BROCKTON RUNNER RACES TO RECORD TIME AT MEET
Sets pace in 55-meter dash at 6.35 seconds
NORTON — At one point in his high school career, Dourvens Bleus was known for his talents on the gridiron and the basketball court at Brockton. Yet, he just wasn’t feeling fulfilled, and decided to focus solely on one thing starting last year — running.
It now appears that the taxing hours spent at Marciano Stadium are beginning to pay off. The senior shattered a national record for the year in the 55-meter dash Tuesday, as he placed first with an astonishing time of 6.35 seconds during the MSTCA Holiday Challenge at Wheaton College.
“It feels great,” Bleus said afterward. “I knew I could have done better with the strides again. But I knew what I was up against, and I knew I really had to push myself.”
As of now, Bleus is looking at AIC for his college plans, but do not be surprised if NCAA coaches begin to knock on his door soon. His latest achievement came after racing out to the second fastest time in the United States for the same event just last week, when he clocked in at 6.52 seconds. Bleus barely beat out Jonas Clarke of South Hadley (by .03 seconds), as he went flying through the curtain along the wall of the Beard Field House. The Brockton senior’s newest time bested the previous mark held by Shavar Staats Jr. of Maryland — by .16 seconds.
Bleus wasn’t the only star turning heads at Wheaton. By now, most of the track and field community in Massachusetts has become wellaware of BB&N senior Samirah Moody. The Villanova recruit showed precisely why, as she placed first in the girls’ 55-meter (6.99 seconds) and 300-meter dashes (42.54).
Track and field, like football, was moved to the Fall II season due to the risks associated with the pandemic, but that hasn’t hindered athletes from training, nor has it
prevented the MSTCA from hosting events. Moody is just one of countless individuals who have taken advantage of the opportunities provided by the organization.
“I think every meet is a stepping-stone,” Moody said. “There’s obviously the big national meets at the end, but all of these meets matter. People see you, and you want people to know who you are. I also just want to keep running well because I want to peak at the end. So, this meet especially is helpful, during the break.”
Other performances of note included Tewksbury’s Alex Arbogast. Despite being seeded sixth in the boys’ 200-meter dash field, the sophomore placed first in impressive fashion with a time of 23.32 seconds. Arbogast also took third place in the 55-meter dash at 6.58 seconds, just behind Bleus and Clarke.
Meanwhile, Kerry O’Connor of Milford came in first during the girls’ 400-meter dash (1:01.74). She also took second in the 200-meter dash (26.93 seconds).
At this time, it appears as though the MSTCA is not committed in its efforts to create indoor track meets this winter for student athletes, despite pushback.
Shortly after winning the boys’ 2-mile race with a time of 9:59.37, Henry Gartner of Falmouth glanced around the facility, still in shock at what he had just accomplished.
“I didn’t think I was going to be able to get this chance,” said Gartner. “Like even a month ago, the indoor season was looking pretty bleak. Then they moved it to February, and that wasn’t a good sign, because it felt like they were just going to cancel it. These meets were announced, and it’s a great feeling, to be able to come out here and race indoors.”