Congratulations Penn Relay Champions!!

The Friar’s have been going to the Penn Relays Invitational meet for over 50 years and it is one of the most prestigious track meets in the world. St. Anthony’s takes great pride in being able to send runners that are always note worth contenders in the thousand of runners that come from any of the 50 states and countries like Barbados to Ireland.  

Head Boys Coach Tim Dearie ‘79 said “The boys' track team at St Anthony's has always been focused on having good relays, which probably originated with the school winning it’s first Championship of America Distance Medley Relay (DMR) at the 1978 Penn Relays, the pinnacle of HS Relays in America. This past winter, my assistant Coach Robert Higgins ’79 tragically passed away shortly after being diagnosed with brain cancer. Coach Higgins ran on that '78 relay, so winning this season was especially big for me and the boys. It is a win we will all cherish for the rest of our lives.”

The DMR which is made up of the 1200 meters, 800m, 400m, 1600m distances is one of the prestigiou races at Penn and you have to qualify to run in the event.  SA made it to the podium for a second time in 2013 with a second in the 4x4 and now have captured the DMR title again 41 years later. That shows how difficult it is for any team to make the podium.

This win came with several emotions for the four seniors that captured the title.

Brendan Dearie (1200 @ 3:06.17), Mike Barbaro-Barnett (400 52.14), Matthew Reda (800 @1:58.28) and Matthew Payamps (1600 @4:14.65) with an overall time of 10:10.23. The first DMR title in ‘78 was won in 10.02.50. With Paul Leary ’78, the late Robert Higgins, Keith Murphy ‘78 and Olympian John Gregorek ‘78.

1) Going into to Penn what what was your goal you set for yourself.
Dearie - Going into the Penn Relays, we knew we had a good chance to win. Matt Payamps and I were entered in individual events for Friday night but Coach Dearie came to us and said that we had one last chance to win a big DMR in high school and asked what we thought. It was pretty easy for us to scratch our individual events and go for it.
Going into the race I knew that as the lead off it was my job to start us off with the best start possible. That made my goal pretty simple, just hand off the baton as close to the lead as possible. We knew we had a shot to win if we were really focused and that's what we did.

Barnett - The Championship of America DMR at Penn Relays is one of the most prestigious races in the country. For the second year in a row we were in the hunt to bring the wheel back to St Anthony's. Going into that race my primary focus was to remain calm. The weather was less than ideal. My goal was to get out as fast as I could, chase the leader(s) and have a clean handoff.

Reda - Going into Penn, I wanted to give the baton to Matt as close to the lead as possible. I knew if I could do that he would be able to bring home the win. I tried not to think too much about time because knew if I was completely zeroed in on the lead and left everything on the track then a fast time would come with that.

Payamps  - This year, I’d say I walked into the Franklin Field with a lot more confidence than I had in the past. I knew what to expect out of myself. Training was going well at the time and I had been healthy and fit for months. This race was no different than any other race I had run in the past, and there was no reason to treat it any different. My goal for the race was to put myself in a good position with a lap to go, and to finish with everything I had with 100 meters to go. I didn’t care how slow or fast the beginning or middle of the race was going to turn out, I just focused on getting myself in the place I thought was best just never give in from there. I made sure of this because last year, in same race, I was in solid position with a lap to go, but really fell off with 100 meters to go, and ended up coming up short and finishing second. With that, I did not want anyone gap me down the homestretch again, so I made sure I left some in the tank for the end of the race.

2) Mike Barbaro-Barnett you have had some physical challenges this year what do you feel got you through this weekend? how do you feel about your performance.
This past year has been difficult. Since last spring, I've had a stress fracture in one foot and sesamoiditis in both feet. I follow a protocol of Advil/anti inflammatories and ice. All my shoes are fitted with pads to help offload the pressure on my sesamoids. Coach has altered my training and events to keep me as healthy as possible. I have had both highs and lows and it can be frustrating but when a big race is on the line, especially a relay, you just get out there and do what you have to do. Adrenaline kicks in and your only focus is the race. I went out fast and had to fight the fatigue and wind on the final 100 meters. It wasn't a PR but given the race conditions, it wasn't a bad performance.

3) Matt Payamps and Brendon Dearie you have been such great leaders for your team as seniors what does it feel like to have this on your resume and be names that will always be mentioned in SA history?
Dearie - Putting in the work day in and day out for the last 4 years to watch it pay off like this it’s a feeling like no other. Being able to say that we won the Penn Relays with 3 of my best friends and having my dad as the coach, it's hard to describe how amazing it is.  I’m proud to say I ran for St. Anthony’s. The feeling when Matt took the lead with 100 to go in the race and we knew we were going to win is almost impossible to describe besides somewhat relief, knowing that finally that we were going to win all the hard work we had put in was worth it.

