Agyarge-May runs record 600 to capture New England crown

By Mary Albl for DyeStat

BOSTON, Mass. –  Rodney Agyare-May had never won the 600 meters event at the New England Indoor Championships, but that all changed Saturday afternoon at the Reggie Lewis Center. 

The Burncoat High MA senior dominated from start to finish, powering down the straightaway and crossing the line in a US#1 time of 1 minute, 18.31 seconds. The performance is No. 3 all-time.

"I finally did it," Agyare-May said of winning.

The win was well worth the wait for the Harvard-bound Agyare-May, as his time broke Casimir Loxsom's meet record of 1:18.72. Second place went to Tyler Gleen of Trumbull CT in 1:19.52. 

"It was definitely really, really special," Agyare-May said of breaking the record. "It was something I was looking to the whole season. Going into last year it was one of my goals."

Agyare-May said the victory gives him some confidence heading into New Balance Nationals Indoor next weekend, when he'll run the 400 meters.

"I definitely felt the pressure," Agyare-May said of winning the 600. "I'm used to it. The last four years I've been dealing with pressure. (You) go into a race knowing you're prepared, and you'll run well." 

Repeat 55 dash title winners 

It was an emotional day for Brooke-Lynn Williams as the Norton MA senior repeated as the 55-meter dash champion, running 6.94 seconds.

"It feels amazing," Williams said. "It's my last race at Reggie. It's actually a second home and to run finally sub-7 at my last race at Reggie, it's like incredible. It feels awesome."

Williams will run the 60 at New Balance Nationals Indoor. 

On the boys side, Mark Doyley of Weaver CT won his second consecutive New England title in a meet record time of 6.33. He bested his time from last year by 0.10. The senior followed it up with a victory in the 300 (34.24). 

Salis impresses in 1,000, NH dominates 2 mile

Leya Salis left the New England Championships accomplishing just about all of her goals. The Bedford NH senior used an aggressive last few laps to distance herself from the pack and claim the 1,000 title in 2:48.25. 

"I kind of just wanted to go in and hopefully shoot for a PR in which I did, so I was happy about that," Salis said. 

Salis' time was also a meet record, besting Maddy Berkson's (RI) time of 2:49.29 set in 2014. Salis said with this race, she'll have to decide between 800 and mile for NBNI. 

"It's kind of surreal that I did so many things this race because my goal was to PR and maybe break 2:50," she said. "But I'm so surprised and happy that I was able to accomplish so many things in this one race."

In the 2 mile, Exeter NH junior Jackie Gaughan won the race in 10:40.70, with Osyter River's (NH) Patrick O'Brien using a late kick to overtake the lead and win the boys 2 mile in a US#1 time of 9:12.18. 

"It's awesome, I see Jackie a lot," O'Brien said.  "It's fun to succeed with her. It's just cool to have her win too."