Navy freshman Derek Gess from Haddonfield and Monmouth freshman Micah Wood from Rancocas Valley both ran indoor PRs in the 800 at the Wesley A. Brown Invitational Sunday in Annapolis, Md.
Gess placed second in 1:54.94, and Wood was fourth in 1:56.55. It was the first career collegiate 800 for both middle-distance runners.
Gess broke his indoor PR of 1:55.93 set when he placed fourth at the 2017 Easterns at the Armory. Wood’s previous indoor PR was 1:59.49 last year — in December of 2018 — at the Marine Corps Holiday Classic, also at the Armory.
Gess’s overall PR is 1:53.88 from Haddonfield Distance Night last spring, and Wood’s is 1:56.15 from Group 4 states last spring.
Ashwin Briggs led a 1-2-3 Navy sweep, winning in 1:52.53.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 