The long awaited showdown in the 4x800-meter relay between national indoor champion Union Catholic and defending champion Herriman of Utah wasn't the classic duel that was expected after some misfortune struck UC at Friday's New Balance National Championships at Franklin Field in Philadelphia.
With both teams appearing to be evenly matched on paper, there was some thought that with all the firewpower that UC and Herriman possesed the national record of 7:26.12 that Herriman ran to win here last year could go down, and that the two teams could produce a battle for the ages in a race that could come right down the wire.
But on the opening leg, UC senior Keandre Kelly got cut off, causing him to lose his balance and his footing. Kelly, UC's fastest 800 runner who had charged out to an lead early, did a great job staying on his feet, but the mishap cost him vaulable time, (probably about 4-5 seconds) as the Vikings fell back to 12th place.
UC's second and third runners, junior Quintin Clemons (1:52.12) and senior Elijah McCoy (1:52.74) responded with very strong carries to move UC back up to second place at the final exchange, but Herriman was comfortably in front by about 20 meters when star anchor Jackson Spencer, the top distance runner in the nation, grabbed the stick.
Spencer, who won the NBN 5K title on Thursday, split 1:49.52 to bring Herriman across the line first in a U.S. No. 5 all-time 7:29.44. Ciaran Brosnan secured the runner-up spot and All-American honors for UC with a 1:52.05 carry as the Vikings clocked a 7:34.50.
UC fought valianty after the unfortunate chain of events, but it was just too much too overcome.
But one race doesn't define a season!
What Kelly, Clemons, McCoy and Brosnan did this year was historic!
Check out these eye-popping numbers!!!
During the indoor season, Kelly, Clemons, McCoy and Brosnan won the 4x800 at the New Balance National Championships in Boston and broke the national record by running 7:35.05. Kelly and Brosnan also finished 1-2 in the 800 at the NJ Indoor Meet of Champions in March at Ocean Breeze with Kelly finshing a couple strides ahead.
Then this spring, the same foursome shared the baton when the Vikings ran 7:32.78, No. 14 in U.S history, to finish first in the 4x800 at the Arcadia Invitational in April in California. A couple weeks later, they won 4x800 at the Penn Relays in a driving rainstorm at Franklin Field.
There was plenty more!!
Indivudally this season, Kelly ran a NJ No. 1 time of 1:49.70, which is No. 11 in NJ history. The University of Virginia-bound Brosnan won the 800 at the Meet of Champions in 1:50.82, No. 2 in NJ this season,.Clemons ran a NJ No. 6 time of 1:51.60 when he was 5th at the Meet of Champions, and McCoy ran 1:52.10, No. 7 in the state. McCoy, who is headed to NJIT, won the 1,600 at the Meet of Champions in a Union County record 4:08.26!!! That's No. 12 all-time in NJ history.
It's safe to say that Kelly, Clemons, McCoy and Brosnan secured their legacy as one of the greatest groups of middle-distance runners ever produced in New Jersey.
