Albemarle 7:30.7-ish, Morris Hills 7:31.5

[Reuben Frank]

both under national record

[Trsalum]

insane!! I don't see how that is possible for a high school team..I am glad I don't run in this era, these kids are monsters!

[Reuben Frank]

1) Albemarle (Charlottesville, VA) 7:30.67
Garrett Bradley (1:55.43)
Zach Vrhovac (1:50.57)
Luke Noble (1:55.34)
Anthony Kostelac (1:49.33)

2) Morris Hills (Rockaway, NJ) 7:31.60
Vincent Chiusano (1:55.22)
Lucas Clyne (1:52.17)
Sean Pohorence (1:53.56)
Liam Tansey (1:50.65)

3) Central Bucks South (Warrington, PA) 7:36.93
Jeff Dickson (1:57.20)
Matt Poiesz (1:53.41)
Dave Manion (1:56.53)
Tom Mallon (1:49.79)

4) Jamaica College (Kingston 6, JA) 7:37.73
Layon Folkes (1:54.54)
Earl Grant (1:54.34)
Rushain Murray (1:54.50)
Waquar Dacosta (1:54.35)

5) Calabar (Kingston 20, JA) 7:39.90
Sean Robinson (1:57.00)
Odwayne Marsh (1:53.87)
Marlon Dixon (1:55.82)
Rory Rhoden (1:53.21)

6) Bellefield Comprehensive (Mandeville, JA) 7:40.71
Kemoy Campbell (1:52.53)
Hodane Tomlin (1:54.38)
Delroy Pennant (1:58.21)
Selvin Facey (1:55.59)

7) Henderson (West Chester, PA) 7:51.52
Luke Lefebure (1:59.71)
Will Kellar (1:55.90)
Achraf Khattabi (1:57.07)
Sam Zengel (1:58.84)

8 Monsignor Farrell (Staten Island, NY) 7:53.20
9 North Penn (Lansdale, PA) 7:53.30
10 Abington (Abington, PA) 7:56.74
11 Washington Township (Sewell, NJ) 8:13.65

[Reuben Frank]

C.B. South is #14 in US history and gets barely 3rd

[Joe Lanzalotto]

A truly epic race, one for the ages. Unbelievable legs by MH and Allbemarle. Bellefield runs 7:40 and finishes 6th!!!

King, take long deep breaths... I know I have to!

[TMG]

Breathtaking performances -- congrats to the Mo Hills kids, their coaches and all their supporters. Along with Nick Vena, you guys keep raising the bar for all track athletes in Morris County.

[Cfelski]

Breathtaking performances -- congrats to the Mo Hills kids, their coaches and all their supporters. Along with Nick Vena, you guys keep raising the bar for all track athletes in Morris County.

in Morris County? How about America?

[TMG]

Yes, very true!! Morris County new hotbed of T&F in USA.

[JustRun07]

Yes, very true!! Morris County new hotbed of T&F in USA.

So it's moved from the Shore Conf to Morris County.

For THIS year... ;)

[bongturk]

a race for the ages. i didn't think morris hills would be that close, and considering that albemarle ran six seconds(?) faster than they did indoors, what morris hills did was truly remarkable. you were right, king, i, for one, was surprised.
congrats to the athletes and coaches (and super fan number one).
some really unbelievable races today.

[king99]

Bonger, I was not that right, the best I could get Morris Hills to add to was about 7:35.x high 7:36 if they hit it all right.

When I looked at my watch with one leg to go, I said if Tansey runs 1:51, they run like 7:32, I was horrified.

What a race, it was the best race for me that I ever saw. I did not see DMR back in the day with Bernards and Willingboro.

Two teams under what I truely thought was an unreachable 4 x 8 NR .

You run 7:31.60 and get beat? There is nothing, nothing you can do. Every guy PR's relay wise, and third is a well beaten 7:36, I have not seen that very often!!:D

[Rob A]

Wow!

That's all I have to say, great job by mo hills! The splits these guys ran in unreal, imagine what the county 800 and 1600 are going be like? Hot damn.

[beenthere]

WOW!! I don't think anyone saw that coming including the coaches. It shows you what great competition will do for you. Congrats to coaches and especially the runners for just going with it!!

[BUGS1776]

Great stuff, just unbelievable, is there video of this race?

[NJXC21]

Great stuff, just unbelievable, is there video of this race?

http://www.flotrack.org/videos/coverage/view_video/234918/173892
this gave me chills even though i knew the outcome

[gould]

Amazing race. All four guys fought every step of the way. They showed a ton of guts ... 2nd fastest 4x8 ever run ... AWESOME!!!!

