose Games High School Miles reveal two things: A race with a very strong favorite, and another that features several strong contenders.

The challengers will be different and probably tougher this time, but defending champion Danielle Tauro, who first really hit the national spotlight here a year ago, is still is the runner to beat in the Girls High School Mile. The girls field, with a few exceptions, will be more regionalized that the Boston meet. The Boys High School Mile, however, is completely a Northeastern affair. Still, led by slight favorite Steve Murdock, it should be one of the best indoor miles in the country this year.

 

Boys Preview - Girls Preview

 

Girls Mile: Price and McGee Could Push Tauro The Hardest


This is where it all started for Danielle Tauro last year. She made a stunning come-from-behind run a year ago at the Millrose Girls High School Mile for a 4:51.89 victory, 3rd best ever in that race, that started a string of victories in many of the country’s major miles or 1500s – including Penn, NON, and USATF Juniors. This winter she has wins in fast (New Balance, 4:46.13) and strategic/kickers (Boston, 4:52.20) situations. Will the streak continue Friday?

One of Tauro’s major challengers will be familiar, another will be a first-time opponent on the track. Two weeks ago, Tauro ran away from Easton PA jr Chanelle Price in the final two laps of their mile race, but at least as many eyes popped out at Price’s performance. Her US#2 4:50.65 was a PR by 8 seconds and, for someone known an 800 runner – well, famous as an 800 runner – it was truly notable.

Chanelle emerged as the top 800 runner in the country as a soph, winning NON, finishing as the highest prep at USATF Juniors (3rd overall, 2:06.23 PR), and winning USATF JOs. With her 2:08.76 in December, she showed she is better than ever, and has now made clear that the range she has from the 400 to cross-country is top national-class in at least two championship events. Depending how the race unfolds and if she improves her game, she could give Tauro quite a battle.

The other most intriguing challenger is Cory McGee, the Pass Christian MS freshman who won so impressively last year at the NSIC mile in 4:49.xx. She also qualified for FL Finals last fall, taking 5th at FL South, then 15th in San Diego. That followed a spring that saw her deal with recovery from mono.

Her NSIC mile remains McGee’s most impressive performance. She won a few low-key races so far this winter, pointing toward this race. She’s not the type of runner who will normally let a pace lag, so she should make things interesting.

The rest of the field includes runners who have starred on the indoor circuit in the Northeast this year, including others who competed either in the New Balance and/or Boston meets.

Racing really well recently, of course, has also been Tauro’s teammate, soph Jillian Smith. She was a strong 2nd last weekend in Boston (4:53.58), following a 3rd behind Price and Tauro in New York.

New Yorkers Brittany Sheffey, Caroline King, Callie Hogan, Kristin Reese, and Suejin Ahn are pretty closely matched after that, along with Colleen Weatherbee of MA. Weatherbee, a Dennis-Yarmouth sr, certainly has good memories of this meet, as she was a super 2nd last year in 4:52.78. Her time and place last week (5:00.14/8th) shows she’s not back in top form just yet.

Sheffey, the Bellport sr, was the US leader at 4:54.09y off her Stanner Games win before Tauro’s 4:46.13. She was on the list to run the NB meet, but did not start. In Boston, however, she was a solid 6th in 4:56.30. King, a sr at Scotia-Glenville HS, won Brown in 4:55.56, Yale in 4:57.46, and has good 800 speed (2:12).

Reese, the Carmel HS jr, took the Hispanic Games field in 4:55.66, won the Bishop Loughlin 2M early on in 10:49.77, and has a 4:54 1600 relay leg to her credit. She was also 2nd at Brown in 5:00.89. Hogan, the Bay Shore sr, had a fine meet at Yale, with a US#2 9:52.83 (losing by .01) and a 4:56 relay leg. She also won the Stanner 1k in 2;53.81 and was 3rd in the Hispanic mile in 4:56.28. Ahn, the Ward-Melville sr, was the Hispanic runner-up in 4:56.22 and took 4th at Yale in 4:59.09.

Don’t look for Tauro to be well behind the leaders early on, as she was here last year; she will not be far from the lead unless someone goes out at a maniacal pace, which is unlikely. But also look for McGee or someone else to keep the pace honest and for Price to be prepared to finish more strongly than two weeks ago. It will take something extraordinary, though, for an upset.


