The championship section of the boys 1600m remains a great one
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RESULTS I VIDEOS I PHOTOS
Meet directors Chris Quick and Joe Parks presented us all a great event in 2016 with the Distance Night In Palatine. This treasure has now become a petri dish if you will for distance runners. Unfortunately, the Covid-19 pandemic knocked out this year's edition. We take you back to 2018 and a record-breaking performance in the 1600m.
Original 1600m transcript (2018):
The grand showstopper was loaded to the rim with talent. Clayton Mendez of Chicago Whitney Young, Danny Kilrea of Lyons Twp, Drew Bosley (Wisconsin), Jacob Gebhardt of Sterling, and more. The opening lap saw Mendez and his teammate junior Sam Rivera upfront in around 59-60.
The blistering pace would hold on for the next half lap together before stringing out. It was 2:02 and change for Mendez at the halfway mark and he began to stretch things out. The bell was all Mendez who pushed himself to the limit in 3:06. Perhaps, he was thinking of breaking a losing streak against big competition.
Ironically, Mendez tied the meet record and nearly got a league one with his US #2 4:08.64. Ansel Fellman of Bradford, WI took second in 4:09.75. Thomas Shilgalis of Naperville Central got his breakout effort clocking 4:10.70 and Bosley dropped a 4:10.75.