We were rooting hard for you guys from the stands. Be proud of how hard you fought today. Congratulations!!

Brian Gould
WW-P North

[Jack Martin]

I thought when I was a part of a team in 1964 that ran 7:45 that we we were good-FUGETABOUTIT!! You guys( MoHills) rule. Outsatanding race.
Martin

[njrunz]

Absolutely insane. Amazing run by Mo Hills.

[runxc08]

sick...words dont even describe it

[LDrunr4L]

WOW!! I don't think anyone saw that coming including the coaches. It shows you what great competition will do for you. Congrats to coaches and especially the runners for just going with it!!

You'd be surprised how ridiculously close coach's prediction the night before our race was.... it was less than a second slower.

Thank you to everyone who was rootin' for us! When I was in the paddock area, all I could hear was "GO MO HILLS!" from people high up in the stands (from my DBP boys! ;) ) and a bunch of other people just shouting out for us. Thanks for the support!

[Blackbeard]

I 've heard a million stories about the Bernards- Boro brawl in 83- but with my own eyes- I've never seen a group run as hard as Mo- Hills did today- I don't care if Tansey and Pohorence become president- leave room on the tomb stone for this one- incredible.

congrats Coach Robinson.

[Reuben Frank]

I don't care if Tansey and Pohorence become president- leave room on the tomb stone for this one- incredible.



http://bestsmileys.com/clapping/2.gif

[Scotty]

I 've heard a million stories about the Bernards- Boro brawl in 83- but with my own eyes- I've never seen a group run as hard as Mo- Hills did today- I don't care if Tansey and Pohorence become president- leave room on the tomb stone for this one- incredible.

congrats Coach Robinson.

I watched that 1983 race from the front row of the homestretch, but this 4x8 was more exciting.

Great job by MoHills. They still have 2 more shots at the Monsters from Albermarle. Stay tuned.:)

[king99]

Everyone knows by now how I shill for Morris Hills, I have seen Track meets or been in them for 35 years, I NEVER saw anything like this.And I saw Auburn Hills 7:32.89

Tansey was 55.9 to 400 in in 54.7, must have been 26.x last 200 and Albermarle is just fantastic to see a group of Mo Hills guys go under what I thought was an amazingly strong 4 x 8 NR by 1.29 was absurd, Albermarle better, what can you do.

I lost my voice, a good thing for many I am sure, a great day and meet for me to see.

[LDrunr4L]

:D :eek: Everyone knows by now how I shill for Morris Hills, I have seen Track meets or been in them for 35 years, I NEVER saw anything like this.And I saw Auburn Hills 7:32.89

Tansey was 55.9 to 400 in in 54.7, must have been 26.x last 200 and Albermarle is just fantastic to see a group of Mo Hills guys go under what I thought was an amazingly strong 4 x 8 NR by 1.29 was absurd, Albermarle better, what can you do.

I lost my voice, a good thing for many I am sure, a great day and meet for me to see.

If you want to know, it was actually a 24.High or maybe 25.Low last 200m... Kostelac went either 24.Low or 23.High last 200m...

Not only couldn't you speak... but you should've seen your face!!

[Joe Lanzalotto]

You'd be surprised how ridiculously close coach's prediction the night before our race was.... it was less than a second slower.

Just to show you how well he knows this stuff, this is from an e mail conversation I had with Sean on 3/27/09 - a month ago -

"I think Lucas fresh can go 1:52 high" (actual split 1:52.17)

"I think Sean will run 1:55 twice for us @ Penn" (actual splits 1:56.3 and 1:53.56)

[king99]

Vinny my face is always the same, but I think I may have stressed the BP meds this weekend.I was not upset. More unbelievably excited I think?

By the way in addition to many inspired legs this weekend, Pohorence's 1:53.56 was one of them watch video, not many two milers can get that quick lately.

[Scotty]

:D :eek:

If you want to know, it was actually a 24.High or maybe 25.Low last 200m... Kostelac went either 24.Low or 23.High last 200m...



I get Kostelac at 24.4 coming in. 25.4 for Tansey (more or less dead even with 200m to go)

[king99]

Only April 25th, I cannot wait to see what Hills and others can spin at DMR
So this weekend in NJ alone we get:

Hills :7:31.60

Vena: a SOPH 72+ SP which is almost , I do not even know what to say there.

