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HS Star Brandon McGorty Running Against Pros in 1,000 at 2017 NYRR Millrose Games

Published by
DyeStat.com   Feb 7th 2017, 3:01pm
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Big opportunity looms for McGorty in New York

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

Brandon McGorty wants to see how far running can take him.

The senior from Chantilly VA will get a good look into his possible future Saturday when he toes the line against a field of professionals in the Mel Sheppard Men’s 1,000 meters at the 110th NYRR Millrose Games at The Armory in New York.

“I think in athletics and running you constantly need to test yourself and test your limits,” said Dr. Matt Gilchrist, McGorty’s coach. “It’s nice to see him get a chance to run against a quality field of top runners and see where he stands.”

The Stanford-bound McGorty boasts the fastest prep time in the country in the 1,000 at 2 minutes, 26.87 seconds, along with 1:50.85 in the 800. He’ll rub elbows Saturday with the likes of Casimir Loxsom, Donovan Brazier and Duane Solomon.

McGorty said it will present a big departure from his normal racing style of taking control and leading the pack.

“(I’m going) to try and not psych myself out. I’m just going to try and not worry about time and just compete with those guys,” McGorty said. “I think if I compete well, the time will come with it.”

There is no specific time goal for McGorty besides eclipsing his personal-best 2:25.81 last year in Virginia. The national indoor record for 1,000 is 2:22.28 set in 2009 by Robby Andrews and the Virginia state record is 2:23.68, set in 2001 by Alan Webb.

Gilchrist said there’s no pressure on McGorty to go into the race with the mindset of breaking any of those records.

“I think he wants to go up to Millrose and see how far down he can take his time,” Gilchrist said. “Getting experience racing against guys that are faster than him is important for him.”

McGorty is certainly familiar with seeing what high quality running looks like. His older brother, Sean, an All-American at Stanford, has run 13:24.25 in the 5,000, 3:53.95 in the mile and was 24th at the NCAA Cross Country Championships in November.

In contrast to Sean, Brandon’s best events are the middle distances. He ran 48.52 in the 400 as a junior, and also 1:48.58 in the 800, beating Drew Hunter in May at the Dogwood Track Classic.

It’s been a lighter January schedule, in part, to make sure he’s back to full health after battling a few nagging injuries, according to McGorty. He opened February by clocking 1:51.53 in the 800 competing against pro and college runners at the Camel City Elite Invitational at JDL Fast Track in North Carolina.

“He’s strong right now,” Gilchrist said. “He wouldn’t be going (to New York) if he wasn’t prepared.”

McGorty said it seems like a big, important race on his schedule, but he’s very excited and ready to embrace the rare opportunity.

“He definitely wants to make his mark,” Gilchrist said. “He wants to be the best he can be.”

 

Mel Sheppard 1,000 Entries - 110th NYRR Millrose Games

Entries

Donovan Brazier (Nike)

Brandon Kidder (Brooks Beasts)

Cas Loxom (Brooks Beasts)

Myles Marshall (Harvard University)

Brandon McGorty (Chantilly High School, Va.)

Andrew Osagie (Nike OTC Elite)

Duane Solomon (Saucony)

David Torrence (HOKA One One)

Shaquille Walker (Brooks Beasts)



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