The fans that will pack the Reggie Lewis Athletic Center Saturday night for the New Balance Grand Prix are sure to get a treat with the presence of professional runners like Mary Cain, Bernard Legat and Jenny Simpson.
But the potential is also there for an electrifying atmosphere created by the high school athletes scheduled to compete, especially those entered in the Junior Mile races.
For local enthusiasts, keep your eyes on the boys' race where La Salle Academy will have two of its stars in the 12-runner field -- junior Jack Salisbury and senior Dan Paiva. Salisbury earned his berth by winning last month's Dartmouth Invitational with a time of 4 minutes, 21.32 seconds. Paiva qualified a few weeks ago in Providence by running away with the title at the East Coast Invitational where he was timed in 4:25.44.
The field is loaded for this weekend's event with a pair of sub 4:10 milers, a 1:48 800-meter runner and a host of others that have the ability to make things happen in the eight-lap race, including the Rams' Salisbury. The La Salle runner has an indoor PR of 4:17.36, which he did the last time he stepped foot inside Reggie Lewis, a come-from-behind victory at the New England Championship. At the New England outdoor meet, he finished second in the 1,600m with a 4:12.97 clocking, a time that computes to a 4:13.82 for the mile.
After a cross-country season that was sidetracked for the first few months due to an injury, Salisbury appears back to his old form. He's been undefeated this indoor season, often demonstrating his powerful kick in the closing stages of the race.
La Salle distance coach Bill Myers feels his multiple all-stater has a chance for a PR performance against the country's elite this weekend. Just a few weeks ago at the Yale Track Classic, Salisbury anchored the Rams' DMR squad to a nation No. 1 of 10:22.25 with a 4:17 for his 1,600m leg.
"I think he can run anywhere between 4:12 and 4:14," Myers said. "I think he's strong enough. I told him to run to win and the time will come."
The banked-oval of Reggie Lewis appears to be somewhat of a home away from home for Salisbury. Besides his victory at the NE meet, he also anchored the school's winning DMR squad at the 2014 Grand Prix event with a 4:20 split, his only other time at the track last year.
Salisbury believes he is ready to contend with some of the best.
"I am just looking to PR, winning might be a little battle against these guys, the best in the country," said Salisbury, after his double-winning effort at the Metropolitan Division Championship last weekend where he captured the 1,500m and the 1,000m. "I ran a 4:17 1600 split in the DMR (at Yale) and that felt really good. If my legs are feeling good again I wouldn't count myself out for a 4:11, 4:10. I am just hoping to run around 4:14 or under. We'll see."
Salisbury will be facing a very-talented field that's led by Michigan's Logan Wetzel, who finished third at the Gazelle Sports Elite Meet at Grand Valley State University last weekend with a best of 4:09.81, currently No. 3 from coast to coast. The field also includes Jeremy Spiezio of Greenwich Central, N.Y., who in December copped the mile at the RI Classic. Two weeks after that race, Spiezio ran a nearly six-second best of 4:10.92 (US #4) to win the mile at the Hispanic Games in New York City. If it's a kickers' race and Myles Marshall of Kingwood, Tx., is with the lead pack, you can't ignore him, too. He has yet to run a mile race but excels at half the distance. This past summer, he won the 800m at the USATF Junior National Outdoor Championships with an all-time best of 1:48.43. He later took individual honors at the World Youth Olympic Games with a 1:49.14 clocking.
Another runner who also has a chance to surprise is Thomas Ratcliffe of Concord Carlisle, Ma. The junior, who is the son of former Cumberland High and Brown University great Tom Ratcliffe, a 2:14 marathoner, won Yale last month with a best of 4:15 and also clocked 9:15 for two miles, a race he won at a dual meet where he was far ahead of his nearest competitor. There's also New York's Benito Muniz, the senior from Carmel who has run 4:09 and has a season best of 4:17 this winter.
Despite the level of competition, Myers is not counting out Salisbury for a victory.
"Jack doesn't like to lose," said the La Salle coach. "I am not saying he can win it. But if he's in the mix, he can."
The Rams' Paiva is also looking for PR on Saturday. He ran 4:21 four times last year, including his best of 4:21.32, which he did to place eighth at the New England meet last June. The La Salle junior is hoping to dip under the 4:20 mark.
"Just to be in that race is an honor, especially with my teammate, two guys from the same school. I think that's great," Paiva said. "Hopefully they can pull me through and I can get a pretty good PR."
La Salle also has a good chance to defend its title in the DMR despite Salisbury competing in the mile. The foursome includes junior Matt Bouthillette (1,200m), senior Cam Rotstart (400m), senior Jamie Placco (800m) and sophomore D.J. Principe (mile), who are capable of combining their efforts for a sub 10:30, a time that is certainly worthy of earning gold.