SUEJIN AHN, 2008, Ward Melville, Setauket, NY
2007 Indoor: 2nd Hispanic 4:56.22y, 4th Yale 4:59.09y, 1st Stanner 10:09.21 (3k), 4th Bishop Loughlin 5:04.82,
2006 XC: 20th Feds 19:14, 16th AA State 18:47, 1st Manhattan ‘A’ 15:10 (2.5M),
2006 Track: 6th State 4:39.66 (1500), Sect D1 2nd-4:38.14/1st 10:34.40 1500/3k,


CALLIE HOGAN, 2007, Bay Shore, NY
2007 Indoor: 2nd Yale 9:52.83 (3k), 1st Stanner 2:53.81 1k, 3rd Hispanic 4:56.28, 4:56.1 relay leg
2006 XC: 3rd Feds 18:29, 3rd AA State 17:52, 62nd FL NE 19:17, 2nd Brown 17:56,
2006 Track: 11th NON 10:37.05y, 2nd State 9:50.09 3k, 4th NSIC 4:54.28y, 6th Penn 10:01.95 3k, 1st D1 Sect 4:36.48 1500,


CAROLINE KING, 2007, Scotia-Glenville, Scotia, NY
2007 Indoor: 1st Brown 4:55.56y, 1st Yale 4:57.46y, 3:35 1200 relay leg, 1st Dartmouth 2:13.45,
2006 XC: 3rd ‘A’ State 18:10, 41st Feds 19:50,
2006 Track: 1st Sect Qual 2:12.07, 4th State D1 2:12.07, 5th State 2:13.32, 10th NSIC 5:01.67, 23rd NON 5:14.26y


CORY McGEE, 2010, Pass Christian, MS
2007 Indoor: 1st Arkansas 4:59.43y, 1st LSU 11:10.17
2006 CC: 15th FL Finals 18:33, 5th FL South 17:19, 10th Great American ROC 19:14 (12th overall), 1st 4A State 14:13
2006 Track: 1st NSIC 4:49.32y, 4A State 2:20.27-1st/5:20.82-1st/11:58.00-1st, 2nd Mobile MOC 2:14.07,


CHANELLE PRICE, 2008, Easton, PA
2007 Indoor: 2nd New Balance 4:50.65y, 1st Kutztown 4:58.62, 1st Burdette 2:08.76,
2006 XC: 3rd 3A state 18:28, 2nd Paul Short 18:21
2006 Track: 1st NON 2:07.71, 3rd USATF Jr. 2:06.23, 1st USATF JOs 2:06.64, 2nd NSIC 2:08.47, 1st 3A state 2:09.58


KRISTIN REESE, 2008, Carmel, NY
2007 Indoor: 1st Hispanic 4:55.66y, 1st Bishop Loughlin 10:49.77y, 2nd Brown 5:00.89, 15th Yale 10:28.49 3k (also 4:54 1600 relay leg)
2006 XC:
2006 Track: 3rd State 4:36.63, 1st Sect Qual 4:35.5, 1st Sect. 2:13.5


JILLIAN SMITH, 2009, Southern Regional, Manahawkin, NJ
2007 Indoor: 2nd Boston 4;53.58y, 3rd New Balance 4:55.27y
2006 Track: Grp IV State 2:12.16 2nd/4:51.48 2nd,


DANIELLE TAURO, 2007, Southern Regional, Manahawkin, NJ
2007 Indoor – 1st Boston 4:52.20y, 1st New Balance 4:46.13y, 4:53 1600 leg (in 11:59 DMR)
2006 XC – 1st NJ MOC 17:47, 1st NJ Grp4 18:06, 10th FL NE 18:14
2006 Track – 1st NON 4:39.25y, 1st USATF 1500 4:24.53, 5th-H1 World Jr 1500 4:24.16, 1st Penn 4:48.51y, 1st Millrose 4:51.89yi, NJ MOC 1st-4:49.17/1st-2:10.88. Grp4 4:48.40-1st/2:09.54-1st,


