Pleasantville’s Gabriel Moronta, a national champ in the 4-by-4 at South Florida last year, won the Olympic Development 600 meters Saturday at the 130th running of the Penn Relays at Franklin Field.
Moronta ran 1:16.08 for the 1 ½-lap race, rarely run outdoors. He initially won by 15 meters over former TCU runner Lloyd Frilot, who was 2nd in 1:18.11. When Frilot was DQ’d, former Merrimack All-America Patrick Forest moved up to 2nd in 1:18.48.
Moronta, who changed his national affiliation from American to the Dominican Republic in June, ran 1:15.86 in an indoor 600 in February at Ocean Breeze, breaking the Dominican Republic national record. That’s No. 12 in the world this year.
Moronta came through 200 meters in 24.62 and then ran 400 meters in 51.46.
From the Backstretch by Reuben Frank 