Germantown Academy PA junior qualifies for high school mile Feb. 8 at Millrose Games by holding off late charge from Lawler; Saratoga Springs NY sets meet record to produce national leader in girls DMR

By Brian Towey for DyeStat

NEW YORK – In the boys invitational mile at New Balance Games, junior Robert Didonato of Germantown Academy PA maintained his calm.

It was a steadiness that not a false start, nor a loaded field, nor even a hard-charging Sam Lawler of Pittsford Mendon NY could overcome Saturday at The Armory.

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Didonato led from wire to wire, staving off a ferocious kick by Lawler to secure the win by a 4:15.78 to 4:15.84 margin and qualify for the high school boys mile Feb. 8 at the 113th NYRR Millrose Games.

“Millrose is it,” Didonato said. “That’s the only target. This was awesome. I knew I had it in my legs. It’s great to get it done.”

A false start broke the field’s momentum, but Didonato never lost his cool. He led Henry Farrington of Essex VT (third, 4:16.94) through splits of 2:09 and 3:14.

In the final 150 meters, with an improbable burst, Lawler drove up on his shoulder. They struggled the rest of the way.

“I actually didn’t see (Lawler) until the finish line,” Didonato said. “I saw a shadow and it got loud. I thought he got me.”

Added Lawler: “I was surprised that I closed that hard (27.8 seconds over the final 200 meters). But I knew I had to close that way if I wanted to make Millrose.”

Saratoga Springs NY has traditionally left its mark on the girls distance medley relay. An impressive 11:59.03 meet record Saturday from the quartet of McKinley Wheeler, Mackenzie Hart, Cristina Demeo and Ella Kurto ensured that, come March at New Balance Nationals Indoor, they’ll once again be in the conversation.

“We were expecting just to break the meet record and to win,” said Kurto, who ran a 4:53 1,600-meter leg.

Saratoga Springs’ effort is the new U.S. No.1. Lawrenceville NJ took second in U S. No. 2 12:09.77 with North Shore NY in third (12:14.35).

Hatboro-Horsham PA (Stefano Isabella, Caleb Ryu, Jay Lasseter and Devon Comber) won the boys invitational distance medley in U.S. No. 3 10:24.47. Comber withstood a late charge on the anchor leg from Pedro Bravo of Iona Prep NY to hold on for the victory.

“I didn’t want to go too early,” Comber said. “I knew once I went past him he wasn’t going to come back.”

Paul Robeson NY once again claimed a 4x200-meter relay title (1:41.44). The team of Rehana Collins, Quinzel Bazilia, Leanne McDonald and Lailah White got the job done.

“We want to show we’re serious every time we step out there,” White said.

Junior Natalia Surdej of Lancaster NY won the girls weight throw in U.S. No. 3 58-00.25.

Germantown Academy’s Lilliana Cohen won the girls pole vault with a meet-record clearance of 12-8.

Sophia Gorriaran of Moses Brown RI won the girls 1,000 in U.S. No. 5 2:54.04.

“I went out a little too slow at the beginning,” Gorriaran said. “I wanted to run 2:52 or 2:50, but I didn’t go out hard enough.”

Sanaa Hebron of Neshaminy PA won the girls 500 in U.S. No. 7 1:14.84 and the 300 in 39.26.

“I’ve been working on my endurance,” Hebron said. “I’m glad to see my sprint (speed) is coming back.”

Archbishop Carroll DC, with 6-foot-4 freshman Nyckoles Harbor running on anchor, won the 4x200-meter relay over Wilbur Cross CT by a 1:31.04 to 1:31.33 margin. The Patriots, including Harbor, freshman Jamaar Ebron, freshman Marcus Brown and sophomore Joshua Lesesne, vowed they’ll be back.

“This is our first time running the 4x200,” Lesesne said. “We just want to keep improving.”

Sheridan Wheeler of Saratoga Springs set a meet record in the girls mile steeplechase in 5:28.73.

Delaware Valley’s Kyle Reers, one of New Jersey’s top 400-intermediate hurdlers (53.59), won the boys mile steeplechase in 4:49.

Ousman Kamara of Coatesville PA won the boys high jump with a 6-9 clearance.

Thomas Kitchell of Notre Dame Green Pond PA won the boys shot put in 56-03.50.

Travon Stevens Long of Benjamin Banneker NY won the long jump (22-4) and 55-meter hurdles (7.67).

Clara Durcan of Pearl River NY won the girls 1,500-meter race walk in 6:51.46.