FITCHBURG — The two mile run is a grueling occasion that may typically lack the thrill of a sprinting race or the pole vault. Despite this, it was the occasion to observe at opening day of the MIAA Meet of Champions.
That’s as a result of St. John Prep’s Nathan Lopez, the two-time defending champ on the meet, got here in with an opportunity to interrupt a meet document that’s stood since 2004. That is strictly what the senior, a University of Michigan commit, did in a time of 8:59.29.
“Just to have my name in the record books, even if it’s just for a little bit, is something special,” Lopez mentioned. “It definitely doesn’t outweigh the emotion that comes with winning this title for the third time. That was something that was super, super big on my list of things I wanted to accomplish to close out my senior year.”
As Lopez approached the end line, he saved room for theatrics. The crowd was up from the beginning, and as Lopez approached the house stretch, just a few fist bumps to the group preceded the ultimate steps.
“I don’t even know how to describe it,” Lopez mentioned. “It is something I will never forget. Having people cheering the whole way was something that just sucked me into the race.”
St. John’s Prep coach Zach Lankow mentioned that whereas Lopez’s focus was on merely profitable the occasion, incomes a spot in historical past is one thing that helps this system construct as a complete.
“The number one priority was winning, and the meet record is nice,” Lankow mentioned. “He ran nine flat last week and we knew he could certainly run faster. There were some really great athletes who went for the record and didn’t get it, so I’m really happy he could get it.”
“The alumni get really excited when someone breaks a record,” Lankow mentioned. “Maybe someday somebody will be calling him to say that they broke that record, and he’ll be pretty excited.”
Other sturdy performances got here from Tewksbury’s Jayani Santos and Wellesley’s Christopher Brooks, who took house the 200-meter championship within the ladies and boys divisions, respectively.
In the ladies pentathlon, Franklin’s Sarah Dumas took house the victory, profitable three of the 5 whole occasions. She mentioned the rounded nature of the occasion is what helps her succeed.
“You have five opportunities to grow,” Dumas mentioned. “It’s a great opportunity to get better in all five of those events, and that is what pushes me.”
The boys pentathlon was received by Weymouth’s Brandon Reilly. Although the occasion shouldn’t be scored formally by the MIAA, the Eagles took house the boys lead for the day with 23 factors, whereas the Billerica ladies have been first with 19.
Source: www.bostonherald.com