WRENTHAM – Ava Bullock displayed a particular type of toughness at Saturday’s Frank Mooney Invitational.
Racing within the giant college sophomore race, the Barnstable starlet was coming off a bout with the flu that sidelined her for every week. What’s extra, Bullock thought she was working with a pebble in her racing flat that was inflicting her ache with every step.
No trouble. Bullock was completely engaged in racing as she went via the mile in 5:49 on the shoulder of Central Catholic’s Madeline Courtemanche. Bullock made her closing push simply earlier than two miles, occurring to a powerful win in 19 minutes, 1.2 seconds in heat situations over the three.1-mile Wrentham Developmental Center course.
Shortly after, Bullock took off her racing flat and sock. There was no pebble, however there was a blister the scale of 1 / 4.
“I thought I had a pebble in my shoe it was killing me,” mentioned Bullock. “I just wanted to hang in there and take the lead in the middle of the race. I thought I had a good chance of winning. If I had someone still with me I could have run faster.”
Holliston’s star harrier, Carmen Luisi, seemed sturdy as she ran away with the small college junior/senior race in 18:19, the quickest time of the day. The defending Div. 2 All-State champion believes she is primed and prepared for a title protection after a sluggish begin this fall.
“This year I had a tougher start to the season,” mentioned Luisi. “But hopefully I’ll be peaking at the right time. I’m trying to stay relaxed. After last year, I think people expect a lot from me.”
North Quincy’s Salma Boukhtam used a powerful surge to tug away from a pack of six at 2-1/2 miles. She left the sector behind to clinch the gold medal within the junior giant college race in 19:26.9.
“They (pack) did a really good job keeping a strong pace,” mentioned Boukhtam. “I was hoping to be 10th or somewhere in the top 10.”
Newton North’s Katrina Secinaro went to the beginning line of the senior giant college race with no “high expectations” however got here away together with her first huge meet win. Secinaro received stronger because the race went on and crossed the end line in 19:44.8. Central Catholic’s Olivia Guillet was second in 20:03.
“I thought, ‘can I stay with this (pace),’ ” mentioned Secinaro. “I wasn’t extremely confident, but it all worked out.”
Boys races
Marcus Reilly caught wind of Oliver Ames’ Ryan Sarney’s latest 14:58 effort over the three.1-mile Wrentham Developmental Center course and needed to make a run at a sub-15 time.
The Northbridge junior phenom burned via a gap 4:48 mile, and though he was removed from falling aside, Reilly did sluggish simply sufficient within the unseasonably heat temperatures and wind over the ultimate two miles. Still, Reilly was a straightforward winner within the small college junior/senior in a fast 15:54.8, the quickest time of the day.
“It was just so hot out,” mentioned Reilly. “I’m used to racing when it’s 50 and 60 so it was hard.”
What’s completely clear is that Reilly will likely be a bear to take care of subsequent Saturday when he appears to defend his Div. 3A title in Gardner. And it’s that focus that makes beating, and even difficult a runner with the expertise and toughness of Reilly, an nearly insurmountable feat.
“I’m going for it and I’ll do what I have to to win,” mentioned Reilly, matter of factly. “I’m going to wind it up the last mile and a half and see if anyone goes with me.”
Catholic Memorial’s John Garvey got here away with a brand new private finest on the Wrentham course along with his win within the senior giant college occasion. The senior made a fast transfer to attract away from Waltham’s Brendan Wilder and Sam Buckley of Somerville shortly earlier than passing the mile mark in 4:55.
Garvey was by no means threatened as he bucked a powerful wind and rolled to the gold medal in 15:55. Wilder took second in 16:21.2 and Buckley clinched third along with his 16:33.2.
“I felt fast,” mentioned the personable harrier. “I really wanted to break 16. That’s what I was going for, not for place. We’ve been getting a lot of good training in and training through races.”
Andover’s Ryan Todisco had the race of his life within the junior giant college competitors. Coming into the meet with a private better of 17:45 from final 12 months at Wrentham, Todisco was all enterprise from the gun. He was nicely away from the pack, courtesy of a 4:52 opening mile, and continues to push to the end. Todisco crossed the road in a shocking new PR of 15:57.4. The race was a runaway with Will Pechinsky of St. John’s Prep taking second in 16:31. Milton’s Alex Carew was third in 16:58.5.
Brookline’s Altamo Aschkenesay couldn’t assist however smile when he heard the cheers of the gang within the sophomore giant college race. The Warrior expertise surged and put daylight between himself and a small group of runners proper after a 5:00 opening mile. Aschkenesay cruised house in a really satisfying 16:18.7.
“My coach wanted me to stay back the first mile, but I felt great and decided to go,” he mentioned. “I feel like Superman. I was confident with my decisions.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com