Turns out he can run the 400, too!
St. Augustine senior Sincere Rhea, in his first serious 400 in three years, led five runners under 50 seconds with a massive PR of 48.80 Monday at the South Jersey Parochial A sectionals at Donovan Catholic in Toms River.
Rhea, the indoor high hurdles national champion, last ran a non dual-meet 400 in January of 2018, according to the MileSplit database, at a SJTCA indoor developmental meet at the Bennett Center, and he placed 32nd in 56.73. His last legit outdoor 400 was on May 27, 2016, when he placed 13th at the Parochial A sectionals at Egg Harbor in 53.18 as a freshman.
Rhea’s previous 400 PR was 52.78 a week earlier at the New Jersey Catholic Track Conference Frosh-Soph Championships at St. John Vianney in Holmdel.
Rhea’s time is No. 1 in South Jersey this year and No. 9 in the state. It’s fastest state-wide in Parochial A, just ahead of Elijah Brown of Union Catholic, who ran 48.86 at the Union County Championships last week at Hub Stein Field in Plainfield. Brown was second to Rhea Monday in 49.15. Paul VI freshman Michael Mazero took fourth in that race in 49.91.
Rhea is now No. 1 in South Jersey in the 400, No. 2 in the 200 at 21.56 and No. 3 in the U.S. in the 110-meter high hurdles.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 
What makes this even more impressive is that Rhea ran this from the 1st and slowest heat. Rhea won his heat by 10 seconds! Elija Brown from Union Catholic ran in the 5th heat where 2 other runners went below 50 seconds.
LikeLike