More on Feigen's top-three finish at Millrose

The runner-up at this race last year, Robby Andrews of Manalapan reportedly used a fantastic final lap to win in 4:17.42 over Bret Johnson of Ocean City (4:19.61) and Mark Feigen of East Greenwich (4:20.43) in the Boys' Invitational Mile at the 102 Millrose Games, Friday night at Madison Square Garden. Feigen's teammate, Nick Ross, placed eighth. (His time was not immediately available.)

Comments from Robby Andrews on his win:
"It was slow, but I tried to stay in the top five throughout the race. I learned a lot from last year. All the hard work and the torture my coach puts me through, it's worth it. I've been training pretty hard.

"The track is incredibly hard to run on. You feel like you're going out really fast, but you'll be going through (half-way) in 2:15 or 2:16. You've just got to be there in the end. I thought it was gong to be a lot faster. Bret (Johnson) was right in front of me and these guys were coming pretty hard, but luckily it paid off. I've been training a lot harder than I have been in the past. I haven't really been in the weight room. I hoped that I had it, but Bret, he and I had a run in at meet of champs last year and he blew me out of the water. (On winning at Millrose) It's the greatest feeling ever. I can definitely get used to it. I was so excited. I've never really had that feeling before in the mile. Running in Madison Square Garden, it's just surreal. I'm grateful to have the opportunity."

Reached last night at Madison Square Garden, East Greenwich coach Peter Dion offered this about the race:
"We got the spot we liked. We had the outside lane, lane 3, and they went out great and controlled the race for the first half mile. So the approach was good. But it might have been a little bit too slow because the two Jersey kids can fly, so it worked out well for them. It's tough, especially when it's a slow half mile and the other guys are sit-and-kick guys. The two kids from Jersey [Robby Andrews of Manalapan and Bret Johnson of Ocean City], with about 300 meters to go, they took off. Mark hung on. Nick faded back a little bit.

"Mark was happy with his performance. He talked about where he could have done a better job and that he felt like he kind of let it get away a little bit. But he said he loved it, it was a great experience and he's glad he came.

"Nick's a little disappointed, but he's gotten a lot of experience, so hopefully he'll come back next year and he'll know what it's all about.

"All in all, though, I thought it was very good. It was really loud and there was a big to-do, so it was definitely worth going."

Posted by Carolyn Thornton  at 6:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)