Rancocas Valley graduate Ian Moore, in his first race in 19 months, won the 1,000 Saturday at the Rutgers Holiday Classic at the Armory.
Moore, a junior at Monmouth, ran 2:29.11, edging Columbia’s Jacob Van Orden, who ran 2:29.44. Cherokee grad Nico Grilli, a freshman in his first collegiate race on the track, was 3rd in 2:30.55.
Moore did not compete last year and hadn’t raced since May 8, 2021, when he ran 1:54.12 in the 800 at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Championships at Rider in Lawrenceville.
Moore ran 1:51.98 earlier in the spring of 2021, which ranks No. 10 in Monmouth outdoor history. He also ranks No. 6 in the 600 (1:22.09), No. 9 in the indoor 800 (1:52.76) and No. 6 in the 1,000 (2:26.29). He was the MAAC indoor 800 champ in February of 2020.
It was Grilli’s first track race since he ran a PR 4:19.51 at the 2021 Meet of Champions in South Plainfield and his first indoor race since February of 2019.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 