Tufts’ Black owns his 800 specialty
A banner 2016 season finished on a high note for Tufts senior Mitchell Black when he broke the tape in the 800 meters at last night’s Adrian Martinez Classic outdoor track and field meet in Concord.
It was the last of a lengthy campaign that saw the 22-year-old Black, a 10-time All-American, capture both indoor and outdoor NCAA titles in his 800 specialty.
Black, a mechanical engineering /astrophysics major from Brunswick, Maine, won the indoor title in March when he clocked 1:52.95. A portent of greater things occurred early in the outdoor season on April 23 at the Larry Ellis Invitational hosted by Princeton when Black posted a scintillating 1:48.60. He carried that to Waverly, Iowa, last week when he won the 800 at the NCAA Div. 3 championships in 1:49.58, a stadium record and better than his 2015 NCAA Div. 3 meet victory in 1:52.57.
Black’s times threatened all-time, all-division N.E. marks as well, and last night he needed to run 1:46 flat to gain automatic entry in the U.S. Olympic Trials that will begin July 1 in Eugene, Ore. Black said his races at the Larry Ellis and at the NCAAs were mirror opposites.
“As different as they could be,” he said. “At the Larry Ellis, I went out faster than I ever had, running with some good guys and I was kind of pulled along. I think I went through (400 meters) around 52 seconds. I wasn’t used to feeling like I did afterward. At the NCAAs, I think I was 55 at the quarter, just running for (first) place. I didn’t really have a concern about the time.’’
It has been a meteoric spurt for Black, who competed only one season in high school, although he gave an indication of future prowess by breaking two-minutes for the 800 as a sophomore. Now, Black is at a crossroads. This summer, he will work for NASA in Huntsville, Ala., and in the fall enter an aerospace program, placing an inordinate time constraints on any athletic pursuit.
“In terms of running, I think it’s up in the air,’’ said Black. “I start an aerospace program in the fall at (University of) Michigan and I’m committed to that. I might have time to join a track club or, maybe, I’ll take a year off to decompress. I love running. So, we’ll have to see.’’
Suffolk goes Eastie
Kudos to Suffolk University which inked a 10-year agreement with the City of Boston to use East Boston Stadium for several spring sports, including baseball, softball and men’s and women’s soccer.
Meanwhile, coach Anthony Del Prete guided the Rams baseball team to a sixth Great Northeast Athletic Conference championship with a 33-13 mark and a second straight trip to the NCAA Div. 3 tournament. Four Rams were named to the NEIBA allregion team — sophomore Brady Chant, freshman Jake Frasca, senior Drew Carter of Newburport and freshman Kevin Sinatra of East Boston. Suffolk produced 345 runs, a .320 batting average and 30 home runs.
Passing good baton
Congratulations to Boston University’s men’s 4-by-400-meter relay team, which broke school and New England records, becoming the first relay team to eclipse the 40-second barrier. The quartet of senior David Lagerberg, junior Cameron Williams, and sophomores Jordan Love and Cameron Nurse sped 39.96, erasing the old standard of 40.19 set by BU a year ago.
Deserved honor
There are plenty of Garber’s Gorillas exulting today after it was announced that late legendary UMass coach Dick Garber is among 11 inductees to the inaugural class of the Intercollegiate Men’s Lacrosse Coaches Association Hall of Fame.
Garber, the first lax coach to reach 300 career wins, posted 31 winning seasons, producing 82 AllAmericans and 105 AllNew England players.
“All of us who played for or had any contact with coach Garber, knew he was a special person,’’ said current UMass coach Greg Comella, who played under Garber from 1986-87. “Over time, when you revisit those times spent with coach Garber, you realize how lucky we were to be part of his life.’’