With the Patriot League season now behind them, the boys track team took their first step toward a state title in record fashion.

Brendan Adams, Joe Vercollone and Ryan Kelley all set new school records on Sunday at the MSTCA Elite Invitational at the Reggie Lewis Center.

“Three schools records in one day is not a bad day at all,” head coach Jim Rooney said. “This was a meet where we were really looking for kids to step up and improve their seed times for the state meet, and it’s the time of the season where we expect kids to start performing better. Our kids have been great all year, and they keep getting better and better each week.”

Vercollone continued his stellar debut season with the indoor track team by breaking the school record in the 1,000 meters with a time of 2:38.12. Kelley followed by taking 10th in the mile race with a school-record 4:29 run and Adams finished the day for the Titans with another record by running the two-mile in 9:51.59.

The Titans also got good performances on the day from their two captains, as shot putter Bobby Gratzer finished 14th and Paul Cina finished the 1,000 meters in 2:40.

The Titans now look to avenge their one league loss to Randolph at the all-Patriot League meet next Friday before the Division III state meet on Feb. 21. The Titans lost to the Blue Devils on Jan. 6, ending their hopes of a league banner, but Rooney said the goal for the season has always been peaking at the state meet.

“We wanted to win the league, but we didn’t put all our eggs in one basket,” he said. “We’re still training with the goal of the Division III state meet. I feel like there is still some room for improvement, and some kids still need to step up.”

Rooney said he is confident heading into the state meet that the Titans should be a front-runner for the title.

“It should come down to Randolph, Bishop Feehan and us for the D-III state title,” he said. “Joe Vercollone looks like he is really going to score some points for us where we didn’t expect that before, and our usual group of studs continues to get it done.”

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