We flash back to a long ago time that may now be hard to recall, all the way back to June 9, 2021 and the Outdoor CIAC Open. Gavin Sherry is gunning around the track in the 1600m and he has top-seeded Wolcott senior Nick Bendtsen digging behind him. Both of them are eying a state record that each just missed at their Class meets, and they need to go under 4:08.42 to claim the SR.
By the end of the third lap with Sherry at 3:02 and Bendtsen still close, it is clear that barring a major charlie horse or two that the SR is going down and thoughts of maybe even a sub 4:00 for the 1600m might be in the offing.
And after a sub 60 second third lap, Sherry possibly does it again after the bell to sprint home and blow away the SR by more than 6 1/2 seconds with an astounding 4:01.88 mark. Bendtsen also goes well under the old SR with a 4:06.09.
And after them, the deluge, as ten runners drive home under 4:20. The 3rd through 10th positions are: 3. Colin
McLaughlin (Westhill) 4:08.44, 4. Nate DeAngelo (Bristol Central) 4:12.54,
5. Patrick Gibbons (New Fairfield) 4:14.50, 6. Walker Beverly (Hall) 4:14.58,
7. Callum Sherry (Conard) 4:15.37, 8. Nikita Omelchenko (Wilbur Cross) 4:16.92, 9. Luke Anthony (East Lyme) (won first section) 4:18.30, 10. Liam Carcich (Ridgefield) 4:19.42. Half of the ten runners could be returning for CT outdoor action in 2022.
Of course the title for this Flashback piece would also be appropriate for a performance from less than two months ago, but that's a whole different story.
Trackside view of finish.
Talking with Gavin Sherry a ways after the 1600m race and before 3200m race.