Looking back - January 40 years ago

40 years ago (January 1981) - I started out the year with a new Billerica High school record for 2 miles (indoors) with a 9:41.6 at the Dartmouth relays on 01/10/81. Kevin Curtin held the old school record of 9:44.6 (set in 1980). A week later I broke that record with a 5th place finish at the State Coaches Invitational at Harvard. I ran 9:33.7 in a race won by Mike Flynn who ran 9:12. I ran two other two miles that month, both at Methuen High school and both wins. I ran 9:56 in a dual meet against Lowell (Tom Neylon 2^nd in 10:16.2) and a 9:49 in a dual meet versus Wilmington (Carl Borgeson 2^nd in 10:03.1). We got wins in five of the 10 races against Wilmington including Brian Orr (5.8) in the 50, Ron Caterino (35.1) in the 300, Kevin Healey (2:37.8) in the 1,000m, and John Dangora (4:35.3) in the mile.  I set a PR at the mile on 01/26/81 in a dual meet against Andover (we won the meet 45-41).  I took first in the mile in 4:37.9 and teammate Chris Pike dipped under 5 for the first time to nab second place in 4:53.5.

State Coaches meet      2mile    01/17/81
1 Mike Flynn                    Woburn              9:12.7 (meet record)
2 Jeff deAlmeida              Ashland             9:26.1
3 Brian Mahoney              Falmouth           9:26.8
4 Steve Perkins               Danvers             9:32.9
5 Dave Dunham              Billerica              9:33.7
6 Dan Foley                    St John’s Prep     9:39.8

Mile
1 Tom Hinds                   Haverhill            4:18.9 (meet record)