4 IN A ROW!
The Story of the 2004 CHSAA Outdoor Championship         Photos - emails

by a friend of the Prep

 The prize seemed almost unreachable.  There was virtually no margin of error for the Prep as it sought to achieve a remarkable feat which had not been accomplished in more than 50 years by any school – four straight CHSAA intersectional outdoor track championships.  St. Anthony’s was the favorite, coming off their 1/3 point victory over Fordham at the indoor championships.  Monsignor Farrell, after a strong outdoor sectional showing , Mount St. Michael, Chaminade and Fordham Prep all had a shot to win.

 The meet began at 9:30am on a warm but overcast day with the 400 intermediate hurdles, a race where the Prep took a gamble and placed four of its top runners in the event. At least 10 points were needed if it wanted to claim victory some nine hours later.   The team came through, as Greg Sans captured his 2^nd City 400IH title with a fantastic 55.11.  Dan Doherty had a PR to finish a strong 3^rd and Brian Doherty scored two points finishing 4^th.    Although the St. Anthony’s coaches were quite pleased with John Cerruti’s 2^nd place, the Prep was off to an excellent start with 11 points.

 The 3000 meter steeplechase was next.  As expected Chaminade took 1^st and St. Anthony’s 2^nd (just barely), while Monsignor Farrell took 3-4-5, edging out a strong 10:14 effort by senior Joe Altenau and a 10:20 by junior Tim Drucker. 

 After Monsignor Farrell dominated the discus and Mount the triple jump, four events were in the books.  The scores were as follows:  Farrell 17, Fordham Prep 11, Mount 9, St. Anthony’s 8, and Chaminade 6.

 Though Meekins of Chaminade turned in a strong 800 victory, sophomore Brian Doherty added a crucial point by capturing 5^th with an excellent 1:56.5 clocking.  Farrell increased its lead with a 3^rd in the shot put, and then the 3200 meter race took center stage.

 The overcast skies were now replaced by a beautiful blue sky.  Nice for the fans, but not so for the 2 milers. After a slow first lap, it was anyone’s race.  With three laps to go, the separation began and it became a five man race with the great Fordham runner Brian McCabe leading the pack.  With a lap to go, Brian blew away the St. Anthony and Chaminade runners to capture another City Championship with a 9:34 effort.  The 6 points put the Prep right back in the mix, moving into 3^rd place.

 The scores after 8 events:  Farrell 20, Xaverian 18 ½, Fordham Prep18, Chaminade 17, St. Anthony’s 14.

 The javelin was key for Fordham, with defending champ Dave Skehan facing some tough competition.  Nonetheless, Dave again earned the City championship with a best throw of 174’1”.  The pole vault was another crucial event for Fordham as Brian McKeever pulled off a 3^rd place finish with a fine 13 foot vault.

 With competitors from the most of the top schools qualifying for the final in the long jump, defending champion Dan Doherty again took the spotlight.  Taking the lead with his first jump, Dan eventually jumped 20’11 1/2”, edging the strong Mount and St. Anthony’s jumpers and securing the overall lead for Fordham Prep.

 The scores after 11 events:  Fordham Prep 33, Farrell 28, St. Anthony’s 19.

 Nearly one hour after its scheduled start, the turning point of the entire meet was about to take place.  It was the 1600 meters.  It was a race that had everything.   It was a race that will never be forgotten in the history of Fordham Prep track.

 St. Anthony’s had three top runners in the 1600.  Brian McCabe and Jim Lundy represented the Prep.  Loughlin and Farrell had top contenders.  The strategy of St. Anthony’s was evident from the start as one of their runners went out on a blistering pace in an effort to wear out McCabe, who had completed a tough 3200 just over an hour before.  Brian settled in behind the 3 Friar runners and the ploy seemed to be working.

As the “rabbit” died off, Brian made his move to the front, with Tom Murphy right on his heels.  Murphy passed Brian on the final lap, with Caceres of Loughlin closing in.  Brian took back the lead, but as they were about to turn down the final straightaway Murphy made a bold move as the tired McCabe fought gamely to hold on.  Murphy accelerated with about 50 meters to go as the St. Anthony strategy appeared to have worked and the Fordham chances to win their 4^th straight championship seemed to be slipping away.

