The New Hampshire state record is just over one second away.
Only 1.02 seconds stand between the Pinkerton Academy 4×200 relay team and Granite State immortality — and the Astros want it bad.
“We are definitely within striking distance of the state record, and that pushes us,” said Zack Smith. “We’ve had one real crack at it this winter, and we were just shy. This has been our goal since the start of the season. Now we want more, we want the record.”
Since 1998, New Hampshire’s indoor track 4×200 record has stood at 1:31.80 — according to www.nh.staterunning.net — a mark set by Londonderry High.
Now, the Pinkerton team of Braydon Parker, Caden Michaud, Matt Morrison and Smith are looking to topple that 26-year-old mark. and they’re close.
At the Boston Holiday Challenge on Dec. 27, the foursome ran a blazing 1:32.82, the fastest in the area this year by nearly a second, and just over a second off the New Hampshire record.
“We want to set the record by any means necessary,” said Michaud, who along with Parker and Smith led the 4×100 team to the Division I state title (43.05) and fourth at New Englands (42.93) last spring. “We want to set that record, and we want to win a state championship. There is still a lot more time left to knock that time down, and we are going to continue to work on doing just that. There are some good teams that will push us to that time, so we are looking to accomplish that.”
Everything starts with Michaud — an Eagle-Tribune All-Star running back/defensive back in football — a senior who has moved to the leadoff spot in the relay.
“I used to be the anchor of the 4×200 and the 4×100 outdoors,” said Michaud, who is in his third year on the relay. “So leadoff is different. Actually giving a handoff is something new for me. It’s super fun to try to make up the stagger from behind the teams in front of us, and it’s something that pushes me to run the fastest that I can.”
Next up is Smith, another three-year relay member who runs the second leg.
“My job as the second leg is to receive and give a handoff as fast and efficiently as possible,” said the senior, who also plays soccer. “I also have the task of cutting into lane one as aggressively as possible to build a lead and set up the last two legs for success. This relay is special because of the chemistry, talent, and hard work we all possess. We glue together so well.”
Coming in for the third leg is indoor track newcomer Parker, a junior.
“The third leg means I pretty much cut in occasionally and hand it off to the anchor,” he said. “I was so pumped to run 1:32.80, and we just keep consistently getting better. It’s all about communication.”
Finally, the anchor is Morrison, another Eagle-Tribune All-Star running back/defensive back in football, and a lacrosse standout.
“I’m the anchor leg of the relay and my job is to secure the final handoff and finish first,” said Morrison, in his second year on the relay. “I’m thrilled about our success. I enjoy being able to race with a group of people trying to attain the same goal. The relay is the most exhilarating event, and being able to have great success makes it so much better.”
With Division I states coming up on Feb. 11 and New Englands on March 2, the relay wants to lock down its record.
“I’m so hyped,” said Parker. “That is the goal, we’re pretty close to it and any of the next couple meets could be that time. We want a state record.”
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