Payamps - I was very lucky during my 4 years at St. Anthony’s to have such amazing leaders that I was able to learn from and run behind. They’ve taught me what it takes to get the most out of myself on and off the track and I truly wouldn’t be the runner and person I am today without them. With this being said, I am extremely grateful to be able to take position of one of the leaders on this team. It had been my pleasure to not only try and help the guys on the team get better and better each and every day by giving them advice when it comes to the sport, but to also be an example of what it really means to wear the black and gold in the track.

4) Reda How did you feel about your performance?
Reda - This DMR is one of our biggest accomplishments. The others have ran many big DMRs and to come onto the team this year and come out on top was incredible. We each ran amazing legs and couldn't have asked for more. I was really happy with the way I ran and glad I was able to give the baton to Matt in good position.

5) What does this win mean to each of you?
Dearie - This win means everything to us. It was our last shot to win a big high school DMR, and after coming in second at Penn last year and twice at nationals it was a good way to end it off. It was extra special because the last time St. Anthony’s won The DMR at the Penn Relays was in 1978 with our assistant coach, Coach Higgins he unfortunately passed away early this year so winning just made it that much more special for all of us.

Barnett - Winning the High School Championship of America DMR at Penn this year was a big victory for St Anthony's Boys Track & Field. After placing second in the same event last year, we were determined to bring the coveted Penn Relay Wheel back to St Anthony's. It has been forty-one years since Olympian John Gregorek, Paul Leary, Keith Murphy, and our Assistant Coach Bob Higgins who passed suddenly in February, won the school's first title. Last June, I had the honor of witnessing the induction of these four men into the St Anthony's Hall of Fame. Knowing my teammates and I will be part of St Anthony's history alongside them is amazing. I wish Coach Higgins could have been there to see it.

Reda -  This win means everything to me. The Penn Relays is one of our biggest race of the year and it really is a special meet. Watching these guys last year and running with them during Indoor nationals I knew a win was long overdue. To do it at the Penn relays in the same event Coach Higgins ran 41 years ago made it that much more special. These guys are not just teammates to me they are also my best friends and I am very proud of them. We all ran great and getting the win is something I will never forget.

Payamps - It is truly a blessing to be able to bring home a Penn Relays wheel for St. Anthony’s. I remember my freshmen year walking into the stadium and knowing it was a special place just from its atmosphere. I watched the High School boys DMR Championship of America and from that day on I made it one of my goals to earn a wheel at the end of High school, so being able to finally come out on top after all these years is an amazing feeling and proves to me and hopefully to the younger guys on the team that the work we put in throughout the seasons ultimately pay off at the end. It was also a special victory for each of us because of the passing our coach, Bob Higgins. The last time St. Anthony’s won this event was in 1978 when coach Higgins was on the relay, so it really felt special knowing he was running beside us on the track that day helping us bring home another title for the Friars.

6) Can you each give me your view of what this year was like as student athletes? more athlete then student :)
Dearie  - This year as student athletes was important to us because it is our last year for both. The senior year of highschool is fun on its own but especially being on this team just makes it even more fun for all of us. As seniors on the team we treat all these races as they are our last. Soon we will be running our last race and we want to be able to look back and not have regrets. Next year we will once again be freshman all at different schools but all of us will always remember our highschool team and have these memories forever.

Barnett - I have been a member of the XC and Winter and Spring Boys Track team for four years. We run from August to June. At times, it was challenging juggling athletics, academics and a social life but I wouldn't change a thing. This team functions like a family. We've laughed, we've cried and we've argued but no matter what, we are always there for one another. This year has been bittersweet. We are making the most of the time we have together here as Friars and enjoying every minute. We have had great success on the track. We have set school, state and national records. I leave St Anthony's as a three-time All-American and a Penn Relay Champion as a member of the DMR and 4x800 relays. I will forever remember the experiences I shared both on and off the track with my teammates and I'm thankful for the opportunities that the sport has given me.

Reda - This was my biggest year as an athlete and really progressed in my career. I became much more consistent in training and made huge strides in my pr's. I really kept improving all year and worked hard for all my goals. I was able to step up and help the team on the varsity level in cross country, winter and spring track. I am also very grateful to have had a healthy senior year. Training everyday with Matt and Brendan along with Coach Dearies training really pushed me and allowed me to run try to the best of my ability.

Payamps - This year has been quite the experience as a student athlete at St. Anthony’s. The love and support from all the faculty is really second to none and it feels incredible to be one of those guys who underclassmen potentially look up to. As athletes, we’re able to compete with lot more confidence than we might have in the past years just from the experience we've gain, and we can use as an edge against other competitors. We’re also a lot more mature, mentally and physically, which also helps us as runners move forward in the sport. I am definitely going to miss my time as a student athlete at St. Anthony’s, but it is reassuring to know that my spot is in great hands of many underclassmen and future friars to come.  

By Scoreboard Writers Alex Rocco '20 & Jared Valluzzi '21