The Mile Was Magical at Pete Boudreaux Invitational

The mile was magical Saturday at the Pete Boudreaux Invitational, hosted by Catholic High School.

It had everything you want. Incredible venue, arguably the best in high school track and field facility in Louisiana. Beautiful weather. A talented field. And, in the boys' division, an exciting finish.

In that finish, Denham Springs' Rowan Silk, who recently signed with the University of Louisiana Lafayette, ran past Catholic sophomore Augustin Juneau. Silk crossed the line with a 4:17.77, less than second off the state-leading time set by Catholic's William Decuir.

"When I was approaching him, I was thinking can I do this or not," Silk said. 

With his performance, Silk broke a 44-year old school record. While Silk has broken other records during his senior season, the 1600m has been one he has set his sights on in this outdoor season. 

"I had my eyes set on not necessarily winning this meet, but going for the school record that we have," Silk said. "It was set in 1982 by Van Savell (4:20.8). It's been a while, so I was really shooting for that. That's been a goal of mine all year. I didn't expect to get it this early."

Moments earlier, Metairie Park Country Day freshman Varenka Zhuk,  fresh off her trip to New York for the Nike Indoor Nationals, ran away from the competition in the girls1600m finishing with a time of 5:00.95. The time ranks No. 3 all-time in Louisiana freshmen girls. Only Northshore's Grace Keene (4:49.93) and Parkview Baptist's Molly Cramer (5:00.17) have run faster. 

Nationally, Zhuk's time ranks No. 7 in the US for girls in the Class of 2029.

"I came into this feeling good," Zhuk said. "I wanted to get somewhere between 5:06 and 4:57 maybe. It ended up being super hot, but I think 5:00 is a great starting point for the season."

It was a comfortable 72 degrees inside the Armory in New York City where Zhuk finished her indoor season with a 5:07 in the mile at the Nike Indoor Nationals. That came after a personal record of 5:09.09 at the LHSAA State Indoor Meet where she won her second state championship. Her first state championship came at the LHSAA State Cross Country Championships in Natchitoches last Fall. 

"It was a great experience, and a lot of team bonding," Zhuk said about Metairie Park Country Day's trip to the Big Apple. "Exploring the city with friends was fun."

One of those friends was fellow MPCD freshman Colette Alvarado, who finished fourth at Nike Indoor Nationals in the 800m with a time of 2:14.13. That is the fastest time ever run by a Louisiana freshman indoors. Zhuk, who ran a 2:16.87 is at No. 2 all-time for freshmen girls in Louisiana. 

Alvarado was back on the track Saturday, winning the Pete Boudreaux Invitational with a time of 2:15.77. That time ranks No. 3 in Louisiana this year behind Dutchtown's Keira Melan (2:13) and Teurling Catholic's Abigail Leger (2:15.02). Both Melan and Leger are juniors.

READ MORE: Catholic's William Decuir Runs 1:51.37; US#2