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Sean Dolan headed into the Meet of Champions on Saturday with one big piece missing from his incredible track and field resume.
That all changed for the senior at Hopewell Valley in the span of just 4:09.14 when he blasted away from a very talented field to win the 1,600-meter run.
Dolan, like he always does, used his vaunted big kick over the final 400 to crank out a 57.0 last lap to secure his first M of C individual victory. His 4:09.14 is the ninth fastest time in meet history, and NJ#1 this season.
Dolan, second in the 800 at the M of C last spring, actually won a national title (the mile at the 2018 New Balance Outdoor Nationals) before he won a M of C title.
"It's a relief,'' said the Villanova-bound Dolan. "This is one I really, really wanted. The entire year was geared toward winning this race. I'm just so happy it went the way it did. All I wanted this year was a Meet of Champions title, and now I finally got it."
Although Dolan was hoping to make a run at the meet record of 4:07.31 set in 2012 by Chris Marco of Toms River South, he didn't waver from his strategy of staying patient after the race went out in 64.8 for the first 400m, and 2:06.3 at 800m.
After hitting 1,200 in 3:12.1, Dolan took charge at the bell.
Invitatinal at the University of Washington in Seattle this Saturday. "I built some separation, saved some for the last 200, and really punched it down the stretch.''
Dolan's career and season will go down as one of the most impressive in state history.
In addition to his 4:09.14, Dolan also leads the state in the 800 this season with the meet record 1:50.53 he ran to win the state Group 3 title, and he ran 9:02.66 in the 3,200 last month, which is NJ#2 behind only the 9:01.90 that national indoor champ Devin Hart of Point Pleasant Boro ran to win his third straight M of C title.
Dolan is one of just two runners in state history who have run under 1:51 in the 800, under 4:10 in the mile, and under 9:03 in the 3,200. The only other runner from N.J. to do that in high school is the legendary Edward Cheserek of St. Benedict's Prep.
That's some fast company!!!!
