Culpepper, Jenks Win Elite Miles At NB Grand Prix


* Cruz Culpepper and Lucy Jenks won the elite mile sections at the NB Grand Prix races

- - -

Cruz Culpepper and Lucy Jenks stole the show on Saturday at the New Balance Grand Prix in Boston, Massachusetts, showing coveted combinations of speed and endurance to win the elite boys and girls sections of the mile at the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center.

Niwot (CO) High School's Culpepper scored a US No. 2 mark of 4:11.44, while Jenks, of Newton (MA), went a US No. 2 effort of 4:47.83.

Both overcame strong challenges in the final moments. 

Culpepper, known for his late-race surges, went 56 seconds over the final two laps to defeat Phillips Exeter's (NH) William Coogan, who was second in 4:14.93. Jenks, meanwhile, was dead even with Greencastle-Antrim's (PA) Taryn Parks at 1,500 meters before pulling away in the final steps.

Parks, the returning New Balance Nationals Indoor champion in the mile, was second in a US No. 3 time of 4:49.80.

A total of six boys went under 4:20 for the mile, including third-place Gavin Sherry (4:16.99) of Conard (CT), Alex Fleury (4:17.34) of Phillips Academy Andover (MA), Pedro Bravo (4:18.95) of Iona Preparatory (NY) and Rhys Hammond (4:19.25) of Stonington High (CT).


Jenks, meanwhile, led a total of four girls under 4:55, including Saratoga Springs' (NY) Ella Kurto (4:52.31) and Isabelle Goldstein of Germantown Academy (PA) in 4:54.29.

In the high school spring medley relay, Lexington's (MA) boys went a US No. 1 time of 3:33.3, while Bishop Loughlin's (NY) girls won in a US No. 1 performance of 4:05.20.


Related Links: