Exeter star shines at historic Millrose Games

Byron Grevious ’24 represented Big Red at the premier indoor track invitational in the world. 

By
Brian Muldoon
February 13, 2023
Phillips Exeter Academy Track Byron Grevious

For the second time in four years, the most prestigious indoor track event in the nation featured an Exonian. Byron Grevious ’24 finished in sixth place in the high school boys one mile at the 115th running of the Millrose Games in New York City last weekend.

Grevious kept pace with a field of the top mile runners from around the country to finish in a time of 4:12.95. Grevious, who has made a substantial mark at the national level through his blazing times in cross country, indoor and outdoor track, follows in the footsteps of Will Coogan ’20. Coogan, currently running at the University of North Carolina, competed in the one mile at Millrose in 2020.

Grevious has earned the distinction of being one of the best high school runners in the country, competing at indoor nationals and outdoor nationals as a 10th grader before reaching new heights this year as an upper. The Southport, Connecticut, native wrapped up a cross country season by finishing second overall at the Nike Northeast Regional before claiming 12th overall at Nike Cross Country Nationals.

“My mentality changed sophomore year,” said Grevious, regarding his mindset heading into big races. “Nerves definitely used to be there leading up to the race and at the starting line. Now I get excited to see what I can do. Having the opportunity to run with such high class runners has made me more excited than nervous. I get excited to compete.”

The success he experienced in the fall has carried into winter. In just his second weekend of racing this winter season, Grevious shattered his own school record in the 3,000 meter with a time of 8:15.10 — good enough to be the fastest time by an 11th grader in the country this season. He also was a part of a school record in the distance medley relay, ran a personal best 4:14.11 one mile, and has qualified for indoor nationals in the one mile, two mile, and 5,000 meters.

“Leading up to races, I’ll sometimes go through my training log,” he said of his preparation tactics. “I tell myself I know what I can run, I’ve done these workouts, I was hitting these reps at this pace and I felt good.”

“Byron embodies a wonderful mix of steadfast focus to detail and dedication to getting the work done over a long period of time,” said head track and field coach Hilary Hall. “This is not a work for a few weeks and then take a break kind of athlete. He knows that it takes consistent, persistent work over months and years to get results and he is willing to put in that effort.”

“Byron is the whole package,” said distance and head boys cross country coach Brandon Newbould. “He is a respectable student-athlete who is well-suited to the academic rigor of the Academy and he enjoys racing and is excited about the opportunity to face America’s best.”  

The Millrose Games annually feature top runners from the around the world, including past, present and future Olympians. The high school mile field included 13 of the top milers from around the nation. Grevious wasone of just two runners from class of 2024 and one of two from the New England region.