Hopewell Valley’s Dolan takes second in mile run
PHILADELPHIA >> When Sean Dolan pulled to the front of the pack with 100 meters to go, it looked like the Hopewell Valley senior was about to clinch his second Penn Relays title.
But a late push by Canadian Foster Malleck meant the Bulldogs star had to settle for second in a race that took place in a steady rain following a 1-hour, 18-minute delay on Friday night.
“I thought the race played right into my hands, but I’m just not that sharp yet,” Dolan said. “... I’m really happy to get these opportunities and I just have to execute when I get the chances next time.”
Dolan only recently returned to racing after he shut down his indoor season early to deal with a nagging Achilles injury. He ran a dual meet 10 days ago and then handled the anchor leg of the 4x800 at the Mercer Relays last Saturday.
“I feel like I’ve had a great past two weeks getting back into shape,” Dolan said. “I wish I was a little bit farther along. After cross country, I got banged up a little bit and kept training through it. Not killed my indoor season, but left a few holes in it, which was a little frustrating.”
Dolan was trying to become the first individual from the CVC to bring home a Penn Relays championship. He anchored Hopewell’s record DMR team to victory last year and looked in good shape until Malleck edged him at the line with a 4:18.22. Dolan finished in 4:18.60.
The Villanova-bound star has alway been quick to point out how much he loves the competition and credited Malleck for the way he handled a tough race.
“He was sneaky,” Dolan said. “Once I really started kicking with 100 (meters) to go, I went to my last gear and then I should have saved a little something. He’s a great athlete, and coming all the way from Canada for what is probably his first Penn Relays and to deal with all these shenanigans that have happened here today against a guy like me who has been here since he was 10, it was a great race by him. He was remarkable today.”
Dolan has already proved he’s remarkable.
“He’s one of those special kids who unfortunately only comes around very few,” Hopewell coach Aaron Oldfield said. “He’s certainly left his mark not only at Hopewell, but Mercer County and the state of New Jersey. He’s a really special kid.”
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Allentown junior Liam Murphy finished seventh in the 3,000-meter run in a time of 8:37.49.
The NJ Meet of Champs indoor 3,200-meter champion set the early pace but faded on the final two laps as Northwood (Md.) Eldad Mulugeta zoomed to the front in a winning time of 8:29.05.
The race lost some of its luster when defending champion Devin Hart of Point Pleasant Boro scratched following the long rain delay.
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If you missed Hamilton West in the 4x100 relay, you weren’t alone.
Instead of wearing their signature orange tops, the Hornets wore turquoise blue with black pants making them hard to spot.
Yet, they definitely left their mark by turning in a 43-flat race, which was good enough to advance them to the Northeast race on Saturday at 1:56 p.m. Bryon Hearst, Kevin Boswell, Brandon Muir and Javon Porter carried the stick.
“I’ve been saying for years that Mercer County, we are a track county,” Oldfield said. “Nottingham Championship of Americas qualifier. Fantastic. Hamilton West getting int he Northeastern Championship. Outstanding. I couldn’t be more proud of those schools.”
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Princeton High’s Paul Brennan launched the discuss 56.99m (186-11) to finish third overall.
Brennan bested his previous New Jersey best throw of 174-10 from the Ed Poreda Invitational on April 13.
This made up for a disappointing 2018 performance here when he finished 14th with a throw of 47.54 (155-11).
Brennan was one of four Tigers in individual action this weekend. Ben Kioko competed in the javelin, while Simon Schenk (pole vault) and Nils Wildberg (long jump) are scheduled to be in action on Saturday.
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Steinert’s Terris Burton is also in individual action on Saturday. He’ll compete in the 400 hurdles.
The boys also run their 4x400 relays on Saturday.