O'HARE GIBSON BREAKS BARRIERS & CEMENTS LEGACY WITH ALL-AMERICAN HONORS
Meet Information
New Balance Outdoor Nationals Day 2
June 14, 2024
Franklin Field - Philadelphia, PA
RESULTS
PHILADELPHIA, PA - After Joey Ryan's strong run in the 5000m on Day 1, The Minutemen were back for more at Day 2 of the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Friday's action at historic Franklin Field included a number of Lexington athletes who competed across three events. LHS had a trio of boys in the freshman division of the 2 Mile, as well as a crew in the Boys Sprint Medley Relay. The highlight of the day, however, was unquestionably the performance of senior McKenna O'Hare Gibson.
The Northeastern University commit found a home in the 400m Hurdles last spring, as he placed third at the MIAA Meet of Champions in the event. This spring, he was simply unbeatable at that distance. He broke the LHS record in the event in his season debut. Followed it up with a Middlesex League Championship meet record, en route to a triple gold performance that secured him League MVP honors. At the MIAA Division 1 Championships, he broke the all-time Massachusetts state record with a time of 53.19 seconds, and then doubled back to win the open 400m crown. However, on Friday O'Hare Gibson took a massive step up in class, as he faced off against the best the country had to offer.
LHS's superstar senior competed in the seventh of nine sections of the 400m Hurdles, and when the gun fired he immediately went into attack-mode as he charged to the front. His lead held down the backstretch, but on the curve O'Hare Gibson felt pressure from the inside in the form of Raiders' Joseph Williams, who briefly overtook him. As the two came to the penultimate hurdle, the recent LHS grad found a gear that no others in the field could match, and flew away to victory in a new personal best and state record time of 52.85 seconds. With that, he became the first Massachusetts athlete to break the elusive 53-second barrier in the 400m Hurdles. His job now done, all he could do is watch and wait to see how his performance would hold up over the final two heats. After Flanagan (FL) junior Jonathan Carter ran 52.78 in the section before, and Katy Jordan (TX) senior James Ledbetter won the eighth section in 52.42, O'Hare Gibson needed his time to be better than all but three of the eight runners in the seeded section to earn a top-six finish and All-American honors. When the dust of a wild final heat settled, only two athletes - Davian Booker (Massaponax, VA) in 51.92 and Jaden Marchan (Leonia, NJ) in 52.11 - were able to best O'Hare Gibson. That landed Lexington's superstar with a fifth place finish in what can only be described as an all-time performance, by an all-time great.
Other Highlights for the LHS
Up Next
The Minutemen are off tomorrow, but return to Franklin Field on Sunday morning for what will be the final event of the year. The Shuttle Hurdle Relay of Tandeih, Pan, junior Ryan Zhang, and sophomore Aidan Raney will take to the track in the hopes of following up the All-American performance by last year's squad that included Tandeih and Pan along with LHS '23 greats Jayden Bai and Michael Gerfen. Action will get underway at 9:00am, and can be streamed live HERE.
New Balance Outdoor Nationals Day 2
June 14, 2024
Franklin Field - Philadelphia, PA
RESULTS
PHILADELPHIA, PA - After Joey Ryan's strong run in the 5000m on Day 1, The Minutemen were back for more at Day 2 of the New Balance Outdoor Nationals. Friday's action at historic Franklin Field included a number of Lexington athletes who competed across three events. LHS had a trio of boys in the freshman division of the 2 Mile, as well as a crew in the Boys Sprint Medley Relay. The highlight of the day, however, was unquestionably the performance of senior McKenna O'Hare Gibson.
The Northeastern University commit found a home in the 400m Hurdles last spring, as he placed third at the MIAA Meet of Champions in the event. This spring, he was simply unbeatable at that distance. He broke the LHS record in the event in his season debut. Followed it up with a Middlesex League Championship meet record, en route to a triple gold performance that secured him League MVP honors. At the MIAA Division 1 Championships, he broke the all-time Massachusetts state record with a time of 53.19 seconds, and then doubled back to win the open 400m crown. However, on Friday O'Hare Gibson took a massive step up in class, as he faced off against the best the country had to offer.
LHS's superstar senior competed in the seventh of nine sections of the 400m Hurdles, and when the gun fired he immediately went into attack-mode as he charged to the front. His lead held down the backstretch, but on the curve O'Hare Gibson felt pressure from the inside in the form of Raiders' Joseph Williams, who briefly overtook him. As the two came to the penultimate hurdle, the recent LHS grad found a gear that no others in the field could match, and flew away to victory in a new personal best and state record time of 52.85 seconds. With that, he became the first Massachusetts athlete to break the elusive 53-second barrier in the 400m Hurdles. His job now done, all he could do is watch and wait to see how his performance would hold up over the final two heats. After Flanagan (FL) junior Jonathan Carter ran 52.78 in the section before, and Katy Jordan (TX) senior James Ledbetter won the eighth section in 52.42, O'Hare Gibson needed his time to be better than all but three of the eight runners in the seeded section to earn a top-six finish and All-American honors. When the dust of a wild final heat settled, only two athletes - Davian Booker (Massaponax, VA) in 51.92 and Jaden Marchan (Leonia, NJ) in 52.11 - were able to best O'Hare Gibson. That landed Lexington's superstar with a fifth place finish in what can only be described as an all-time performance, by an all-time great.
Other Highlights for the LHS
- In the Freshman 2 Mile, Patrick Noonan (9:45.15) had the team's top finish as he landed in 15th overall; Trevor Stevens (9:58.25) was 38th; Alden Hall (10:15.60) rounded out the crew with a 59th place finish.
- The Sprint Medley Relay of senior Jacob Pan, sophomore captain Simon Tandeih, senior Khai Uda-Thach, and Ryan finished 48th with a time of 3:40.45.
Up Next
The Minutemen are off tomorrow, but return to Franklin Field on Sunday morning for what will be the final event of the year. The Shuttle Hurdle Relay of Tandeih, Pan, junior Ryan Zhang, and sophomore Aidan Raney will take to the track in the hopes of following up the All-American performance by last year's squad that included Tandeih and Pan along with LHS '23 greats Jayden Bai and Michael Gerfen. Action will get underway at 9:00am, and can be streamed live HERE.