Loucks 3,200 a final ride for La Salle's Big 3

Rhode Island trio ready to move on from 'tough break' at Penn Relays

By Mary Albl for DyeStat 

Friday evening at White Plains High School may be the last ride of La Salle Academy's "big three."

Granted, there's still a lot of the track season left. But for seniors Matt Bouthillette, Jack Salisbury and junior DJ Principe, the Glenn D. Loucks Games (White Plains, N.Y.) marks what could be the final time they all run together in a competitive individual setting. 

"They just want to run some PRs (personal records). Loucks will sort of be the last time they concentrate on individual races because we’re going into the championships part of our season in Rhode Island," head coach Vincent McGinn said. 

Bouthillette, Salisbury and Principe will run in a stacked 3,200-meter race slated for a 6:35 p.m. start on Friday. 

A sampling of the field includes indoor 5,000 meter champion Eric van der Els of Brien McMahon (Conn.), Saratoga Springs' Aidan Tooker, Conor Lundy of Fordham Prep and Noah Affolder of Carthage. 

"Really it's just a great way for Matt and Jack to finish their careers ... all three of them, running together again and trying to have to one more ride," McGinn said.

It's been quite the ride for arguably the best prep distance trio in the nation. Salisbury and Bouthillette have been together at La Salle for all four years. A year later, Principe joined. 

Last spring, the three combined to help the Rams claim their first outdoor state title since 1978. Each have collected their own indivdual accolades along the way as well. 

McGinn said having three elite runners who train together year round (cross country, indoor and outdoor) have made them even more exceptional.

"It’s been amazing," Salisbury said. "I’ve never had to run a race solo, that’s never been the case, and in workouts, never the case. We run together every single day." 

Loucks Games entry list: Boys/Girls

Salisbury, who currently owns a top 20 time in the mile (4:10.11), is probably the quickest of the three. Principe, the reigning New England Cross Country and indoor 2-mile champion, possesses a lot of strength and versatility, while Bouthillette is in the middle. 

Salisbury explained their strengths play well into their workouts. 

"Jack is the fighter pilot. He’s like Chuck Yeager," McGinn explained. "Matt is just a happy warrior, good solider. DJ is a great spit fire, this fiery kid who has a lot of emotion and passion and never wants to let anyone down."

The three, along with teammate  David Medeiros, are coming off a historic distance medley relay performance at the Penn Relays that featured a come-from-behind 1,600 leg from Loudoun Valley's Drew Hunter. Hunter and Salisbury battled for a photo finish that Hunter narrowly edged Salisbury for the victory by a hair.  

"I honestly don’t know what I could have done differently," Salisbury said of the race. "Everyone ran great, we ran how we felt we needed to run it. It’s just a tough break."

Salisbury admitted the loss has definitely added some extra motivation going forward.

"That was a tough one to take and they were proud of what they did, but I think they have a little chip on their shoulder, and they are not satisfied," McGinn said.

Friday's race will be a prime opportunity for the three to get some redemption. Salisbury, who will run for Georgetown this fall along with Bouthillette, said the time goal is to break 8:50. 

Last year's 3,200 featured one of the best races of the year as three runners clocked under 8:45, and 10 finished under nine minutes. Mikey Brannigan won it with 8:42.92, outkicking Alex Ostberg (8:43.93).

Salisbury said any one of them is capable of taking the lead, and they all want the best for each other.

"The fact that they care so much about each other and about the legacy they want to leave, our program and La Salle, they actually thrive under pressure," McGinn said.