PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Christian Brothers Academy has won just about every possible major distance running title possible in their long storied history.
But this one was different. Very different!
CBA victory in the DMR Championship of America race at the 129th Penn Relays on Friday had a special meaning that made this win bigger than any other for good reason, which is saying alot when you consider that CBA has now won five DMR's at the Penn Relays, and every meaningful NJ XC record the record, won the National XC title in 2011, and has captured multiple national titles on the track.
Why?
Because this one was for Alex!!!!
CBA, in an emotionally charged race that they dedicated to former teammate Alex Kemp, who was a college freshmen when he died tragically this past January, put together a masterpiece in the DMR Championship of America race at Franklin Field, winning its second straight title in historic and heartfelt fashion, freezing the numbers on the clock at 9:59.17, No. 9 in NJ history and No. 3 all-time in Penn Relays!!!
"We've been thinking about Alex and his family ever since he passed away, and we all said that this race was for him,'' said senior Joe Barrett. "He was our friend and teammate and we know he's been looking down on on us, and we wanted to get this wheel for him. There was no stopping us today. This means so much more because of Alex!'' There was no stopping us today because Alex was with us.''
With its fifth DMR title, CBA now owns the second most titles in meet history. Bishop Loughlin of New York has the most with 8!! CBA's other four titles came in 1985, 1988, 2011 and 2024). The only teams that have run faster at Penn in the DMR are Hopewell Valley (9:57.77 in 2018) and Christ School of N.C. (9:58.15 in 2023).
CBA, with two legs returning from the team that won last year, got off to a great start thanks to senior Ryan Schmitt's 3:03.81 that gave the Colts the lead by a step. Schmitt is one f the two newcomers to the DMR this year. Senior Ethan Fianko, one f the state's then took over and did a great job keeping his balance and staying on his feet after getting tangled up with a other runner and dropped a 49.57 quarter to keep CBA near the lead.
Junior Wyatt Falkowski, whose brother, Jack (Class of 2024), ran the 800 here last year, followed with 1:56.25 800 carry to give the baton to Barrett in third place, about 15 meters off the lead.
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Barrett, running his first race since the Indoor Meet of Champions on March 2, did the rest, making a huge surge with 700 to go to seize control of the race as he pounded his way away from the field. With his long strides chewing up the track, Barrett wasn't going to give up the lead, not with his buddy Alex on his mind and with his teammates counting on him to deliver another wheel.
As he approached the finish line with victory locked up, Barrett motioned to the crowd to cheer louder and then gave the shhhh sign as he crossed the line to complete his 4:09.56 anchor carry.
"I was feeling a lot of emotion and was enjoying the moment,'' said the University of North Carolina-bound Barrett. "For those that don't know, my iron was low after the Meet of Champions and I had to take some time off, so I wasn't sure what to expect from myself. But I felt good early in the race, and then when it was time to make my move, I gave it all I had and kept thinking about Alex! This one is for him and his family!'
