Barriss, Cook, Conlan & Wheelock set new medley relay record
Published in the January 20, 2017 edition
THE MELROSE long distance medley relay team broke the Div. 4 state record this weekend. The quartet included runner Kevin Wheelock (pictured). (Donna Larsson photo)
MELROSE—The Melrose High boy’s track team set a new state record in the long distance medley relay on Sunday, January 15 at the MSTCA James Halperis Indoor Relays at Reggie Lewis Center.
Seniors Griffin Barriss, Adam Cook, Sean Conlan and Kevin Wheelock were at it again, straight off a fantastic cross country season, wen they beat all the competition in the race for a new state record time of 10:40.20, edging second-place Wakefield by a good 20 seconds. The previous record was 10 minutes 47 seconds, but Melrose shaved a full 7 seconds off the record and now own the prestigious record.
Adam Cook started the relay running the 1200 leg in 3:22, a pace of 66 seconds each quarter. He also had Melrose in the lead. Griffin Barriss then maintained the lead with a blazing 54 second quarter. Sean Conlan took over from there and ran the 8:00 in an outstanding 2:00 time and stretching the lead. Melrose had a decent lead at this time and when Kevin Wheelock took the baton it was only a matter of whether or not Melrose would reach the record. Wheelock made sure of that by running a stunning 4:23 mile, giving the team a huge 40 second win over second place Wakefield.
“It was a phenomenal performance,” stated coach Kevin Allison. “I think it is a record that is going to stand for quite a while. All four athletes put up career best performances in one race, it was amazing to watch.”
Melrose will next compete on Wednesday, Jan. 25 at 5:00 p.m. at Lexington High.