Andrews: 4:06.2 anchor tied for 6-7 All Time

10:11 WW and 10:12.x Manalapan and 10:15 DBP DMR's, good to see Molke at 3:07.7 back at it.

Apwah runs on winning Champ of America DMR

Novak 1:48.x on 4 x8

[king99]

Good job Scotty, faster than I thought but absolutley flying for Hs'ers.

[JustRun07]

Only April 25th, I cannot wait to see what Hills and others can spin at DMR
So this weekend in NJ alone we get:

Hills :7:31.60

Vena: a SOPH 72+ SP which is almost , I do not even know what to say there.

Andrews: 4:06.2 anchor tied for 6-7 All Time

10:11 WW and 10:12.x Manalapan and 10:15 DBP DMR's, good to see Molke at 3:07.7 back at it.

Apwah runs on winning Champ of America DMR

Novak 1:48.x on 4 x8

Don't forget the NJ girls dominance in the college 3k.

[LDrunr4L]

A truly epic race, one for the ages. Unbelievable legs by MH and Allbemarle. Bellefield runs 7:40 and finishes 6th!!!

King, take long deep breaths... I know I have to!

in Morris County? How about America?

I LOL'ed really hard at both of these....!

[Joe Lanzalotto]

I LOL'ed really hard at both of these....!

By the time you saw me, I had calmed down a little, but to no one's dismay, I have no voice at all today and I didn't lose it yelling at the women's OD race.

[homeless]

Holy crap....just watched the video. Amazing. Congrats to MoHills. You are legends, forever. People are going to be talking about this race 50 years from now...

[lambert]

Joe,

nice job by you and your split crew pals. Love the auto times for splits.
Thanks for the help on that yesterday.

[Reuben Frank]

Joe,

nice job by you and your split crew pals. Love the auto times for splits.
Thanks for the help on that yesterday.

just read your story, jim, great stuff

will say it's absolutely impossible to find it on dyestatmetro.com

i looked for 10 minutes and never found it till you posted the direct link

[lambert]

Holy crap....just watched the video. Amazing. Congrats to MoHills. You are legends, forever. People are going to be talking about this race 50 years from now...

Between Vena's 72-2 1/2 on Friday and what Albemarle and Mo Hills did yesterday, those were the two greatest high school track moments I've ever witnessed.

They both go alongside Forys' Holmdel record as the top 3 performances that I have been fortunate enough to have seen!

Congrats to Vena and Morris Hills.

Not only are they great talents, but the character and class that Vena and the Morris Hills guys always show are equally as impressive.

By the way, 81-3 1/2 is now 9 feet and one inch away from Vena's personal best.

It's time for South Plainfield to extend its throwing area!

[lambert]

just read your story, jim, great stuff

will say it's absolutely impossible to find it on dyestatmetro.com

i looked for 10 minutes and never found it till you posted the direct link

Thanks.

What a friggin meet!!!!!!!!!!!

How about McDonald's weekend for Vols!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow!

[Joe Lanzalotto]

Between Vena's 72-2 1/2 on Friday and what Albemarle and Mo Hills did yesterday, those were the two greatest high school track moments I've ever witnessed.

They both go alongside Forys' Holmdel record as the top 3 performances that I have been fortunate enough to have seen!

Congrats to Vena and Morris Hills.

Not only are they great talents, but the character and class that Vena and the Morris Hills guys always show are equally as impressive.

By the way, 81-3 1/2 is now 9 feet and one inch away from Vena's personal best. It's time for South Plainfield to extend its throwing area!

I always love working Penn. Glad to help with the splits and info.

So far there will be 4 70-foot throwers at NON, counting Vena who told me that he would be there when I talked to him after the indoor state meet. Last year the shot there was a breat competition; this year will be unreal. There certainly has never been a high school competition where four guys came in as 70 foot throwers; I hope that they all go + 70 there and push each other hard.

[lambert]

I always love working Penn. Glad to help with the splits and info.

So far there will be 4 70-foot throwers at NON, counting Vena who told me that he would be there when I talked to him after the indoor state meet. Last year the shot there was a breat competition; this year will be unreal. There certainly has never been a high school competition where four guys came in as 70 foot throwers; I hope that they all go + 70 there and push each other hard.

There has never been more than 2 70 plus throwers in the U.S. in the same season before, so this will truly be one of the greatest track and field events ever staged.

I will not miss this!

