It was in 1999 when the boys’ 4×100 relay team set the school record at 43.29 seconds. For the past 26 years, it remained unbroken.
Until May 15, 2025.
That’s when seniors Jon Inglese, Luc Gaudet, Chase Burris, and Griffin Massahos beat the record by 0.57 seconds at Merrimack’s Invitational.
In the 4×100 race, the team’s four fastest runners compete together as one team. Each athlete must run 100 meters and then pass a baton to the next team member.
Senior Jon Inglese, who ran the first leg of the relay, said he had a strong feeling they would beat the school record after hearing Pinkerton’s time was a “low 42,” which means a time below 42.50 seconds. Londonderry’s final time was actually 42.72.
“I was watching my team go, and then at the end of the race, I saw Griffin hawked down south,” Inglese said. “I heard them announce Londonderry, and I knew that was a new school record. I looked across the track and saw Griff. We were both super happy to see that happen.”
Senior Luc Gaudet said the relay team had been wanting to beat the record since they saw it. Gaudet ran the second leg after Inglese and said it felt good to accomplish a goal like this.
“We thought we had a chance,” Gaudet said, “and to finally be able to do it was pretty great.”
One of their coaches, English teacher Matthew Smith, couldn’t be prouder of his boys.
“It was really gratifying to see them perform so well,” Smith said, “and achieve a goal that they set for themselves.”
Staying consistent throughout the whole season sets the team up for success, according to their coach.
“It’s really about being rested, and as healthy as possible,” Smith said. “In addition to the hard work they do.”
In the weeks and months leading up to Merrimack’s Invitational, they had been practicing hard.
“We dropped the hand off a couple of weeks ago,” Inglese said. “We’ve been practicing on handoffs and getting out the blocks in the beginning of the race. [Most of our time] we’ve been practicing the relay more than our own individual events.”
Practice, practice, practice, makes perfection, and that’s exactly what Gaudet said they did.
“Working on the handoffs so we can get around faster,” Gaudet said,“[so we don’t] mess up, [or] drop the baton.”
Inglese said that while he runs, he just “looks straight ahead during the race.”
“I just look straight ahead during the race, I’m not focusing on the other teams,” Inglese said. “[I] use the other teams as motivation to run faster.”
Gaudet listens to music before the race and “thinks about doing well.”
“Anything that helps,” Gaudet said.
And now this team’s new record will help motivate future athletes just like they were motivated.
