Exclusive Boarding School Hammers Out US#1 4x800 Relay

By Brian Towey for DyeStat

NEW YORK – Phillips Exeter Academy NH has long been known as one of the nation's most prestigious schools.

At Tuesday's Eastern States Championship at The Armory, in the boys 4x800 relay, the school showed why it is becoming a track hub.

Exeter hit the nation's No. 1 time with 7:48.81. The foursome of Sam Kim, Jinwoo Kang, Connor Chen and Will Coogan put away the field resoundingly, keyed by fast splits for Coogan (1:54.18) and Chen (1:56).

"It's a big improvement," Kim said. "But it's only the start."

RESULTS | VIDEO COVERAGE | PHOTOS by John Nepolitan

Exeter, a boarding school with about 1,000 students, is well-known for its academic reputation and big name alumni. 

Yet the school's closely knit community produces tight bonds that bode well for track.

"It's a real mix of cultural diversity and social class, a real melting pot," said distance coach Brandon Newble, who arrived at the school 10 years ago from Alaska.

"It's a rigorous academic school, so they have to be disciplined. I don't have to get on them. They just love it."

Three of the team's legs – Kim, Kang and Chen, hail from California. Coogan is an Exeter resident who is the son of New Balance Boston coach and former pro Mark Coogan (his mom teaches math at the school and his two sisters are alumni).

It's this type of dynamic that makes Exeter a unique place.

"Being a bording school you're forced to connect with people," Kim said. "It creates a community."

The Hamilton North-Nottingham NJ team had few designs on the 4x200 relay title early in the day Tuesday. The team's top sprinters all planned to run in individual races. But the group arrived late to Washington Heights and was forced to re-adjust to the schedule. 

The quartet of Louis Akpadago, Jodeson Mirac, Shamali Whittle and Dana Ridley went to the line in the 4x200 and ran a US#1 time of 1:27.89.

"We want to beat every team in the country," Akpadago said.

Saucon Valley PA's Talitha Diggs won a fast 400 (53.98) over Girard College PA's Margaret Conteh (54.94).

"This was my first 400 of the season," Diggs said. "To come out here to this great track and put down a fast time, it's great.

"To go 53 this early in the season (is exciting). I have my state meet coming up so I'm looking at bigger things."

Orchard Park NY's Leah Pasqualetti was stoked to appear at The Armory at the behest of her coach, Mike Auble. The New York state record-holder in the pole vault soared 13-8 and made attempts at 14-3.

"Basically, I love challenges, and doing whatever it takes to meet that," Pasqualetti said. "I want to try and maintain that. Basically, my goal has been to keep that intensity."

Bradley Jelmert from Watchung Hills Regional NJ, after taking multiple shots at 17 feet, settled for a meet record with 16-6.25.

"Probably the challenge of it (appeals to me most)," Jelmert said. "There's always constant room for improvement, always ways to get better, get that higher bar."

Cornwall NY posted a US#1 time of 11:55.48 in the girls distance medley relay, overcoming a sub-12 minute effort from Colts Neck NJ. The team of Claire Kelly (3:38 1,200-meter leg), Sophia Perez, Julia Samuelson and Karrie Baloga (4:51 1,600-meter leg) put it away.

"Baloga's really been on a roll," Cornwall coach Dave Feuer said.

West Morris Mendham NJ moved up to US#2 in the boys distance medley relay. It's winning time of 10:17.85 overcame Iona Prep NY (10:18.14), keyed by Jack Jennings' 4:12 anchor leg.

"If Jennings is close nobody's going to outkick him," Mendham coach Roy Hamblen said.

Rutherford NJ's Jenna Rogers won the girls high jump at US#3 5-9.

JFK NJ's Jamier Wright-Collins, a Rutgers football commit, cleared 6-9 to win the boys high jump, tied for US#6.

Wright-Collins is JFK's fourth high jumper to clear 6-8 in the last six years, joining Ronniel Johnson, Jason Thobourne and Jadon Hansen. It's an achievement that traces back to former coach Kenneth Samra.

"Each of our coaches brings a specialty (to add to Samra's legacy)," coach Jordan Martinez said. "We've all got our own special sauce."