You have to be at a peak to win a mile, and Connor Adams of Flower Mound High School proved he was at the top of his game today at the Congress Avenue Mile, which is somewhat of a high school championship race pitting the top 48 boys and girls in Texas, divided into four teams: north, east, south and west, against each other.
Open elite competition actually had the fastest times of the day, with Houston’s Adam Davis winning the men’s race in 4:06.74, ahead of Baytown’s Sesar Figueroa, in 4:09.68. Austin’s Lennie Waite had the fastest women’s time of the day, with a sizzling 4:46, ahead of Liz Shelton’s 4:55.
One of the most spectacular times of the day belonged to Crayton Carrozza, you guessed it, the 10-year old son of RunTex’s Paul and Sheila Carrozza. Crayton, who’s main sport is swimming, ran a 5:36 mile.
But back to the high school competition which was the race’s showcase. Craig Lutz (Marcus High School), who took second in the Capitol 10,000 last year, towed the field through slowish 1:08 first quarter, along with Adams, Ethan Doherty (Boerne Champion), and Neil Smith (Southlake Carroll) tightly bunched in a lead pack.
After the halfway mark, Lutz fell off the pace, while Cedar Park’s Parker Stinson joined the fray as they neared the three-quarter mark.
Once on the Anne Richards Bridge, Adams and Smith went into overdrive, when suddenly Doherty launched a blazing kick and took the lead.
But Adams, found another gear, passing Doherty to break the tape in 4:07.69, just ahead of Doherty’s 4:08.09, while Stinson grabbed third in 4:09.07. helping Team North took the overall win.
““I was really tired. But when I get passed, I’m a real competitive guy. I don’t like losing. said Adams, a signee for the University of Miami next fall.
Amanda Russell, a senior at Vista Ridge High School in Cedar Park, dominated the girls high school race, pacing front runners, Rachel Johnson (Plano), and Colbea Harris (Argyle Richardson), through a 1:15 quarter.
Russell, who was racing competing on Team North, passed the halfway marker in 2:22, and cruised home to win in 4:51.39. Johnson, was second in 4:59.07, a step ahead of Meredith Gamble (St. Johns). Team East, lead by Gamble took the girls win.
