Pruett defeats Lane at Maine Distance Festival> Sumner miler runs 4:23.17 to capture high school race

BRUNSWICK – As Sumner High track star Parker Pruett approaches the final stretch of his high school track career, he’s picking up speed and picking off runners with all the confidence that comes with a good kick.

In the last race of his junior season Saturday, Pruett exhibited the same surge that his track career has taken as he exploded going into the last lap of the boys mile at the Maine Distance Festival at Bowdoin College Whittier Field and won in 4 minutes, 23.17 seconds. Pruett defeating nemesis Matt Lane of Yarmouth, who finished second in 4:24.38, for the first time in the mile.

“I really wanted to beat him before he graduated,” Pruett said. “I wasn’t worried that I started back. Freshman year, I was beaten all the time. So I’ve grown used to working my way up through the pack. And I knew I could pick up the pace.”

Pruett was chosen as the most outstanding male high school athlete at the meet that brought together Olympians, elite open runners and some of the best high school runners in Maine.

Recent Morse of Bath grad Margie Van Orden was chosen as the most outstanding girls high school athlete after breaking her own meet record in the mile, winning in 5:03.17.

The honor for Pruett capped a season in which his identity as a runner changed from a cross country king to a threat on the track.

As Sumner coach Chuck Whitney started working on Pruett’s speed this winter to improve the lanky runner’s leg turnover, the metamorphosis began.

This spring Pruett dropped his time in the mile from 4:26 to 4:19, in the 800 from 2:05 to 1:56 and in the 400 from 55 to 52. Last week he placed seventh in the 3,000-meter steeplechase in the Junior National Track and Field Championships in Ohio, the meet of elite 20-and-under athletes that put together the U.S. Junior track team.

Pruett’s endurance and improved speed showed in Saturday’s race. He went out in fourth and, in the second lap, moved into third, but was still five yards behind leader Lane. Then with two laps to go, Pruett took the lead with ease and, as he approached the gun lap, put three yards between him and Lane. He extended the lead to eight yards in the last lap and never let Lane get closer.

“I felt comfortable,” Pruett said. “I really wasn’t worried about him [Lane]. I felt confident. I’m a different runner this year. I have more tools. My mindset is different. Before this year, I was the underdog moving up. This year, I was the veteran.”

Track and Field

Maine Distance Festival AT BOWDOIN COLLEGE, Brunswick

800 meter (boys): Scot Davis, N. Brunswick, Calif., 2:00:46; Josh Rogerson, Morse, 2:03.05, Emil Thomann, Sumner, 2:03.18; Denis LaFreniere, Bonny Eagle, 2:05.00; John Rogerson, Bangor, 2:05.21; Todd Dixon, Erskine Academy, 2:06.44; Girls: Briana Nault, Biddeford, 2:20. 49; Erin Herbig, Belfast, 2:21.75; Jill Svoboda, Bangor, 2:26.51; Jackie Mauren, Gorham, 2:27.85; Nadiah Lincoln, Winthrop, 2:28.83; Meg Muller, Poland, 2:29.12; Kyla Lynch, Scarborough, 2:30.53; Gretchen Earle, Falmouth, 2:34.23; Kim Taylor, Falmouth, 2:34.61; Hollie Harnisch, Bangor, 2:38.43

Boys mile: Parker Pruett, Sumner, 4:23.17; Matt Lane, Yarmouth, 4:24.38; Bob Lacourse, Biddeford, 4:28.40, Steve Moore, Brunswick, 4:28.47; Colin Moore, Windham, 4:32.93; Matt Payson, North Mount Hermon, Mass., 4:37.62; Ben Lewis, Mt. Blue, 4:37.80; Jason Moore, Hermon, 4:42.30; Girls: Margie Van Orden, Morse, 5:03.17; Leanne Brady, Trumbull, Conn., 5:17.16; Shalane Flanagan, Mass., 5:22.69; Kelly Terhune, Lake Region, 5:28.70; Emily Hampson, Exeter, N.H., 5:28.71; Hannah Shultz, Gorham, 5:32.98; Anna Yates, Mt. Blue, 5:36. 85; Erin Welch, Belfast, 6:01.15; Vicki Swindells Cony 6:04.26; Vanessa Allen, Morse, 6:08.96 MASTERS EVENT

Mile Run: Barry Harwick, 4:29.94; Bob O’Hara, 4:34.06, Roy McSorley, 4:37.47; Bob Hodge, 4:39.58; Brad Hurt, 4:42.46; Rich Murray, 4:54.04 ELITE EVENTS

Women’s 800 meter run: Cuyler Goodwin, Dartmouth, 2:13.63; Emir Maloy, 2:14.05; Jill Hindley, Gr. Lowell RR, 2:20.97

Men’s 5000: Chris Langan, Dartmouth, 14:57.13; Jim Garster, Sub-5, 15:22.14; Sheldon Young, 15:26.75; Women’s: Lynn Jennings, Nike, 15:39.22; Kate Fonshell, Asics, 15:53.52; Maggie Murray, Whirlaway, 16:34.23

Men’s mile: Steve Agar, Farm Team, 4:01.33; Bill Bland, C.Mass.Str, 4:10.07; Willie Best, Canada, 4:10.10; Men’s Steeplechase: Rob Cook, Club Northwest, 8:50.08; Artie Green, 8:53.16; Darrin Shearer, Harvard, 8:53.89