Tough day at New Balance Nationals for del Monte, Van De Grift

Posted Jun 18, 2010 by Bill Ward

Updated Jun 18, 2010 at 09:58 PM

Coming off recent physical setbacks, Friday’s New Balance Nationals high school track and field meet in Greensboro. N.C., proved to be a tough day for local prep standouts Max del Monte of Chamberlain and Grace Van De Grift of Durant.

Both distance runners competed in the Emerging Elite mile run of this elite meet, regarded as the high school national outdoor championships at North Caroline A&T University.

Suffering a nagging calf injury, Van De Grift, a state medalist in the 1,600-meter run this spring as a junior, dropped out after about 600 meters of Friday’s race.

Later, del Monte, who at one time this season was the nation’s fastest sophomore miler, finished 22nd in 4:36.21. His personal best for the 1,600 is 4:16.42. He’s just getting over a recent illness.

The Emerging Elite category is typically the division for those runners who didn’t make the cut for the Championship race. To get an idea of just how competitive this meet is, Friday’s Championship 2-mile run for the boys was won in 8:44.06 by junior Joe Rosa of Plainsboro, N.J., with his twin brother, Jim, taking second in 8:51.46. The top nine finishers in the race broke the 9-minute barrier.

In the girls championship 2-mile run, sophomore Megan Goethals of Rochester, Mich., was first in 10:01.16. Florida’s Class 4A state champion in the girls 1,600 and 3,200, Shelby Hayes of Winter Park, was fifth in 10:27.43.