Brian Dalpiaz - hottest distance runner
in the nation, but not satisfied
by John Dye
After today's victory in the Millrose mile qualifier, Sayville
NY jr Brian Dalpiaz had this scorecard for 3  weekends
in the Armory:
1/05 Hispanic Games - 4:16.71 mile
1/12 Stanner Games - 9:00.25 3200 meters
1/19 New Balance Games - 4:17.03 mile
But he wasn't satisfied. "I was hoping for 4:13," Dalpiaz
said. That hope probably vanished when Marc Pelerin NJ (US#1
at 4:15.16) scratched, and Shane Stroup was a no show because
of the snow storm in Maryland. Stroup's big kick would have made
for a more interesting (and probably faster) finish. Dalpiaz finishes
each race without emotion or apparent strain, so he seems to have
something in reserve if challenged. That may come February 1 in
Madison Square Garden, when Auburn WA sr Chris Lukezic (4:08.82
in 2001 outdoors) and Berkeley Prep FL sr Rolf Steier (3:53.62
1500m, equivalent to a 4:11 mile, at the 2001 World Youth Championships)
join the Eastern elite in the Millrose Games high school mile. Even
without top 2001 returnees Bobby Lockhart VA, Bobby Curtis KY, and
Shane Stroup MD, the Millrose mile should be a crowd pleaser. Lockhart
is training to qualify for the World Junior Cross Country championships
as the USATF Winter Nationals in Washington February 9, and Curtis
and Stroup declined invitations to Millrose. Dalpiaz is probably
stronger at the 2-mile distance, where he is gunning for 8:50 this
year outdoors.
In today's race, Dalpiaz was not challenged after he recovered
from being boxed in on the first lap and took the lead on lap 2.
Dalpiaz pulled the field into the fastest mile of the year, with
two more runners under 4:20. Ocean City NJ jr John Richardson barely
held off South Lakes VA sr Richard Smith in a photo finish for second,
4:19.63 to 4:19.64, and Vinny Ambrico, Choate Rosemary CT, was a
close fourth in 4:20.36.
Splits:
| Lap |
Elapsed |
Splits |
Leader |
|
1
|
32.5
|
32.5
|
|
|
Smith |
|
2
|
64.8
|
32.3
|
64.8
|
|
Dalpiaz |
|
3
|
|
|
|
|
Dalpiaz |
|
4
|
2:07.4
|
|
62.6
|
2:07.4
|
Dalpiaz |
|
5
|
2:39.5
|
32.1
|
|
|
Dalpiaz |
|
6
|
3:12.2
|
32.7
|
64.8
|
|
Dalpiaz |
|
7
|
3:44.8
|
32.6
|
|
|
Dalpiaz |
|
8
|
4:17.03
|
32.2
|
64.8
|
2:09.6
|
Dalpiaz |
The start - from left: Vinny
Ambrico CT (red), Richard Smith VA (blue), Alex Bloom CT,
John Richardson NJ (red), Brian Dalpiaz NY, and Chris Platt NJ (black).
End of lap 1 - Richard Smith VA (blue) and
Vinny Ambrico (Choate CT)
set the pace as Dalpiaz is buried behind 8-9 runners.
End of lap 2 - Dalpiaz digs out of hole and
settles into the lead to stay.
The finish (read these
photos from right to left):
Dalpiaz wins, with John Richardson NJ (red) moving into second
in mid-stretch. Richard Smith VA (blue), who wasn't in the right
hand picture, closed with a rush and almost caught Richardson
for second. |
 |
 |
Varsity Boys Invitational Mile
1 - Sayville 4:17.03* Meet Record
Bryan Dalpiaz
2 - Ocean City 4:19.63
John Richardson
3 - South Lakes 4:19.64
Richard Smith
4 - Choate Rosemary 4:20.36
Vinny Ambrico
5 - Haddonfield 4:23.15
Skip Stilles
6 - Immaculate Heart 4:23.38
John Mohn
New Balance Games
|
