At this years Millrose Games, we saw a legendary battle between Union Catholic (NJ) and IMG Academy (FL) that saw Union Catholic come out on top 7:37.96 to IMG's 7:38.47. The twos marks were good for US#3 and US#4 All-Time Indoors.
Today at New Balance Indoor Nationals was the rematch and it proved to be so immediately into the race. Matthew Dodds of IMG led Elijah McCoy of Union Catholic through the first leg as the two broke away from the rest of the field late into the leg. McCoy would pass Dodds as the pair went into the the exchange in 1:54.02 and 1:54.34.
Keandre Kelly would get the stick out front for Union Catholic and Juan Moncayo of IMG would be just a step behind. They already had about four seconds on the rest of the field and would only extend that lead. Moncayo remained a step behind Kelly throughout the second leg as they exchange with about the same distance between them in 3:46 with Kelly running 1:52.4 to Moncayo's 1:52.34.
Quintin Clemons would get the stick for Union Catholic on the third leg and from the exchange put a few steps on IMG's Lucas Brighty. Over the course of the leg Brighty would close that gap as the two would hand off side by side going into the anchor leg both splitting 1:55.
It was down to Union Catholic's Ciaran Brosnan and IMG Academy's Hayden Bearden going into anchor leg. Not just for the New Balance Indoor National title, but the National Record set in 2009 by Albemarle (VA) of 7:36.99 was well within striking distance with just a 1:55 high anchor leg. The battle was thrilling over the final lap as Brosnan held a the lead position with Bearden trailing biding his time to make his move. They went into bell lap still in the same position, but down the backstretch the battle was on. Bearden charged down the backstretch to beat Brosnan to the pole position going into the final turn giving IMG Academy the lead and ideal positioning. But it was Brosnan and Union Catholic who moved out on his shoulder and had the extra gear down the home stretch to secure the win and National Record in 7:35.05 to IMG's 7:35.28!
Brosnan's anchor leg split would be 1:52.24 to Bearden's 1:53.44.
Both teams were under Albemarle's National Record and are the fastest two Indoor 4x800m Relays in High School history.
Haverford (PA) would win the battle for third moving up a ton over the final two legs running 7:43.93.
Union Catholic Splits
| Leg | Split |
| Elijah McCoy | 1:54.02 |
| Keandre Kelly | 1:52.40 |
| Quintin Clemons | 1:55.40 |
| Ciaran Brosnan | 1:53.24 |
At this years Millrose Games, we saw a legendary battle between Union Catholic (NJ) and IMG Academy (FL) that saw Union Catholic come out on top 7:37.96 to IMG's 7:38.47. The twos marks were good for US#3 and US#4 All-Time Indoors.
Today at New Balance Indoor Nationals was the rematch and it proved to be so immediately into the race. Matthew Dodds of IMG led Elijah McCoy of Union Catholic through the first leg as the two broke away from the rest of the field late into the leg. McCoy would pass Dodds as the pair went into the the exchange in 1:54.02 and 1:54.34.
Keandre Kelly would get the stick out front for Union Catholic and Juan Moncayo of IMG would be just a step behind. They already had about four seconds on the rest of the field and would only extend that lead. Moncayo remained a step behind Kelly throughout the second leg as they exchange with about the same distance between them in 3:46 with Kelly running 1:52.4 to Moncayo's 1:52.34.
