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New Jersey's Smith and Andrews sweep the miles

RESULTS

By Jim Lambert

 
Moment of truth I : Andrews comes up wide on Johnson and Stutzman with a lap to go.  Photo John Nepolitan
Jill Smith and Robby Andrews turned in a historic and electrifying New Jersey double Friday at the 102nd Millrose Games at Madison Square Garden.  And both have their lethal kicks to thank for it.

Smith, a senior at Southern Regional NJ, used a 71.1 final quarter-mile to win her second straight title in 4:51.88, the top time in the nation this season and No. 4 in meet history, and put herself among some pretty elite company.

Smith is just the fourth runner in the 26-year history of the girls’ mile to claim back-to-back titles.

Southern has now captured a remarkable four straight titles in the girls’ mile, which is a meet record for one school in that event.

Danielle Tauro, now a sophomore at Michigan, finished first for Southern in 2006 and ’07.

Smith, the Nike Indoor mile champion and Nike Outdoor 800 winner last year, joined Tauro, Sally Glynn of Walter Johnson in Maryland (1994-95) and Nicole Blood of Saratoga Springs (2003-04) as the only girls to win two straight championships.

About 50 minutes after her victory, Smith was trackside to root on Andrews when he took center stage.  The senior at Manalapan made it a Shore Conference sweep when he unleashed a remarkable 57.8 final quarter mile as he blasted his way from third to first on his way to victory in the boys’ mile in 4:17.42. Andrews, New Jersey's first boy to win the mile at Millrose since Bob Keino of Ridgewood in 1994, and Smith are the first New Jersey duo to win the Millrose miles in the same year.

Andrews ran a blistering 2:01.2 for the last half mile before running away from his buddy and future college teammate at Virginia, Brett Johnson of Ocean City, over the final lap.  Johnson, who led at the bell, wound up second in 4:19.61.  Mark Feigen of East Greenwich RI, who led the race early, took third in 4:20.43.

Andrews was so ecstatic over his victory that he ran another 50 yards after breaking the tape as he yelled up to and pointed at a big cheering section up in the crowd of 11,543.

 
Moment of truth II : Smith pulls alongside McGee and Thompson.  Photo John Nepolitan
The victory was especially sweet for Andrews after so many near misses on the national stage last year.  He was second at Millrose and the Penn Relays last year in the mile, both times by less than a second.  He was also second to Johnson in the 1,600 at the NJ Meet of Champions last year.

``Losing those races last year was tough, but it so worth the wait and worth all the work to finally win a big race like this,’’ said Andrews.  ``To win the mile at the Millrose Games is just an unbelievable feeling.  It’s something I’ve always wanted to do.’’

Andrews said his losses last year helped him.

``I learned more from my mistakes in those races,’’ he said.  ``I knew I had to stay closer to the front for the first three quarters and be right there when it was time to kick.’’

Andrews stayed back in fifth place when Tyler Stutzman of Virgina carried the slow pace past the half mile in 2:16.2.

``I thought it would be faster than that,’’ said Andrews.  ``But I was more than happy with it.  I was licking my chops.’’

Smith, like Andrews, was relieved when she crossed the line.  But for a different reason.

Smith hasn’t lost a race on the track since June of  2007, said it’s not easy always being labeled the favorite.

``I’m so relieved,’’ said Smith.  ``There is just so much pressure and such high expectations from people that I’m really happy to get the race over with.  It’s so nerve wracking.’’

Smith went to her kick a little earier than usual, after Lanie Thompson of Voorhees NJ  took the pace through the three quarter mark in 3:40.7, and then methodically pulled away for the win.  Cory McGee of  Pass Christian in Mississippi was second for the third straight year in 4:54.59. Emily Lipari of Roslyn, NY, the leader after the first quarter, was third in 4:57.70.  Thompson wound up sixth in 5:06.96.

Smith said that carrying on the Southern tradition was important to her.

``Danielle started it and I’m honored to keep it going,’’ said Smith. ``We have a great tradition at Southern and I’m glad to be a part of it.’’
 

Results

Results from Flash Results, Inc.
                     102nd Millrose Games                      
Madison Square Garden, New York, NY - 1/30/2009

Event 22 Boys 1 Mile Run High School
===============================================================
Name Year Team Finals
===============================================================
Finals
1 Robby Andrews Manalapan 4:17.42
2 Bret Johnson Ocean City 4:19.61
3 Mark Feigen East Greenwich 4:20.43
4 Tyler Stutzman Western Albemarle 4:21.11
5 Marco Bertolotti Paul D Schreiber 4:21.31
6 Bobby Peavey Floyd E. Kellam 4:21.54
7 Doug Smith Gill-St. Bernard's 4:21.66
8 Nick Ross East Greenwich 4:24.39

Event 16 Girls 1 Mile Run adidas
===============================================================
Name Year Team Finals
===============================================================
Finals
1 Jillian Smith Southern Regional 4:51.88
2 Cory McGee Pass Christian 4:54.59
3 Emily Lipari Roslyn 4:57.70
4 Juliet Bottorff Tatnall 5:04.76
5 Emily Menges Garden City 5:04.78
6 Melanie Thompson Voorhees HS 5:06.96
7 Ariann Neutts Roxbury 5:10.38
8 Ann Carey St. John The Bap 5:11.60
-- Grace Rodriguez Hanover DNF




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