Clearview grad Daniel “Fitch” Henry and Lenape grad Kevin Later had nice breakthrough races Saturday morning in the 1,500.
Henry, a Rowan senior, placed third in 3:55.92 and Lauer, a freshman, was fourth in 3:57.94, but they were the first two collegiate finishers at the Danny Curran Invitational at Widener University in Chester, Pa.
Henry’s time converts to a 4:14.72 full mile, and Lauer’s time converts to a 4:16.90.
Henry’s previous 1,500 PR was a 3:59.32 in a meet at Emory University in Atlanta in 2017. His time was also intrinsically superior to his mile PR of 4:18.57 from a meet in Myrtle Beach, S.C., last spring.
Henry is a four-time NJAC champion over longer distances with wins at 3,000 meters indoors the last two years and at 5,000 meters in the spring of 2017 and 2018.
Lauer’s race was an even bigger breakthrough. His previous 1,500 PR was a 4:02.66 from last weekend in Orlando, and his mile PR is 4:19.72 from indoor NJACs.
At Lenape, had PRs of 4:12.91 for 1,500 meters at the 2017 Moorestown Invitational and 4:18.96 for 1,600 meters at the 2017 Olympic Conference meet (both behind Shawnee’s Mark Miller), which is the equivalent of a 4:20.46 full mile.