[Reuben Frank]

How about McDonald's weekend for Vols!!!!!!!!!!!! Wow!

yeah, two Championship of America wins for Kimarra ... not sure people know her but she ran at Rancocas Valley

ran the 400 on Tennessee's DMR and led off the 4x8 collegiate record yesterday

and -- most importantly -- gave me an excuse to interview sarah bowman, her roommate

my story: http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/news_details/article/678/2009/april/26/big-weekend-for-mcdonald.html

[TMG]

Only April 25th, I cannot wait to see what Hills and others can spin at DMR
So this weekend in NJ alone we get:

Hills :7:31.60

Vena: a SOPH 72+ SP which is almost , I do not even know what to say there.

Andrews: 4:06.2 anchor tied for 6-7 All Time

10:11 WW and 10:12.x Manalapan and 10:15 DBP DMR's, good to see Molke at 3:07.7 back at it.

Apwah runs on winning Champ of America DMR

Novak 1:48.x on 4 x8

King -- must add Renee Tomlin of Ocean City, NJ to this list. She had a fabulous weekend at Penn running:

Thursday -- 2:06.4 800 leg on 2nd place Georgetown DMR team (losing to Tenn by less than 1 second)

Friday -- 4:16.7 1500 leg again on 2nd place G'town team to Tenn

Saturday -- 2:06.6 leg on 3rd place 4 x 800 team

[Reuben Frank]

King -- must add Renee Tomlin of Ocean City, NJ to this list. She had a fabulous weekend at Penn running:

Thursday -- 2:06.4 800 leg on 2nd place Georgetown DMR team (losing to Tenn by less than 1 second)

Friday -- 4:16.7 1500 leg again on 2nd place G'town team to Tenn

Saturday -- 2:06.6 leg on 3rd place 4 x 800 team

Tomlin looked phenomenal

gave Georgetown a pretty sizable lead in that DMR

[1986]

I was in the stands watching that race with my mouth open! That was the best 4x800 Boys race I've seen at Penn since the 1983 Willingboro boys won it in 7:41 and some change I believe. Unbelievable!!!!

[Murphxc04]

Penn Relays just has an indescribable magic too it. And most of it happens off the track.

I get there about 3 Friday and sit with Villanova and my friend (Northern Highlands grad) says to me "Yo Murph, Ramsey is right there, I talked to Wynne)...so they're sitting right in front of Villanova and I go say hi to my old coach and as I'm talking to him I see something astonishing. 2 years ago Ramsey's girls were leading their 4x4 heat going into the final leg and Ramsey's anchor was ran down by Kristen Mahon of Notre Dame (now at Villanova). So I spot Kristen and I realize that she is sitting next to our anchor's younger brother whose currently on Ramsey's team, and its clear both of them have no idea who the other is:rolleyes: ...unbelievable.

Then after the jubilation of our DMR victory (absolutely awesome, better than basketball)..the Nova crowd dwindles down and I'm sitting behind Laura O'Sullivan and Kristen O'Dowd whose combined 3 brothers are running 3 different legs of the HS DMR for 2 different schools...

We sat at the near end of the backstretch by the hurdle start area so while we're on the way out after Haile's dissapointment I am debating just taking the nearest exit to 33rd or walking around the stadium for one last taste for the atmosphere. I go with the latter and I'm immediately rewarded with bumbing into Marcus and shaking his hand. (The look on his face told me I was one of probably a dozen or so congratulations he got whose face he didn't recognize) then less than 30 seconds later I bid farewell to Papazian, and then outside the stadium (in the excavation maze) I run into a girl from my senior com project group whose brother had run St. Joes Prep's 1200 leg...

Wandered into New Deck almost accidentally, and it was like a track mecca. Never seen so many backpacks at a bar. Tauro passed with in feet of me and I almost said hey cause it took me a second to figure out who she was...then Hernandez and the Texas crew took the table next to us. Fantastic Food.

As for the NJ performances...astonishing. Apwah was just perfect. Pushed hard the whole leg than layed up like he was told to. Andrews is scary. Really didn't look at all like he went in 59, looked pretty Relaxed. When the whole field compressed on lap 2, I thought he had a chance to take the whole thing. Garrett Kroner and I called 3rd when he hit the last lap. The far turn explosion was mortifying. Not sure if he ran the smartest leg but he sure as hell was impressive. DMR was great, just a little anticlimatic. I didn't which Rosa was which and I thought Joe was on the anchor so I was surprised when they were passed. Heck of an effort by Bosco too. Wish the 4x8 had been Friday, it is still blowing my mind.