COLLEEN WETHERBEE, 2007, Dennis-Yarmouth, South Yarmouth, MA
2007 Indoor – 8th Boston 5:00.14y, 7th Brown Inv 5:07.91
2006 Track – 2nd Millrose 4:52.78y, 2nd NIN 4:51.22y, 2:54.81 1k,


BRITTANY SHEFFEY, 2007, Bellport, Brookhaven, NY
2007 Indoor: 6th Boston 4:56.30y, 1st Stanner Games 4:54.09y, 1st Bishop Loughlin 2:53.23 1000m, 1st Hispanic Games 2:10.77
2006 XC: 5th Brown 18:27
2006 Track: 3rd Penn 4:53.96y, 1st Richter (1500) 4:30.98, 1st Hartford 2:10.40, 2nd NSIC 4:50.10y, 1st Sect Qual 2:50.26 (1000)
2005 Track: 9th Boston Indoor 5:02.91y

 

Boys: Murdock Still the Favorite, but Field is Closely Matched

Last week’s Boston Junior Mile may not have been an outstanding race for Steve Murdock. In fact, some might say it was reminiscent of the “old” Doc. Tonight, in the 100th Millrose Games High School Boys Mile, he gets a chance to prove himself again against a field that may not be as talented, but is very evenly matched. A lot could happen on the tight boards here.

After the way he finished the cross-country season, with the NTN victory and Foot Locker Finals third-place finish, Murdock became one of those upon which all eyes are trained every time he races. And he quickly cranked up the indoor season after XC. In Boston, there were others with faster PRs – most of the field, really – but most of them had raced little or not at all during indoor. Here, Murdock has the #2 time overall, as well as the best 2007 time against a field that HAS been racing.

As has been his wont, Murdock went hard from the gun in Boston, making sure the race was fast, but then faded to 9th. After the race, it became known that not only was he under the weather, but he also took college boards earlier in the day. Tonight it will be seen if he toes the line healthy, rested, and ready to run a complete race.

The field is hardly bereft of other contenders for the title. One would certainly think that Chris Moen would be in the thick of things and he has already proven he can win close races. At the Montgomery Invite, he nosed out Jason Weller PA by .14 with his 4:17.33y. At New Balance, his margin was .20 over Ryan McDermott NY as he improved to 4:16.76. Last weekend, he was on the losing end of another wild finish, this time getting beat by .05 at the hands of Dylan Ferris NC. The race won’t be boring if Moen has even a shot in the last lap.

Speaking of Weller and McDermott, both are in the field and certainly have designs on winning. Besides getting another crack at that pesky Moen, each of these runners can use a disappointing finish to their cross-country seasons as motivation. Weller, after an exceedingly impressive win over Paul Springer at his 3A state meet, was just 23rd at Foot Locker Northeast. This winter, he has raced consistently solid, notching an 8:39 3k in December and doubling up with a 9:17 3200 in the Montgomery meet.

McDermott was the CHSAA champ and had great races at places like Manhattan. But he faded badly at Feds (24th) and was just 28th At FL NE. The Chaminade sr’s specialty is the steeplechase, but his fast New Balance time confirmed his speed.

The fastest man in the field? That would be Brockton MA sr Kevin Gill, clearly another who could take the crown. Gill hit 4:14.60y to win his outdoor state meet last spring. His qualifier came at the Hispanic Games, where his 4:18.85y was 2nd. His FL NE race was also less than truly satisfying, as he took 36th after a very solid 2nd to Ryan Collins at state.

Representing New Jersey is Kyle Soloff, who took 3rd (4:19.41) at New Balance. Last spring, he was 2nd in the NJ Meet of Champs (4:17.22 1600) and was feted for his tough opening leg in the NON 4xMile as his team took X. Adam Vess will put it on the line from Connecticut. The Xavier sr had 2nds at Yale (4:18.12y) and Brown (4:23.25y), and won Hartford (4:21.96y).

Two runners will represent Rhode Island, the 1-2 finishers in that state’s XC meet, Andrew Palumbo and Brandon Burns. Palumbo is a Bishop Hendricken sr with wins at Dartmouth (4:21.65y) and Brown (4:21.89), plus a 4th at New Balance (4:20.14y). Burns, a North Kingstown sr, earned his spot with his Yale 3rd (4:19.77y), then followed it up with 4:21.99 in the Boston race.



