In what will long be remembered as one of the best 1600 in PA high school history, West Mifflin senior Mike Booth not only beat Ian Fitzgerald in a head-to-head duel, but the meet record of one Sam Bair of Shaler. Booth\'s 4:07.77, and Fitzgerald\'s 4:08.37 are the 2nd and 3rd PA high school times under 4:10 this season, following Chris Spooner\'s winning mile at the Penn Relays. Fitzgerald immediately went to the front and set the pace, hoping to run 4:08. Booth tucked in behind for two laps, and had his sights set on a PR of 4:12. He passed Fitzgerald after the 600 meter mark \"because he has better leg speed than me, and I just couldn\'t wait for him to use it.\" But use it he did, and Fitzgerald almost caught Booth at the line. When Booth looked up, expected to see 4:12, and was shocked at the 4:07 on the clock. His splits were 62.5, 63.1, 61.8 and 60.3. We\'ll have more quotes on the race later this weekend, along with more pix of the race and of the Baldwin Invitational, along with results (after I return from my daughter\'s college graduation and some celebrating)
Coverage
Boys Mile Pix from 5/7 Baldwin Invitational
Girls Action Pix from 5/7 Baldwin Invitational
Boys Action Pix from 5/7 Baldwin Invitational
Photo Galleries from the 5/7 Baldwin Invitational
That unbelievable 1600 wasn\'t the only record falling at the 31st Baldwin Invitational. Male athlete of the meet Calvin Littlejohn, Butler, took three events, while Female Athlete of the Meet Nicole Smith of McDowell also won three events. Auston Papay merely shrugged off numerous rain delays to win two events. Seven guys busted 2 minutes behind a 1:55.84 by Shaler\'s John Balouris. Katie Orchowski, Upper Saint Clair, won the 800 in 2:19.14 after anchoring her team to a come-from-behind win in the 4x800 in 9:29.75. Ringold\'s Bev Rogers sent the Javelin flying 146-10 in cold, windy conditions. Valley\'s Mycaiah Clemons went 14.51 in the 100 Hurdles, and took the 200 in 25.56 seconds. More...