The start of the boys' Junior Mile at the New Balance Grand Prix on Saturday, by SCOTT MASON.
The Junior Mile races at Saturday's New Balance Grand Prix produced a pair of unlikely victors inside the Reggie Lewis Center.
Jacqueline Gaughan of Exeter (NH) claimed the girls' crown with a time of 4 minutes, 52.57 seconds. Gaughan, an All-American 5K runner, who was 11th at the Foot Locker Nationals this past December, had a nearly nine-second best! Finishing second was Abbe Goldstien of Germantown Academy (PA) with a time of 4:53.17.
In the boys' competition, Josh Hoey of Bishop Shanihan (PA) upset pre-race favorite DJ Principe of La Salle Academy (RI) with a winning effort of 4:09.26. Principe finished second with a time of 4:12.34.
The Rams' Principe, who a week earlier nearly cracked four minutes for the mile with a best of 4:00.97 at the New Balance Games, took control from the start. But Hoey never let the Stanford commit get in the comfort zone, trailing behind by just a few strides for most of the race. Principe hit the 800m split at 2:05. With a little less than a lap remaining, Hoey swung around the La Salle standout and switched into high gear on the back straightaway to pull away for the win.
Finishing sixth overall was Newburyport's Jack Carleo with a time of 4:20.68. Ben Kovacs of St. John's placed ninth overall in 4:21.95. Kyle Faddis of Masconomet Regional was tenth in 4:26.47.