The Nike Indoor Nationals don’t conclude until late this afternoon (Sunday), but Mccallie has already left its mark in the star-studded event. Racing just after 10 p.m. Saturday night inside New York City’s iconic Armory, the Blue Tornado’s 4x800 relay team rolled to victory, posting a time of 7:44. 40 to win the race by five seconds.
Befitting a group that’s won five straight Division II cross country state titles, McCallie never trailed in the event. Evan Simpson ran the first leg, followed by Harry Carter, Henry Edwards and anchored by Jack Bowen.
“This is pretty special,” said head track coach Rodney Stoker, who has just been promoted to that position with the retirement of longtime coach Mike Wood, who is also in the Big Apple this weekend.
“It’s really hard to describe. It just goes to the culture of this team, how hard they work, how consistent they are.”
That wasn’t the only race that saw McCallie perform well on Saturday. And there’s a chance Bowen and Simpson could make further headlines in the mile run this afternoon, along with the 4x400 team of Caughran Fowler, Kavan and Kendrick Reynolds and Harry Carter.
But beyond the 4x800 victory on Saturday, the Boy's Sprint Medley Relay (Emerging Elite Division) broke the school record and won by over five seconds in 3:34.00. That time was the 5th fastest time in the Championship Division. Those running for McCallie in that event were
Caughran Fowler (200), Kavan Reynolds (200), Kendrick Reynolds (400), Henry Edwards (800).
In addition to that, the Boy's Distance Medley Relay finished 4th in the Championship with a new school record of 10:03.31. Relay member order and distances for each leg were Evan Simpson (1200 meters), Caughran Fowler (400), Harry Carter (800) & Jack Bowen (1600).
Also, Kendrick Reynolds took 11th in the Emerging Elite Triple Jump competition with a jump of 42'10.75.
“We have a lot of parents up here and I think they’ve been more excited than the boys,” said Stoker. “We’re just really proud of all of them. What an incredible group of young men.”
(Email Mark Wiedmer at mwiedmer@mccallie.org)