PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - The stage is all set for Union Catholic vs. IMG, Part 3!
After two epic baton battles indoors in the 4x800-meter relay, both powerhouse programs earned a spot in the Championship of America 4x800 by running the two fastest times in Friday's trials at the 130th Penn Relays at historic Franklin Field.
The 12-team final is scheduled for Saturday at 4:40 p.m., and will also include Hackensack, who qualified for the 4x800 C of A for the first time ever after running!!!! But Hackensack may not run in the C of A. If they qualify for the 4x400 COA race tomorrow, tney may run that instead.
UC and IMG ran conservatively to leave as much in the tank as they can for tomorrow's clash. UC won their heat in 7:46.61, the 4th fastest time, and IMG of Florida finished first in their heat in 7:48.74, the 8th fastest time. Jamaica College shouldn't be overlooked after running the top qualifying time of 7:43.56. Hackensack finished second to Jamaica College in a school record 7:46.11.
Let's go inside the UC-IMG matchup, who met twice indoors.
UC won both indoor showdowns with IMG of Florida by less than a second. At the Millrose Games in New York, UC was first in 7:37.96 and IMG was second in 7:38.47. In their rematch at the New Balance National Championships in Boston, UC smashed the national indoor record with a winning time of 7:35.05 and IMG was again second in 7:35.28, No. 2 all-time in U.S. indoor history.
Ciaran Brosnan, UC's anchor, said he's confident his squad is ready to drop something fast and get the win.
"We did what we had to do today to make the final, and we will be ready rip tomorrow,'' said the University of Virginia-bound Brosnan.
With the top teams holding back, the times in the final should be red hot, although the expected rainy conditions could affect that, but
Brosnan still feels it could take a time under 7:30 to win, which would shatter the NJ record of 7:31.60 that was set by Morris Hills when it finished second to Albemarle of Va. at the 2009 Penn Relays.
"I'm from Ireland, so I don't mind the rain,'' Brosnan joked.
UC's splits on Friday were 1:57.74 for Elijah McCoy, 1:56.91 for Keandre Kelly, 1:56.59 for Quintin Clemons, and 1:55.39 for Brosnan, who closed fast to secure the victory.
The UC boys are seeking their second wheel. In 2022, UC won the DMR with Shane Brosnan on anchor, Ciaran's brother.
For Hackensack, Devin DeCambre ran 1:58.98, Mike McGinnity split 1:56.16, Dustin DeCambre went 1:57.91 and Seven Garcia closed it out with a 1:53.08!
"This is what we came here to do,'' said Garcia. "It's nice to put Hackensack on the map on this big stage, but we have more work to do in the 4x400!'
Both DeCambre's and Garcia will be running for Hackensack in their 4x400 heat on Saturday morning.
Garica said if they make the 4x400 COA final, which is scheduled for later in the day on Saturday, they may opt to run in that race instead of the 4x800 COA. The schedule is just too tight on Saturday for Hackensack to run both COA races. The 4x800 is at 4:40 p.m. and the 4x800 is at 5:50 p.m.
"Whichever race we are seeded higher in and feel like we will do better in, that's the race we will go for,'' said Garcia.
