Haddonfield junior Derek Gess took on some of the best milers in the country Wednesday night and emerged with his second PR in a week.
Gess placed eighth in the Millrose Games trials at the 168th Street Armory with a time of 4:19.17 for the full mile.
His time converts to 4:17.67 for 1,600 meters, which is nearly a three-second PR. His previous indoor PR was 4:20.54 last weekend at the Ocean Breeze Freedom Games. His previous outdoor PR was a slightly faster 4:20.51 at Group 2 sectionals last spring at Delsea.
The race produced eight of the 13-fastest times in the country this year for the full mile.
Gess’s time is fastest in New Jersey this year and it looks like it puts him No. 5 on the all-time Haddonfield list, which is pretty elite company.
This is my best attempt at an all-time indoor South Jersey 1,600-meter run list, with mile times converted to 1,600 meters using the standard conversion formula. I could be missing a few times in the low- to mid-4:17 range. Once the Eagles lose (or win the Super Bowl), I’ll have time to update some of these lists!
As always, if you see a time or performance missing or listed incorrectly, please list the correct information in the comments section!
Thanks!
4:13.68y … Marc Pelerin [Cherokee], 2002
4:14.18 ….. Greg Pelose [Haddonfield], 2016
4:14.1y ….. Marty Ludwikowski [Cherry Hill West], 1975
4:14.53y… Chris Platt [Haddonfield], 2003
4:14.71 … Luke Petela [Haddon Twp.], 2015
4:15.11….. Jim Smith [Haddonfield[, 1980
4:16.02 … Erik Johnson [Ocean City], 2012
4:16.0 ….. Greg Stremmel [Gateway], 1974
4:16.3 ….. Rich Caton [Woodbury[, 1979
4:16.57 … Miles Schoedler [Ocean City], 2011
4:16.62 … Bill Dolan [Clearview], 2014
4:16.85 … Ben Potts [Haddonfield], 2011
4:17.67 … Derek Gess [Haddonfield], 2018
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 