Projo Sports Blog

Former Journal sports writer Bob Leddy sends in this report on Andrew Springer's record-breaking run at the Brown High School Classic:

PROVIDENCE - Westerly High senior Andrew Springer yesterday broke a New England record in the boys' indoor 3,000-meter run that stood for nearly three decades. Competing at the Brown University High School Classic at the Olney-Margolies Fieldhouse, Springer led from the gun and won in a time of 8 minutes, 27.21 seconds. His performance eclipsed the regional mark of 8:30.86 set by Kevin King, of Westhill (Conn.) High in 1981. In the bargain, Springer also bettered the Rhode Island record of 8:36.7 (hand-held) set by St. Raphael's Andrew Butler in 1989.

If all that weren't enough, Springer's time is currently the fastest in the United States.

"I knew is was possible,'' Springer said of a Rhode Island record that was set before he was born. "Breaking a record that lasts for 20 years doesn't happen every day, but with about 400 [meters] left, I knew I had a shot at it.''

Reached by phone, Butler was magnanimous when informed of Springer's accomplishment. "God bless him,'' said the former Saints All-State distance ace. "He must've run a great race; I wish I could've been there to see it.''

The smooth-running Springer wasted no time yesterday in becoming the only Rhode Island runner to enter the New England record books. (He already holds R.I. marks in both the outdoor two-mile and 5,000 meters). Springer took immediate command of the race, effortlessly clocking steady quarters on the field house's flat oval. He turned in a 2:15 at the 800-meter mark, and by that juncture was well in front of the11-man field. He went through the 1,600 split in 4:31.5.

"I just went all-out,'' said Springer, who capped his debut cross country season last fall by qualifying for the Foot Locker National Championships. "It was motivation from my coach. I've seen a lot of good guys before trying to break [the record],'' Springer added. "I just went for my best.''

King's performance was done at the Connecticut State Championships on March 21, 1981 at the University of Connecticut. Butler set his 3,000-meter record on Feb. 18, 1989 at the State Championship meet at CCRI in Lincoln.

"I led that race the whole way,'' Butler recalled. "But there was [Hope High star] Wayne Newsome who kept on my back. I finished the race and knew I had another one to run. I didn't realize I'd broken a record. But if it fell to someone like [Springer] I'm glad.''

 Tags  Andrew Butler Andrew Springer Brown High School Classic indoor track Kevin King

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