But then, a move that track people know is virtually impossible, actually happened.

With less than 25 meters to go, Brian McCabe summoned energy from somewhere that only legend will know, pulled even with the game Murphy and passed him in the final meters to stun the crowd, and send the Fordham rooters into absolute hysteria.  Pictures taken showed the unbelievable effort turned in by both McCabe and Murphy.  In the background was Fordham senior miler Tom Brennan leading the Prep fans by leaping nearly 10 feet in the air (almost) as McCabe passed Murphy.  Simply an unbelievable, unforgettable performance by Brian McCabe.  To add to the celebration, Jim Lundy, a junior, turned in a fantastic PR of 4:29 to claim 6^th.  And jumping Tom Brennan went right out and ran a remarkable PR of 4:38 to win the 2^nd of the 5 heats for the 1600.

 The meet clearly had a long way to go.  Farrell won the 400, St. Anthony’s won the 110 high hurdles, and Mount won the 100.  Entering the relays it was still anyone’s meet.

 The scores after 16 events:  Fordham Prep 39, Farrell 35, St. Anthony’s 29, Mount 28

 The Prep’s best chance to score points in the relays was in the 4x800.  But the competition was strong.  St. Anthony’s and Kellenberg went out strong as Jim Lundy clocked a 2:03 for the first leg just 45 minutes or so after his wonderful mile run.  Sophomore John Bradley kept the Prep in the hunt with a spectacular PR of 1:59.8.  Then another soph, Terrance Egan, turned in a stunning 1:59.9 passing about 4 teams and giving the anchor Greg Sans a good chance, though St. Anthony’s was far ahead in 1^st.   Greg turned in an unbelievable 1:55.8 as the team ran 7:58 and captured 3 key points finishing in 3^rd place.  The finish of the race was so fast and furious that it was akin to a tornado, blowing a certain coach's papers all the way over to the long jump pit.

 After 17 events:  Fordham Prep 42, Farrell 37, St. Anthony’s 35

When a competition is going to be close, and everyone knew this would be close, every point earned is like gold.  This is especially true when a point comes from an unexpected source.  Seeded 11^th, the 4x100 relay team turned in a strong performance and qualified for the 6^th and last spot in the final.  Knowing the Prep needed a point badly, the team of Skehan, Wilson, Nieves and Holder came through in the clutch, grabbing the Prep’s 43^rd and final point.  With St.Anthony’s now eliminated and Fordham not in the final race of the day, the coaches, the team and the fans could only sit and watch as the day’s final event, the 4x400 relay would determine whether Farrell or Fordham would emerge as champion.

 Monsignor Farrell needed only a 3^rd place finish in the 4x400 to win the championship.     

A mere 4^th would tie.  As the crowd roared, Farrell could muster no better than 5^th, and Fordham Prep had a one point victory over Farrell 43 to 42.  St. Anthony’s was 3^rd with 38 and Mount 4^th with 34.

 If you think about the hours of work put forth throughout the year by each member of the team and the coaches, there isn’t a sport around which requires more dedication.  To work hard and compete is an experience that will never be taken away from any track athlete or coach or for that matter from the fan, for the duration of one’s life.  But when the achievement is not just one major championship, but four in a row, history will forever record the deeds of the 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 outdoor champions.  With the 2002 and 2003 indoor championships included, it is an unparalled run.  It is a run that every member of the team can truly be proud of.

Photos by Joe and Mrs. Altenau

Coach can't escape another bath     Greg Sans took out the 1st 400m in 53, finished in an amazing 1:55.8
21st and 22nd members of the Sub 5 Club: Matt Creamer (4:54.5) and Jon Ellis (4:59.8):
more to come

Emails

Since I've graduated I have made it a point to check fordhamprep.com/track the last two Sunday's in May. Last week I was a little scared when I saw that 3rd place finish at sectionals but in "new" Rams fashion they pulled it off again. So congrats again, sounds like this one was the most exciting.

Also, belated congrats on the new kid. Has the oldest worked his way up to quarter miles yet?

Go Rams,
Joe Salvati '00

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Coach:

Four in a row! Congratulations! You and the guys have done a tremendous job—again.

John Hallinan '70

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Coach - YOU DA MAN!!!

Congratulations!

Regards,
Andy Stadnick '77

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