Oosting, Gaughan close New Englands with 2-mile meet records

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

BOSTON – The best was saved for last. Late Saturday afternoon at the Reggie Lewis Center, Jackie Gaughan and Ryan Oosting put together historic runs, both shattering the 2-mile records at the New England High School Indoor Track and Field Championships, and clocking U.S. No. 1 times in the process.

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“(Just) go out, and try and hit fast splits and see how long I could last,” Gaughan said of her plan.

Gaughan, a senior from Exeter NH, certainly accomplished that as she clocked 10 minutes, 9.2 seconds, running solo for most of the race. Her time beat the New England record of 10:12.20 set in 2014 by Hannah DeBalsi.

“Yeah, there’s been so many great runners who’ve run in this meet, it means a lot to know that I’ve come anywhere near them,” Gaughan said.

Oosting came to the track ready to run faster than nine minutes. The junior from Arlington MA led from start to finish, crossing the line in 8:57.59, which beat the 2016 record of 8:59.05 held by D.J. Principe.

“I came in sub-nine on my mind,” said Oosting, who ran 4:25 on his last mile for a negative split. “I felt like it was my time.”

Fairfield Prep’s Drew Thompson stayed with Oosting for a majority of the race, but Oosting was able to widen the gap and separate himself over the final three laps.

“Yeah, I knew it was going to be a super-fast race with (him) and Andrew (Mah),” Thompson said. "I was really coming in looking for a PR. I tried to stick with Ryan for as long as I could.”

Thompson finished second in 9:07.59, which is the current No. 2 time in the country.

“I’m super happy with the time and the PR,” Thompson said.

In the boys mile, Staples CT senior Will Landowne captured first place in 4:12.49, a top-10 time in the U.S. currently. He was able to pass Windham CT senior Alex Korczynski (4:14.81) in the last 600.

“I was really happy,” Landowne said of his race.

Jason Dolan of Westford Academy MA won the 1,000 in 2:28.47, edging out Ludlowe CT senior Ian Bartlett (2:28.72).

Junior Malcolm Going of Danbury CT went 1:20.38 in the 600 meters to capture first.

“We had a really simple race plan, just try and stick with the leaders and kick at the end, that’s how I prefer to race,” Going said.

In the field events, Dyshon Vaughn of Career Magnet CT won the long jump, soaring 23-5 to win his first indoor New England title.

“It means a lot, I’m really proud,” Vaughn sad of winning. “I might not show it, on the inside I’m really proud of myself.”

In the girls mile, Julia Robitaille of Manchester West, NH won in 4:55.22, and also finished third in the 2-mile (10:50.18). Second in the 2-mile was sophomore Elizabeth Stockman of Rocky Hill CT (10:31.84).

Nikki Merrill of Portsmouth RI easily defended her title in the 600, running 1:31.79, the third-fastest time currently in the country.

Greenwich CT senior Emily Philippides used a strong final 200 to win the 1,000 in 2:51.30, as she was able to edge out Lucy Jenks of Newton South (2:51.82).

“I actually felt pretty good,” Philippides said of the final lap. 

In the field events, Nyagoa Bayak of Westbrook ME captured the spotlight as she cleared 5-10 in the high jump to win and tie the meet record held by Heather Francis of Dartmouth MA since 1994. 

The girls 4x800 relay was won by Glastonbury CT in 9:13.63. The meet finished with the girls 4x400 relay record of 3:56.12 being broken by three teams. Wellesley MA took first, winning in 3:53.27.