Princeton’s Della Roca runs PR in 400, qualifies for MoC with 3rd-place finish

FRANKLIN TWP. » For somebody who only started running track in the winter, Zach Della Roca has no fear when it comes to racing against the fastest 400 meter sprinters in the state.

The Princeton High junior is moving on to the Meet of Champions next week after posting a third-place finish in the Group IV meet by dropping a personal-best 48.41 on Saturday morning here at Franklin High.

“It’s crazy,” Della Roca said. “I’ve absolutely surprised myself. When I started track, I couldn’t imagine this.”

Della Roca’s lap around the track was one of the state’s top-10 times and bested his previous high of 48.49 set at last week’s sectional meet.

“He’s only run six or seven 400s, so he’s still learning the race,” Tigers coach Ben Samara said. “One thing we wanted to do today was really kind of pressing more in the first half of the race and see how much he could squeeze out of it.”

Della Roca had the lead turning into the final 100 meters before Irvington’s Cashieve Blair (47.93) and Elizabeth’s Greg McQueen (47.99) surged past him.

“I was on the outside, so I was thinking get out hard and don’t let them catch me on the inside,” Della Roca said. “I was trying to make it an even race by the time I got to the straightaway. I saw them coming up behind me and then I gave it everything.”

Della Roca’s time was the fourth fastest at the Franklin site, earning him a wildcard into the MoC. The top two in each group qualify automatically, with the next six quickest times at each site also moving on.

The heat on Saturday was the fastest he’s ever raced in.

“He has no fear,” Samara said. “He went with the fastest heat and took it right to them and put pressure on the entire field today. Some of these guys responded and some didn’t, but he’s always going to be right there whatever race he’s in. I really feel like he can be with the top guys in the state.”

He’ll find that out next week because that heat will be even faster.

“My coach always says heart,” Della Roca said. “The ability to keep going even though you’re feeling dead, just determination and heart to finish it.”