Watch Griffith waltz to a 15:17
Last week we were enamored by the 15:32 that Drew Griffith (Butler) threw down on a challenging Roadman Park Cross Country Course.
Heralded by some as the most challenging course in Pennsylvania, it is no surprise that one of the best Pennsylvania runners in recent history, Patrick Andrson, held the previous course record. Anderson ran 15:41 at the 2019 WPIAL Championship before strolling to his second consecutive state title.
When Drew Griffith broke his record last week, he made some noise. He moved into the MileSplit 50 Top #25 and ahead of Brian DiCola (Hatboro Horsham). He broke Anderson's mark by nine seconds, but at least he left some respect for the previous mark.
Well, this week, he got another crack at it and waltzed to a 15:17. He ran hard for most of the course but cruised down the homestretch to save his legs from additional wear. Breaking his record by 15-seconds is impressive enough, but when you add that he is now 25-seconds quicker than the previous record, your jaw should drop.
Oh, and he is only a Junior.
According to Tully Runners, Griffith's run was the equivalent of a 197.2 Speed Rating. That's the third-best rating of the year nationwide. The two he's behind? Leo and Lex Young.
Drew Griffith discusses his championship and record setting run.
We cannot understate how impressive his WPIAL winning run was. He has immediately vaulted his name into the national title conversation.
The reigning District 7 Champion now heads to states, where he'll race a formidable foe. Brian DiCola has been setting the course on fire this year. At Paul Short this year, he ran the second fastest time in Pennsylvania history, a 15:43.
He broke Gary Martin's one-year-old course record in that effort.
Now, the two goliaths will face off for the first time this year and chase each other up and down the hills of Hershey. Patrick Anderson holds that course record as well, a 15:25, that he also set in 2019. We have a feeling that it won't stand for more than another week.
