CBA's Joe Barrett Burns Fastest 3,200 Time in NJ History

Joe Barrett of Christian Brothers Academy ran into the history book on Saturday night to cap off an epic performance by CBA's distance crew when the junior threw down a jaw-dropping 8:43.26, the fastest time ever by a NJ runner in a 3,200-meter race, at the Arcadia Invitational in California.

In a race that saw a mind-boggling 38 runners break 9:00 and 27 go under 8:50, Barrett finished 16th in the invitational race, which was the most loaded 3,200 field ever assembled! The race was won for the second straight year by Daniel Simmons of American Fork in Utah in 8:34.96, just off the US No. 5 all-time 8:34.14 he ran to win a year ago.  

The 8:43.26 by Barrett shattered the NJ 3,200 record of 8:46.04 that was set by the legendary Craig Forys of Colts Neck at the 2007 Henderson Invitational in West Chester, Pa. In case you're wondering, all-time great Joe Rosa of West Windsor-Plainsboro North owns the NJ record for two-miles of 8:44.06, which he ran to win the 2010 New Balance National title.

The splits for Barrett, who ran 4:17.64 over the final 1,600, were 1:06.31, 2:13.70 (1:07.40), 3:19.24 (1:05.54), 4:25.62 (1:06.38), 5:31.05 (1:05.44), 6:36.08 (1:05.04), 7:39.58 (1:03.50), and he closed in 1:03.39 to stop the clock at 8:43.26 

Barrett's histotrc run put an exclamation point on an amazing distance performance by CBA, which had five runners run under 9:15 in the 3,200!!!! I can't find another team in NJ history to put five under 9:15 in the same season!!! CBA had four guys break 9:15 back in 2013 (Jack Boyle, Blaise Ferro, Tom Rooney, and Mike McClemens). 

It all started in the 3200 heats on Friday night when senior Alex Kemp ran 9:06.72, senior Conor Clifford went 9:08.47, senior Jack Falkowski finished in 9:13.93, and sophomore Luke Hnatt clocked an 9:14.87. CBA followed that up by placing third in the seeded 6,400 relay in 17:53.95.

On Saturday, Clifford ran 4:16.70 to finish seventh in the mile.   

Then Barrett finished off CBA's remarkable distance show under the lights on Saturday night with his record-breaking 8:43.26.   

Five guys on the same team under 9:15 in the same meet!!!!

Amazing!!!!