Loucks Games 3200m: Noah Affolder Leads 11 Boys Under Nine Minutes!
Noah Affolder led a New York 1-2-3 sweep at the Loucks Games 3200m on Friday night with an 8:47.60 performance. The time stands as a New York state junior class record and is a personal best by 16 seconds.
The junior from Carthage High School finished just ahead of fellow Syracuse commit Aidan Tooker (8:49.27) and Princeton recruit Conor Lundy (8:49.75).
Watch the race video and post-race interview below.
Last year, Mikey Brannigan led ten boys under the nine-minute barrier. This year, a total of 11 boys broke the nine-minute barrier, though Brannigan's 8:42.92 meet record still stands.
The Arcadia Invitational, held every April in California, has long attracted the nation's top distance runners in pursuit of a quick 3200m time. But the "Arcadia of the East" in the Loucks Games has perhaps bypassed its predecessor -- 11 boys broke nine minutes there this year, but none ran under 8:50.
In the girls race, Saratoga Springs freshman Kelsey Chmiel led wire-to-wire to win in 10:19.36, a new New York state freshman record.