I think I saw Bennett too in the crowd but since I wasn't positive I pansied out:o ... A woman wearing a Bennett camp shirt was sitting behind me, yelling at her son not to knock off my french fries:D

For me what is the best college weekend of the year (coincides with our Springfest) was by far the greatest its been in my 4 years here. Just Epic.

[Kniteryder]

Hat's off to the Morris Hills team, I know absolutely NONE of you guys, but was 1 of the reasons I lost my voice cheering...what was even better was that I had a little section of the 1st 3rows at the top of the straight of the final 100 rooting for you guys...

Of course the few americans who I was sitting with, then surprisingly, a few jamaicans because they realized the effort you guys were giving...job well done to you guys and coaches alike, you guys did a masterful job!

Can't ask for more than that...

One of the best Penn weekends that I've been too....

[Reuben Frank]

great stuff, murph ... that really captures what being at penn is all about ... the combination of insanity on the track and constantly running into so many people you know or kind of know or think you know (or don't know but want to know) is amazing ...

Apwah was just perfect. Pushed hard the whole leg than layed up like he was told to.

glad you mentioned this ... marcus spoke at length at the presser about how important it was for apwah to get the stick to gibney close but not quite in the lead so gibney didn't have to lead from the get-go or slow down and let arkansas get ahead ... apwah followed the instructions perfectly and the game plan worked perfectly ... gibney settled in, ran comfortably, conserved, then made his move when the time was right ... it was a brilliant strategy and it was awesome hearing marcus speak about it in detail. i love that X & O type of stuff on that level. winning a race like that isn't just being fit or running hard ... even something that seems as insignificant as easing up just a tiny bit at the 800-1600 handoff can be the difference between a win and a loss ... great great stuff

[Joe Lanzalotto]

Interesting point about the handoffs, Roob. Having a birds-eye view of the handoffs for the entire meet I have to say that it is no wonder that our elite teams can't get the stick around the track. It seems that very few teams practice and instruct on the most effective way to handoff. We saw some bizarre handoffs during the 4 x 4s especially, teams that lsot literally 3 - 4 seconds because they don't know how to pass the stick. It's especially important in the mob scene that characterizes many Penn races.

[GeorgieTheK]

Interesting point about the handoffs, Roob. Having a birds-eye view of the handoffs for the entire meet I have to say that it is no wonder that our elite teams can't get the stick around the track. It seems that very few teams practice and instruct on the most effective way to handoff. We saw some bizarre handoffs during the 4 x 4s especially, teams that lsot literally 3 - 4 seconds because they don't know how to pass the stick. It's especially important in the mob scene that characterizes many Penn races.

In most teams' defense though, there is simply no way to prepare for the type of handoffs that occur at Penn in a 4 x 4. Even the knock-down drag 'em out races indoors at the Armory can't simulate it.

At Penn they put you out in order very early, and there's a lot of changing position that's going on. It's not uncommon for a team that is leading to wind up 6th (or worse) at the exchange zone. And vice versa. Trying to swap places or find your teammates in a mass of humanity tying up can be nearly impossible. Practice is important, for sure, as is tactics like Roob mentioned, but you also need a bit of luck.

In any case, that's taking away from the real point of this thread, which is the FREAKIN' AWESOME race between Mo Hills and Albemarle. It's been said already, but its the best h.s. 4 x 8 ever. Everyone ran the race of their lives. Some were just a tad bit better, but Mo Hills should be holding their heads extremely high after that. Tough loss, but an incredible race.

Knowing how close relay teams can get, especially one that is senior dominated, I hope these guys treasure the moments they had. While they didn't win, they brought nearly 50,000 people to their feet - something few high school kids will ever do. Heck few college kids do it, and when it comes down to it, unless you're running at the Olympics or World Champs - few professionals will ever do it. It's special.

And they still do have another shot later in the year - it ain't over yet!

Again, awesome race. It will go down in Penn Relays history. Not much more praise you can say than that.

[dcsonic17]

I know this is late(work really has been eating up my Dyestat time...freakin real world) but I got chills reading this thread...don't follow as much as I use to, but I knew MH had been beaten a few times by this team and some questioned them going for 4x8 again and I give these kids full big time KUDOS to having a missing and going after it!

They displayed lots of guts on that track, but even more in stepping to the line again and taking that team on.

Nationals??

Man I miss T&F in NJ:(

[king99]

Oh it was unbelievable, apparently took so much out of me that :

I had Flu all day Sunday and Monday could not get out of bed.Then the Swine Flu scare so I finally went to Doctor's today, still not right, but no Swine Flu

[TMG]

CDC Warning: ***DO NOT DO THIS!!!***