TOMS RIVER — He wasn’t ready to declare last year’s disappointing seventh-place finish at the state
Group 1 championships the worst day of his running career.
But Bogota’s Danny Daurio was quick to call Friday night, the best night of his very good career
The Bogota senior took command from the opening gun and blew away the field Friday night to win the Group 1 3,200-meter championship at the Bennett Center in an area leading 9:32.99, becoming the first-ever Buc indoor champion.
“Getting seventh last year was really rough, because I was in great shape then and I thought I would definitely qualify for the State Meet of Champions,” said Daurio, who missed qualifying by just one spot last year. “And today I knew (Group 1 state cross-country champion Patrick) Walsh has a great kick, so I knew I had to get away from him earlier and burn it out of him. This feels great.”
Daurio did jump out quickly and powerfully led every step of the race, eventually winning by 35 meters over Walsh. Daurio’s teammate James Draney, was fourth in the race and the third member of Bogota’s tiny winter team, Cole Geraghty, broke 10 minutes for the first time and finished ninth.
“I think none of us has ever skipped a practice (while healthy) and we’re always there for each other to grind it out,” said Daurio. “We give each other the motivation we need to keep going and it’s great to see all three of us run so well today.”
But Daurio’s not done with the winter. “I think I can place in the top eight next week (at the state Meet of Champions) and win a medal.
Saddle Brook’s Gio Gutierrez led from his first throw and all six of his were better than anyone else’s best throw as he won his second consecutive shot put title, with a throw of 57-7 1/4, nearly eight feet ahead of runner-up Avery Ransome of Penns Grove.
