Brearley's breakthrough victory in the boys 3x400-meter intermediate hurdles at the 82nd Union County Relays earlier this week at Gary Kehler Stadium in Westfield was built on belief, preparation, and a fearless approach from a trio that refused to be intimidated by the big stage or the bigger programs.
When senior Enrique Corona (57.95-the 3rd fastest time of the meet), sophomore Romeo Carreto (1:01.19) and freshman Ramiro Rodriguez (1:01.33) combined for a winning time of 3:00.47, it marked the first time Brearley had won a boys event on the track at the County Relays in several decades-a historic moment that underscored the program's resurgence and pointed to a bright future.
Brearley, with head coach Matt Pitarresi doing a masterful job along with his assistants Paul Jones-Burden, Justin Cadas and Elliot Platt, also scored in the 4x100, the 4x400, the triple jump and the pole vault.
Carreto said the foundation for the 3x400 hurdles victory was built long before race day.
"Just really the practice leading up to the day was really our main focus, making sure we were in the right headspace and not thinking too much about it," he said. "We were just worrying about our team and no one else."
That mindset proved critical in a race where execution is everything.
"I would say mostly the hurdle training showed up," Carreto added. "Going over the first couple hurdles coming off the turn-that's one of the most important parts of the race. Being able to keep up with kids that have more experience than me."
Rodriguez, competing in just his second 400 hurdles race ever, leaned heavily on belief in a high-pressure moment.
"The key was just believing in myself," he said. "It's my first year doing track, so I knew I had to do whatever it took to compete."
Thrown into the event just days before the meet, Rodriguez embraced the challenge.
"I took a deep breath on the line and told myself I could do this," he said. "On the curve, I gave everything I had left to finish strong."
Corona, the veteran leader of the group, emphasized composure and preparation.
"I just tried my best and gave it everything I had," he said. "Making sure I was mentally ready and focused on my goal made the difference."
The significance of the win wasn't lost on the group, especially given how long it had been since Brearley had reached the top in a track event at County Relays.
"We had the mindset coming in that we were going to win it all and not settle for anything less," said Carreto. "We knew the work we put in, and we weren't going to let that go to waste. It really showed you don't have to go to a big school to be good at track."
Corona echoed that sentiment.
"It really means a lot to me," he said. "My teammates and I put the work in every day, and I'm glad it paid off, especially coming from a small school like ours."
Rodriguez added that the moment carried even more weight because of the doubts surrounding the program.
"We were going against schools that doubted us and said we couldn't hang," he said. "This shows no matter who you are or when you start, you can make a difference."
Each athlete also brought a unique journey into the demanding world of the 400 hurdles.
Carreto only began hurdling recently, discovering a passion for the event almost by accident.
"I started hurdling my freshman year during winter track and really fell in love with it," he said. "I never thought about doing the 400 hurdles until my coach brought it up, and I just said, why not. From last year to this year, I've dropped my PR by over five seconds."
Rodriguez is even newer to the sport, having just picked it up this year.
"It's my first year ever doing track," he said. "I knew I was behind, so I had to work harder than everyone else. This race showed me I can compete if I keep pushing myself."
Corona, meanwhile, returned to hurdling after stepping away earlier in his career.
"I started hurdling when I was around 10 or 12, then stopped to focus on sprinting," he said. "But after seeing our team's potential, I came back to help out."
The race also highlighted the brutal demands of the 400m hurdles, an event widely considered one of the toughest in track.
"I 100 percent agree it's the hardest event," Carreto said. "You're basically running a 400 while maintaining stamina and technique. Your legs are done over the last few hurdles."
Rodriguez embraces that challenge.
"It's a nonstop sprint with obstacles in your way," he said. "I love how it pushes you to your limit."
Corona pointed to the mental side as the biggest factor.
"A lot of it is mindset," he said. "If you stay focused and know your steps, you'll be fine."
Beyond the physical challenge, the trio believes their performance sent a message across Union County.
"We're in it to win it," Carreto said. "We're not going to be some little-name school anymore. We have athletes, and people are going to know who we are."
Rodriguez agreed.
"We may be a small school, but we have a lot of talent," he said. "We can compete with anyone."
Looking ahead, the goals are ambitious.
Carreto is aiming to dip into the 57-58 second range, Rodriguez is focused on improving his time and qualifying for nationals, and Corona is chasing a sub-55 performance.
As a team, their mission is simple.
"We want to keep winning and show what we're capable of," Carreto said. "We're hungry for more."
