BY DAMIN ESPER
As the runners came out of the final turn, Kentfield Marin Catholic's Max Glasser had a slight lead on Las Lomas' Nico Bland. Glasser, in lane 6, felt Bland, in lane 5, coming on.
And then, Glasser put the hammer down.
The senior, running erect, arms pumping, put Bland away, winning the boys 400 meters in 48.09 seconds on Saturday at the Eddie Hart Invitational at Pittsburgh High.
The time was a personal-best and a school record for Glasser. Bland completed the same double by finishing second in 48.99.
"I felt really good actually," Glasser said. "I got out pretty well and just hauled it. I had a good backstretch coming in. Definitely a lot of work to do but a solid start."
Glasser has been one of the top 400 runners in the Bay Area for the last three years. As a sophomore, he was named the Marin Independent-Journal's Boys Track Athlete of the Year for making the CIF Championships in the 200 and 400. He set his previous PR in the latter at 48.71 and helped the Wildcats win a North Coast Section Redwood Empire title.
He was set up for a big junior season. Unfortunately, a torn hamstring ruined his season. Glasser missed a month and a half but did return for the postseason meets and somehow -- running on one leg according to Marin Catholic assistant coach Earl Downing -- qualified for the State Meet again in the 400.
"I shouldn't have been running by the end of the year," Glasser said.
Now, he's healthy and looking for a big senior year. The 48.09 indicates Glasser is on track for that. Pretty good for a kid who started running track to get faster for soccer.
Glasser has signed to attend UC Davis on a soccer scholarship. He plans to run track as well.
"I'm pretty happy that I get to play both," he said. "That was big. That was my goal to be able to play both. Because I really love soccer and I really love track."
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With his travel team and high school commitments, Glasser plays soccer most weeks during the year. But he is dedicated to track as well. He has been working on his speed by running the 100 and 200 at dual meets. Although he said the 200 is probably his favorite race, the 400 could be the race that gets him farther at the state meet. He said his goal is to get under 47 seconds by the end of the year, make the state meet finals and maybe, just maybe, end up on the podium (top six).
"That would be awesome," Glasser said.
The meet was held in alternating spurts of rain and sunshine. The rain caused the cancellation of several events late in the day including the 200s, 3200s and 1,600 relays.
Other highlights:
- Pittsburg senior TeAun-Tr'e Pierce won the boys long and triple jumps. Piece jumped 23 feet, 3 ½ inches to win the long jump and 45-10 to win the triple jump. The latter was a PR. Pierce had his season cut short a year ago. He is also one of the top high jumpers in the area.
- Clayton Valley's Aidan Jackman swept the hurdles. The senior won the 110 meter highs in 14.50 and the 300 meter intermediates in 39.27.
- One of the better races of the afternoon was the boys 400 relay where Pittsburg edged Maria Carrillo-Santa Rosa, 42.80-42.82.
- Maria Carrillo's Habibah Sanusi won the girls 100 hurdles in 15.21, then came back to take second in the 300 hurdles (46.99). She also ran a leg on the Pumas winning 400 relay team (50.32).
- Northgate's Amy Christensen won the girls pole vault at 11-0, a PR.