Brockton Boys won the 2005 Div I Mass XC championships, and then they... disappeared.
Well, not exactly. I notice from the results of the latest Tri-County Indoor Track meet that super soph Carlos Montrond ran a 4:54 mile, and another soph, James DuBeau ran a very nice 4:44 in the same race. But where are all the other stars from that Brockton team? Where are Jose DePina, Kevin Gill, and Geovanni Timberlake? How can it be that Brockton -- a school of 5000 students -- doesn't have anyone breaking 3:00 in the 1000, or 10:40 in the 2-Mile?
It is a mystery where these Brockton distance runners go in the winter. Maybe they don't really consider indoor track to be a sport, but rather a training period that is preparation for greater glory in outdoor track. Maybe they take the long-term view, and start out very slowly while other teams are cramming in speedwork. Or maybe the seniors simply step aside and let the sophomores take over. (Brockton's top finisher in the 2-Mile is also a sophomore).
I would much rather think that Brockton's relative weakness in the early season meet results is evidence of some master plan, than think that their outstanding distance runners are hurt, burned out, or disaffected in some way. After all, last year Jose DePina (5th in the 2004 State XC meet) took the indoor season off completely, and then returned to run second to Chris Barnicle in the outdoor state 2M. Brockton's Kevin Gill started slow, but finished 6th in the 2004 Indoor 1M (as a sophomore!) and ran well in outdoor track. So maybe they're just playing possum.
Nevertheless, Brockton dual meet indoor track record stands at 0-2 after losses to Xaverian and BC High. Can you imagine if Newton North Girls or Boys had an 0-2 record? I'm not sure that's ever happened, at least not in the long tenure of the current coaches.
So if Brockton runners aren't putting up big times, who is?
Xaverian's Mark Amirault recorded a 2:35 1000 to take the State lead in that event. He'll almost certainly move up to the 1M or 2M for the State meet. We haven't heard from the Lexington boys yet, but Willi Ballenthin is one of the favorities for the State 1M title. Matt Dewey, a junior from Catholic Memorial ran a 4:29 mile on Tuesday, the fastest non-Polgar time this winter so far. After a rich year for 600 runners last year, no one that I know of has run faster than 1:27 this year so far, leaving that event wide open.
I keep telling myself, it's early. It's very early.
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Paone of St. John's Danvers, Doug's future teammate, ran 1:26 I believe for the 600, but he ran faster last year for the distance as did a host of people. That event's wide open. I think I should try it maybe in a duel meet. Sam Horn ran 4:27 at Winterfest, so he's #2 in the Mile. If Brockton was so worried about burnout/injuries/fatigue why'd they run at the FL Northeast regional instead of giving their guys an easy week? Last year their coach's strategy apparently didn't work as they scored 0 pts. at states, and had their entire group of sprinters quit after their team finished 2'nd in XC.
-Noah
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