STEVE MURDOCK, 2007, Shenendehowa, Clifton Park, NY 4:15.21 Yale (1) 1/20
2007 Indoor: 9th Boston 4:21.06y, 1st Yale Classic 4:15.21y (also 3:05 1200 DMR leg), 2nd Dartmouth 4:22.25y, 4:21.1 1600 relay leg Holiday Classic,
2006 CC: 3rd FL Finals 15:24, 1st NTN 16:26, 4th FL NE 15:22, 3rd Feds 15:48, 1st Class AA state 15:12, 2nd Manhattan ‘E’ 12:15 (3rd overall), 2nd Great American ROC 15:49,
2006 Track: (injured most of outdoor), 9:10.33i 1st State Ind, 17th NIN 9:32.73iy, 9:11.54 1st Section, 4:16.83yi 5th Hispanic Games, 4:17.20yi 3rd Yale Inv
2005 Track: 2nd NIN 9:11.40y


CHRISTOPHER MOEN, 2007, Walter Johnson, Bethesda, MD
2007 Indoor: 1st New Balance 4:16.76y, 2nd Va Tech 2:30.96 1k, 1st Montgomery Co Inv 4:17.33y,
2006 XC: 4th 4A State 16:52, 5th Manhattan ‘E’ 12:41,


RYAN McDERMOTT, 2007, Chaminade, Mineola, NY
2007 Indoor 2nd New Balance 4:16.96y, 1st Stanner 9:15.27, 3rd Hispanic 4:19.75y
2006 XC: 28th FL NE 15:57, 1st Manhattan ‘A’ 12:41, 24th Feds 16:33, 1st CHSAA 12:48 (2.5M),
2006 Track: 2nd NON 6:05.50 (2kSt), 3rd State 9:14.57 (3kSt), 1st Eastern States 5:54.40 (2kSt), 4:12 1600 relay leg at Penn


JASON WELLER, 2007, Boyertown, PA 4:17.47 Montgomery (2) 1/13
2007 Indoor Montgomery Co. Inv 2nd-4:17.47y/2nd-9:17.58, 1st TFCAGP D1-#2 8:39.8 3k,
2006 XC: 23rd FL NE 15:52, 1st 3A State 15:04, 2nd District 14:54,
2006 Track: 9:09.14 2nd 3A State, District 9:15.98-2nd/4:22.86-3rd,, Shaner Meet 4:19.19-2nd/9:16.25-1st,


ADAM VESS, 2007, Xavier, Middletown, CT
2007 Indoor: 2nd Yale 4:18.12y, 1st Hartford 4:21.96y, 2nd Brown 4:23.25y,
2006 XC: 60th FL NE 16:26, 1st Manhattan ‘D’ 12:47, 2nd New Englands 15:34, 3rd CT Open 16:13
2006 Track:


KEVIN GILL, 2007, Brockton, MA
2007 Indoor: 2nd Hispanic 4:18.85y,
2006 XC: 36th FL NE 16:05, 2nd MIAA D1 15:59,
2006 Track: 1st All-State 4:14.60y,


KYLE SOLOFF, 2007, Morris Hills, Rockaway, NJ
2007 Indoor: 3rd New Balance 4:19.41y,
2006 XC: 30th NJ MOC 16:34,
2006 Track: 2nd NJ MOC 4:17.22,


BRANDON BURNS, 2007, North Kingstown, Wickford, RI
2007 Indoor: 10th Boston 4:21.99y, 3rd Yale 4:19.77y,
2006 XC: 2nd State 16:11,
2006 Track: Indoor State 1st 4:01.24 (1500)/1st 2:37 (1k), 1000 PR 2:35,


ANDREW PALUMBO, 2007, Bishop Hendricken, Warwick, RI
2007 Indoor: 4th New Balance 4:20.14y, 1st Rhody Classic 2:35.04 1k, 1st Dartmouth 4:21.65y, 1st Brown 4:21.89y,
2006 XC: 99th FL NE 16:45, 1st State 16:04,
2006 Track:

DyeStat