Big Red track rips up record book

Five school marks fell and some of the fastest times in the country were posted after terrific performances at Boston University

Exeter boys track and field enjoyed a record-setting weekend at the Boston University John Thomas Terrier Invitational. Five school records were shattered as Big Red firmly took its share of the national spotlight.

Oliver Brandes ’23 kicked off the excitement with a school-record time of 1:53.65 in the 800 meters, good enough for the fifth-fastest time in the country. This was the second straight week of strong performances for Brandes, as he qualified for nationals in the 400 and the mile last weekend.

Jaylen Bennett ’25 followed Brandes by setting a pair of school records. Bennett cruised in the 400-meter run with a time of 48.26, the fastest time by an Exonian in indoor or outdoor track, while claiming the fastest time by any 10th grader in the country and seventh-best time overall this season. He followed up his performance in the 400 meters with a record-setting performance in the 200, crossing the finish in 22.05. That was good enough to be the second-fastest by a 10th grader in the nation this year. Bennett’s performance comes a week after crushing the school record in the 300 meters with a time of 35.58.

Byron Grevious ’24 joined the party in the 3,000, breaking his own school record with a time of 8:15.10, the fastest time amongst 11^th graders and the second-best time in the country this year. Grevious, who proved to be one of the best high school runners in the country following an outstanding cross country season, has qualified for nationals in the mile and 5,000 meters.

On Sunday, Brandes (1,200 meters), Bennett (400), Max Lacombe ’24 (800) and Grevious teamed up for the men’s distance medley relay, posting a school record and the fastest time in the nation this year with a blistering time of 10:05.35.

Big Red will be back in the William Boyce Thompson Fieldhouse this coming Saturday at 1 p.m.