During last week’s Weston Twilight Invitational, Everest Crawford got boxed at the start of the 800-meter run and never quite made it near the front of the pack until late in the race. Whether or not that was the determining factor in his eventual second-place finish, the Gloucester junior wasn’t about to let that happen again.
Among the top contenders in the seeded mile at the MSTCA Coaches Invitational Saturday afternoon, Crawford established the front-runner position the minute the smoke cleared the gun and never relinquished his lead, cruising to a personal-best time of 4 minutes, 19.5 seconds.
The Gloucester runner hit his opening 400m at 65 seconds and was 2:12 at 800m. Finishing second in the race was Swampscott senior Matt Mahoney at 4:22.69. Minnechaug Regional senior Russell Wells, who defeated Crawford at Twilight, was third in 4:23.69.
The meet was held at Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical’s athletic complex.
“I was really working on getting out, getting right to the front and getting into position. I did that the best I’ve ever done today,” Crawford stated. “I just said I am going to put the pressure on these guys, if they want to come get me then I’m here. I just kept going, making sure to push on my third 400 and laying down the hammer pretty easy on the fourth one.”
Crawford, the indoor 1,000m state titlist, generally competes in the middle-distance events. He has a best of 2:26 for the 1,000m and runs in the 1:55 to 1:56 range for 800m. The mile is an event he doesn’t compete in that often, but one he may start thinking about in the future.
“I am not positive if it will be mile or 800 at All-States or later on,” he said. “I am definitely looking to get down as far into the low four teens as I can. That would be awesome… Maybe I’ll do the 1,600 in the DMR next week. Probably the next big mile would be at my conference meet. I got a 4:15 guy from indoor running, so that would be a good race.”
Andrew Connolly, a senior from Weston, claimed the title in the javelin with a PB of 186-1. He was five-feet further than his previous best of 181-1.
Connolly had his first-place toss on his second attempt. He got some extra motivation after St. John’s Mitch Early, a No. 6 seed, unleashed his eventual runner-up throw of 182-1.
“I figured I would probably have one more good throw today and put everything into it and managed to get it out there,” he said. “I was really happy.”
Connolly finished 15th at the state meet last year. He’s now the top-ranked thrower in Massachusetts, a position he wouldn’t mind still holding at the state meet in June.
“That would be awesome,” he said. “There is a lot of good competition, all were here today. I think that’s kind of what I am looking at this season. That would be an amazing thing to cap off my track career.”
Dartmouth senior Ethan Biron was a convincing victor in the 400m with a fast 48.92 clocking. That time was just .01 from his winning effort last week at New Bedford Sunset Invitational.
“This was probably my best race overall,” he said. “Today I just didn’t feel anything. My body felt fine. I wasn’t drained at all.”
Biron is realistic on his chances for prosperity in the 400m at the state level, an event that’s also occupied by nationally-ranked and multiple all-stater Andrew Bolze of Hingham. Bolze was third at Saturday’s Loucks Games where he ran 47.76.
“Honestly, he’s untouchable,” Biron said. “He’s incredible. He’s untouchable by anybody but my only hope is to come anywhere near him. He pushes me and I push him. I push him from behind. He pulls me along. We worked together last winter and I think it will be the same this season.”
Nine runners dipped under two minutes in the 800m, a race won by St. John Shrewsbury senior Connor Murphy with a PB of 1:56.85. After hanging behind the pack in the early stages, Murphy surged to the front for good with less than 200m left. Watertown senior James Garbier was second at 1:57.25.
“I just want to see how the race played out and just see how everything unfolded and trust my kick at the end,” Murphy said. “It worked out in my favor.”
Murphy, who had a 1:53.9 split on St. John’s 4x800m squad at the New Balance Nationals this past March, is aiming to get in that range without a baton in his hand.
“I’d like to be between 1:53-1:55,” he said. “Definitely sub 1:54 is my goal for the end of the season.”
In the 200m, Falmouth senior Craig Green won a tight battle over Bridgewater Raynham sophomore Abu Ceesay. Green was timed in 21.88, while Ceesay finished at 22.25.
“I like competition like this because it brings out the competitor in me. The better competition, the faster you are going to be,” said Green, who ran 21.90 in his prelims. “There was some really good competition out here, the fastest in the state. Having (Ceesay) right there helped me accomplish what I wanted to do today.”
The Falmouth sprinter, who was eighth in the finals of the 100m, a race captured by West Springfield senior Mark Pighetti (11.07), has been competing at a high level despite a minor injury.
“I am not running 100 percent,” he said. “I pulled my Achilles. I can’t push off the blocks fast enough.”
Boston College High senior Jordan Samuels was a double-winner. He won the triple jump with a distance of 46-1.75 and was first across the line in the 110m hurdles with an all-time best of 14.42.
Samuels has been a model of consistency throughout his career.
“I think competing every week at such a high level is important. I feel like being consistent is the only way that people know you are serious,” he said. “During the week, it’s just repetition. The basics really help people stay in shape and run their times again, again, and again.”
The B.C. standout’s time in the hurdles is a best by .19 of a second. Last week, he copped the event at the Twilight meet with a time of 14.80.
“I am really excited about it,” he said. “At Twilight I ran 14.8 and then coming out here and being able to shave so much time off. Going into championship season I am really excited to see what I can do.”
How fast would the Northeastern-bound Samuels like to run by the end of the season?
“Our school record is like 14.1. Hopefully that would be the goal,” he said. “Breaking 14 (seconds) would be awesome. I am not sure how many Massachusetts’ kids have done that, but that would be pretty awesome to do that before going off to college. I am just looking to improve myself every time I compete. If I break records, that’s just a bonus.”
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