Robert Rhodes knew his senior year couldn’t go like his junior campaign at Boys & Girls.
The Kangaroos’ 4×400 and 4×800 meter relay teams underachieved a bit and the squad’s work ethic wasn’t where the star middle distance runner wanted it to be. He asked if he could be named captain and made a vow.
“I promised the team would stay focused and stay together and do everything they are supposed to be doing to so we can do well,” Rhodes said. “So far it’s been working.”
Both teams currently own the nation’s fastest times in their respective event. With Rhodes nursing a minor knee injury, the squad of Javaun Grant, Joel Johnson, Curtly Renwick and Richard Rose won the 4 x 400 at the the Millrose Games Trials with a mark of 3:19.90. The 4×800 squad of Rhodes, Grant, Darryl Williams and Lashley Winter took first at the New Balance Games with a time of 7:52.50.
“They set goals for themselves,” Boys & Girls coach James Jackson said. “They are more attentive to what you want them to do. You don’t have to prod them to come to practice.”
The 4×400 team, especially with Rhodes back healthy, has a chance to do something special on Feb. 11 at the Armory. It was just two years ago that Rhodes’ stellar anchor leg gave Boys & Girls its first victory at the Millrose Games since 1996. This season they will come into the meet as the favorite and be looking for a second title in three years after a long drought.
“We talk about it every day,” Rhodes said. “That’s all we do is train hard and talk about what we want to do during this whole year.”
Outside of an improved work ethic, the Kangroos have gotten a boost from Rose, a freshman. He is currently running the team’s fastest leg at 48.5. Rhodes called him a big factor and Jackson saw the potential right away.
“He realizes he has that ability and he’s a hard worker,” the coach said of Rose. “That’s why he’s running fast times.”
A stark improvement from Williams has also helped the development of the 4×800 team, which lost standout Daniel Simon. Williams went from the 2:20 mark to around 1:58.
The 4×800 is the race where Rhodes can shine the most at the anchor spot. He owns the nation’s third fastest time in the individual 800 at 1:53.81. It was a personal best mark run at the Marine Corps Holiday Classic. Boys High will be competing in the Metropolitan 4×800 at the Millrose Games.
Winning is one of the many goals the Kangaroos want to accomplish this season.
“It’s just like a whole different mentality for the team,” Rhodes said. “Everybody is coming together to do what is needed to be done so that we can win our races.”
Senior-laden relay clinched Rams CHSAA Archdiocesan crown: Fordham Prep found itself in the same position as last season. The Rams needed a fourth-place finish or better in the 4×200 to secure the CHSAA Archdiocesan indoor track & field title. A year ago they were disqualified and did not claim the crown. With a few of its key seniors coming off running individual races, there was a thought of running fresh sophomores in their place.
“He kind of had to be peeled off the floor to get him onto the track,” Rams coach George Febles said of Dennis Kennelly, who had just run the 300.
Ultimately, Febles went with his experience and it paid off. Fordham Prep’s team of Kennelly, Giovanni Graziosa, Challenor Robertson and Chris Reggio, who had the fastest seed time, placed third in a time of 1:37.35. It allowed the Rams to win their fourth title in the last five years with a narrow 56-54 victory over Regis at the Armory last Sunday. Monsignor Farrell was third with 33 points.
“We put them out there in the same position again because we had confidence in them,” Febles said.
Fordham Prep also has utter confidence in middle distance standout Lucas Keefer, who won the 600 and 800 with times of 1:25.68 and 1:58, respectively. The latter gave him a narrow win over Farrell star Dan Galford (1:59.03), who won the 1,600. Keefer, the younger brother of former Rams stars Matt and Zach Keefer, owns a top 10 time in the state in both events. The meet MVP is headed to the College of Holy Cross next season to run.
“He has as much of a work ethic as they did and a great stride,” Febles said of the Lucas Keefer said. “He kind of grew into himself. We saw it coming and he has become a real leader on his team.”
Junior Christian Doherty did what was expected of him in the 55 hurdles, placing second in 8.11. He was one of four Rams to score in the event. Doherty also chose to long jump for the first time in two years and placed second with a three foot PR of 20 feet, 7 inches. Sean McEvoy was second in the pole vault with a mark of 13-06. Fordham’s team of Pat Gray, Spencer Heitmann, Greg McNamara and Frank Newton won the 4×800 in a time of 8:19.90.
Molloy boys win eighth straight diocesan title: Archbishop Molloy continued its dominance of the CHSAA Brooklyn/Queens indoor championships. The Stanners have won the last eight straight and 27 of the last 30 titles. They topped Bishop Ford 74-51 at the Armory last Sunday and saw Xaverian place third with 24 points. Molloy is a junior-laden squad that is expected to be even more formidable next season.
“With the small number of guys now I think they realize it’s a very important championship for them if they can succeed at winning it,” Molloy coach Br. Bob Andrews said.
This season his team’s dominance was in the field events. Junior Christian Hadjigeorgiou won the triple jump with a leap of 43 feet, 5 inches. Pat McGibbon took home the shot put title thanks to a toss of 45-03.50. The Stanners swept the pole vault with John Varsam winning the event with a mark of 12-06, something he has hit consistently this season.
“He works real hard,” Andrews said of Hadjigeorgiou. “He’s got a tremendous attitude. I think he is the kind of kid who wants to do really well. Any time he steps on that runway he really puts his heart into it. I think he’s emerging.”
He saw junior Jacob Lascano winning the 1,000 in a time of 2:47.49 as a bit of a pleasant surprise. Lascano held off Bishop Loughlin’s Christopher Reyes (2:48.49). Molloy’s team of Tom Dryer, Brandon Warders, Dylan Powers and Bill Burkart won the 4×800 in a time of 8:46.12. Xaverian star running back Laray Smith was the named the meet MVP after winning the 300 and 600 in times of 34.88 and 1:24.80, respectively.
“He’s talented,” Andrews said of Lascano. “He’s a big strong kid. He ran a fantastic race I thought. … He kind of took off on the last lap and probably won by a good margin.”
Indoors Mayor’s Cup set: Some of the best track & field athletes in New York City will be at the Armory Jan. 28. NYC & Company put together the first indoor version of the Mayor’s Cup to prove who the best in the city in each event is. The girls meet kicks off at 8:30 a.m. and the boys meet is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m.
