BOSTON - There was a star-studded field Saturday at the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix track meet.
No star in the Junior Boys International Mile could outshine Christ School’s finest.
Rocky Hansen ‘23 took the lead late, then unleashed a powerful kick on the bell lap to win in a new personal record of 4 minutes, 1.11 seconds. It is a North Carolina indoor track record for the boys mile.
The Greenie senior and Wake Forest recruit was up against many of the preeminent distance runners in the country, including Indiana’s Kole Mathison (4:07.68), who won the Champs Sports national cross country meet in December.
The final quarter mile of Saturday’s race (59.15 seconds) was the fastest for Rocky, who was accompanied in Boston by his parents, Jake and Molly, as well as Christ School coach Randy Ashley.
Saturday’s invitation-only meet included professional athletes and was broadcast live on NBC and Peacock. While the Junior Boys International Mile was just outside the TV window, highlights of Rocky’s win were shown later to a worldwide audience.
Rocky is from Hendersonville, N.C., and the Day Student Prefect at Christ School.