Top runners pitch in to keep the boys 3,200 fast

By Mary Albl for Dyestat

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- Just north of New York City, tucked away in Westchester County, White Plains High School is slowly becoming one of the premier destinations in the country for distance runners.

Home to the Glenn D. Loucks Games, the boys 3,200-meter event has highlighted the three-day meet.

A year ago, New York's Mikey Brannigan made headlines with his state and meet record 8:42.92. Ten runners finished under nine minutes. It was a race for the ages.

Friday night may have topped that. Under rainy conditions, New York's Noah Affolder and Aidan Tooker led a deep and talented field that featured 11 runners finish under nine minutes. Affolder, a junior from Carthage, won the race in 8:47.60. Tooker was runner-up in 8:49.27.

"It's the field and the energy of this place," Tooker said. "We are familiar with each other. (It's) definitely something special to be a part of and this is where you should be if you're in the Northeast."

Tooker, a senior, who took on the duties of leading the race for a portion, explained it was a group effort to produce the results.

La Salle Academy of RI's trio of DJ Principe, Matt Bouthillette and Jack Salisbury were front runners at a point. Fordham Prep's Conor Lundy and Brien McMahon CT's Eric van der Els both appeared to take control at points as well. A handful of runners are willing to run for time not result.

"You know it's going to be fast, you hope it's going to be fast, and you saw a lot of different lead changes and it just took the effort of everyone in the field to run as fast as we did," Tooker said. "If one of those didn't step up at the time they did, it could (have) slowed down. It could have been a nine flat."

On the bell lap Tooker looked to be in control, but with about 150 meters to go, Affolder went into a different gear and powered his way down the final straightaway for the victory. His time was also a New York junior class record.

(When) Noah is turning over like that, that's kind of your biggest fear," Tooker said. "He showed his wheels."

Both Tooker and Affolder are Syracuse commits and now have the third and fourth fastest 3,200 times in the nation.

Lundy finished third in 8:49.75, van der Els was fourth (8:50.53) and Bouthillette finished fifth in a Rhode Island state record of 8:51.23.

"Hopefully the tradition just keeps rolling and it stays something that's really special," Tooker said of Loucks. "And it will be something that I'll be able to say, 'Wow, I was part of the very beginning of that.'"

Freshman Kelsey Chmiel sets state record

Saratoga Springs freshman Kelsey Chmiel didn't let a depleted girls 3,200 lineup affect her outcome. Chmiel led from start to finish finishing in 10:19.39, which is a New York freshman class state record.

"As soon as I knew that a couple people dropped out, I was just going to keep my time as fast as it would be if they were in the race," she said.

"Chmiel said she's been used to running solo and with a competitive pack recently so she was prepared for the circumstances.

"It's kind of nice to be on a fast track by yourself," she said.

Her time ranks her in the top 10 for 3,200 this season.

"That's a good time for right now and hopefully I'll be able to beat it," Chmiel said.

Watson repeats as 800 champ

Rush-Henrietta junior standout middle-distance runner Samantha Watson had to work for a repeat of her 800 crown Friday evening.

Connecticut's Danae Rivers, a Penn State commit, and Hamilton's Sage Hurta were part of a group that didn't shy away from challenging Watson. But a strong final lap propelled Watson to a convincing 2:06.61 win.

"I felt very relaxed and ready going in," Watson said. "I knew I could do well, but I got boxed in and I think I was nervous; I didn't want to take it out too fast, but I need to learn to, because I'm trying to PR – by a lot."

Watson has goals of 2:03. But with 2:06, she said she was happy with it given everything.

"I felt good the whole way, especially breaking away," Watson said.

Watson led a field of four girls that clocked under 2:10. Hurta was runner-up in 2:08.77, while Rivers was third in 2:08.87.

"I am pretty happy with my time ... chipping away," River said.

In the boys 800, Tyler Gleen of Trumbull CT easily won in 1:52.22.

In the 200 finals, Halle Hazzard from St. Anthony's NY won in 24.71 seconds, while Malik Lewis of Poughkeepsie finished first in the boys final in 22.02.