Kingsway graduate Damon Dukes, a freshman at New Jersey Institute of Technology, ran a huge 200 PR Monday in the prelims at the America East Conference Championships in Boston.
Dukes, who had never run faster than 22.15 in high school or college, blasted one lap at The TRACK in 21.70, a nearly half second PR.
At Kingsway, Dukes ran 22.60 indoors at Ocean Breeze and 22.20 outdoors at Deptford, ran 22.15 in his only prevoius collegiate 200, a meet at Ocean Breeze last month.
On Monday, his 21.70 was the 2nd-fastest qualifying time going into Tuesday’s final. Junior Shavar Staats Jr. of Albany ran a PR 21.61 in a different semifinal race.
Dukes’ time is fastest by any America East freshman in six years, since Harmodio Cruz III and Garfield Napier, both of Albany, ran 21.54 and 21.67 in 2018.
Dukes will be in Lane 6, just outside Staats Jr., in the second section in the two-race final. The 200 final is scheduled for 2:25 p.m. Tuesday.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 