3. The Most Intriguing Head-to-Head Matchup In The Country
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If we're looking at this matchup, between Conard's Gavin Sherry and Manchester's Aidan Puffer, it really began in 2019 when the duo from Connecticut began to race each other for the first time -- at least in high school.
But it's been a pretty amazing ride since. How often do you get two-elite distance runners in the same class and this close in proximity? Like literally. Consider that Sherry and Puffer live less than 20 minutes from each other in Manchester.
Before the indoor season began, the pair had raced each other 10 times. But while Sherry continues to have the upper hand, winning 13 of the 15 matchups, Puffer has never been far behind.
That's what's made this rivalry so compelling.
The pair's first battle of 2020 came at the Yale Track Classic, where Sherry won in 4:18.11, with Puffer following in 4:20.92. Sherry took the next race by two seconds, but perhaps both runner's best race came at the CIAC State Open: Sherry went a new US No. 1 mark of 8:54.47, while Puffer scored his first sub-9 effort in 8:59.25.
Their last official race of the 2020 indoor season came at the New England Indoor Championships at 2-miles. Sherry would score another US No. 1 in 8:53.25 while Puffer clocked a 8:58.10 for US No. 2.
Although there is a bit of rivalry here, there's no doubt these two are friends who both take comfort in the fact that they push each other toward fast times.
Puffer recently told us he looks forward to the next two years, for the sole fact that he knows he can race someone just as talented as him who lives right down the road.
Oh yeah, and while the duo's last official race came on Feb. 29, they met on the track on March 14 -- along with another elite pal, Matthew Farrell -- and both ran to identical times of 8:52 for 2-miles ... Sherry was only slightly ahead.
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