Photos by Chuck Martin
Wins don’t always come easy, especially when the competition is at its stiffest.
A few weeks ago at the Yale Track Classic, Pennsylvania’s Tony Russell claimed the individual prize. After nearly leading from the opening gun, the West Chester Henderson senior earned the title by fending off a spirited effort by Christian Alvarado of Fairfield Prep (CT) the final few meters of the race.
History repeated itself on Saturday night at the Reggie Lewis Track Center in Boston where Russell added another important triumph to his strong winter campaign by taking the Junior Mile of the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix. He broke the tape with the nation’s fastest clocking of 4 minutes, 11.56 seconds. Finishing less than a tick behind was Charles Cooper of Canada, a runner-up at 4:12.01.
After trailing in second late in the race, Cooper surged to the front, passing the front-running Russell with about 300-meters left. The West Chester standout didn’t fold, re-taking the lead for good with a little more than a half-lap remaining.
Russell, who improved on his personal best by nearly three seconds, will try for the trifecta next Saturday where he’ll be eyeing his third major victory this season at the Millrose Games’ New Balance Mile.
“It’s really been good so far,” he said. “I try not to expect much out of every race but I have surprised myself in a lot of ways this year.”
Just like the girls’ competition that was less than 10 minutes earlier, the pace was relatively slow in Saturday’s race considering the elite talent that was entered. It was a field that featured six runners that have gone faster than 4:18, including Newton North (MA) senior Gabe Montague, who just two days prior ran the No. 2 time in the country in the 1,000 with a 2:27 effort.
Pocatello (IA) junior Elijah Armstrong, who has run a best of 4:15 this season, led the pack through the first 400, passed in 64 seconds. Russell took command just before the curve, pushing the pace through a 2:07 at the half-mile mark.
In order, it was Russell, Cooper, Armstrong, Montague and Newton North’s Mike Schlichting that were still together and within reach of victory by the 1,000. But with two laps left, Russell and Cooper broke from the pack and turned it into a two-man race the final 400.
Cooper made his move just after the first turn on the back straightaway. Russell made sure his rival’s surge would not last with his bold move less than a lap later.
“I really didn’t think of it that much when he passed me,” Russell admitted. “I have a history of giving up right when I get passed back in junior year. I am really trying to break that and I believe I have.”
Cooper, who earned an automatic bid to compete in the mile race by winning the Dartmouth Relays last month in 4:20.06, knew he had his work cut out for him once he made his commitment to lead.
“I was thinking at that point I just had to hold on to the lead and accelerate on the straightaway,” said the diminutive runner, a member of the McGill Olympic Club. “He was just too strong for me today but it was a great race.”
Russell was using the race as a final tune-up for Millrose next weekend.
“I tried to run sub 4:10 but 64 is kind of hard to go for a first quarter,” he said. “I had a nice kick. It’s the first time I ever out-kicked somebody in a race. (Cooper) is known for kicking. I am really happy, really confident going to Millrose next week.”
Montague held on for third in the race with a PB of 4:14.13. Schlichting was fourth at 4:14.57. He was followed by Armstrong, who secured fifth in 4:15.63.