Last year at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix, Jack Salisbury came just .01 from a victory in the Junior Mile.
The La Salle Academy senior wasn't about to let history repeat itself.
In a down-to-the-wire affair with Thomas Ratcliffe of Concorde Carlise (MA) Sunday at the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center, Salisbury took the lead for good with about a lap remaining and held on for the win with a state record time of 4 minutes, 8.33 seconds. Ratcliffe settled for second with a 4:08.74 clocking. La Salle junior DJ Principe placed fourth (4:11.53, US #6) and senior teammate Matt Bouthillette, who was overcoming an illness this past week, finished tenth (4:20.15). Salisbury's effort, which ranks No. 3 in the country, broke the 2009 record of 4:08.47 by former Westerly great Andrew Springer at the now-defunct Nike Indoor Nationals.
In the girls' junior mile, La Salle senior Eliza Rego was eighth with a SB of 4:54.79 (US#16). The race was won by Stephanie Jenks of Iowa in 4:47.48.