By Michael Letendre 

EUGENE, OREGON – Maybe Bristol Central track & field stud Nate DeAngelo didn’t perform as well as he would have liked on the final day of The Outdoor Nationals from Haywood Field on the campus of the University of Oregon this past Saturday. 

But on that evening in Eugene, he did the Mum City extremely proud by competing and representing, not only Bristol Central, but himself in the highest possible fashion – putting the finishing touches on a brilliant scholastic long distance running career.

Frankly, DeAngelo is an outstanding young man who is going to do some special things at UMASS Lowell come this fall.  

And in Oregon, DeAngelo had to battle the best of the best in the one-mile challenge which included Gavin Sherry from Conard of West Hartford – perhaps one of the top scholastic runners in all the United States. 

But DeAngelo made a go of it and in the end, his finish of 4:31.42 saw the outgoing senior take 42^nd place overall. 

And his coach couldn’t be prouder of what DeAngelo accomplished in his final season for the Rams’ Track & Field program at Bristol Central. 

“Nate didn’t have the race he hoped for tonight. We always preach one race does not define you and never is that more true than now,” said Bristol Central boys coach Tamara Stafford-Kirk via Twitter. “Nate, what you have achieved is above and beyond the grandest goals you set. Thank you for allowing me the privilege of coaching you.” 

Sherry was a beast, placing third overall in a blazing finish of 4:07.20 – a tremendous ending for the runner from West Hartford. 

His time earned him All-American honors and a US#9 ranking. 

But DeAngelo’s July 3 finish on the West Coast was his personal best in the outdoor one-mile event.

However, the story is not yet complete about DeAngelo.

When one door closes, another one opens and get ready to read about some big things from the newest River Hawk as DeAngelo begins to tackle cross country and track & field events at the collegiate level from UMASS Lowell.   

Event 9 – Boys 1 Mile Run Championship (Connecticut’s top runners): 

Name                          Place               City                             Time 

Gavin Sherry               Third               West Hartford             4:07.20 (#5 CT All Time, US #9) 

Colin McLaughlin       15^th                  Stamford                     4:14.46 

Walker Beverly           32^nd                 West Hartford             4:21.94 

Jack Martin                 40^th                  Avon                           4:25.96 

Nick Bendtsen            41^st                  Wolcott                       4:26.96 

Nate DeAngelo           42^nd                 Bristol Central            4:31.24