From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank

It was a perfect evening to run fast, and that’s exactly what a whole bunch of half-milers did Monday night at Haddonfield.

Haddon Heights senior Jack Bolling, coming off his PR 4:14.52 on the same track on Wednesday, won a very deep 800 at Haddonfield Distance Night with a PR 1:54.74. His previous PR was 1:56.89 from the Camden County Championships at Haddon Township earlier this month.

Bolling edged Jeremy Sallade of Wilberforce School in Princeton, who was 2nd with a personal-best 1:54.85. If that last name seems familiar, Sallade’s dad Chris ran for Shawnee and was the state Group 1,600 champ in 1990 with a 4:18.57.

Woodbury junior Peyton Shute placed 3rd with a PR 1:55.16, and Bolling and Shute are now No. 1 and No. 2 in South Jersey this year.

In all 14 runners from the last two heats ran sub-2:00 and 29 runners ran faster than 2:03.

Senior Nick Loffredo of Manchester was 4th with a PR 1:55.86 followed by two more South Jersey runners who PR’d – Cinnaminson senior Matt McCarron ran 1:56.11 and Haddon Heights senior Colin Patterson 1:56.63.

Other South Jersey runners under 2:00: Timber Creek junior Robert Wakefield [8th in 1:57.41], Deptford senior Lathan Brown [9th in 1:57.58], Haddon Heights senior Matthew Iuvara [10th in 1:57.87], Washington Township senior Kanye Mills [11th in PR 1:58.45 and 1st in the 2nd-to-last section], Egg Harbor junior Christopher Manzo [12th in PR 1:58.64] and Washington Township junior Aaron Kolosowsky [13th in 1:59.54].

Others under 2:02 were Haddonfield sophomore Bennett Wright [15th in PR 2:00.17 and 1st in 8th of 10 races], Egg Harbor junior Chase Mazur [17th in PR 2:00.38], Highland senior Gavin Gallo [18th in 2:00.39], Haddonfield senior Robert DiMedio [19th in PR 2:00.54], Woodstown sophomore Cole Lucas [20th in 2:00.91], Haddonfield senior Donald Jellig [21st in 2:01.02], Clearview senior Cavon Agatone [22nd in 2:01.19] and Deptford junior Abu Jabbie [23rd in 2:01.24].

Special notice for Cumberland senior Ehtan Turner, who according to MileSplit ran 2:19.10 in his only previous big-meet 800. Turner ran 2:02.88 Monday evening. Haddonfield’s Luke Andresen was the top freshman with a 2:02.88.

In all, 128 boys raced the 800 in 10 sections.