Athlete of the Week: Henry Pratt

Marblehead’s Henry Pratt finished up a great running career at by leading his spring track team to another league championship and an undefeated 7-0 record in 2011.

Pratt captained the cross-country, winter and spring track teams and his specialty is the 800 and the mile. His top time in the mile, a blistering 4:36, may be considered a great time to most - but it's not the best mile time recorded by a member of the Pratt household.

Henry’s father Dan ran a 4:32 for Reading High School, and Henry said he would love to shave enough seconds off to break his father’s personal best.

“My Dad has been a big influence on me,” Pratt said. “He exposed me to running and helped me learn to love it and run with passion.”

Pratt holds a 4.27 GPA and is a member of the National Honor Society, and won the Dartmouth Book Award.

Pratt will attend Bowdoin in the fall, and run track there, with four years to try and beat dad’s time.

Marblehead captured the spring track title with a 7-0 mark clinching the NEC crown for the second year in a row. Pratt said handing Peabody their first league loss and beating Swampscott were some of his career highlights.

“When the Peabody runners and coaches realized they were going to lose to us, (in the second meet of the 2011 season) they all had a look of disbelief on their faces, they couldn’t believe they lost to us.” Pratt said.

Pratt’s personal best in the ½ mile is 2:03, and he hopes to shave a little off that time in the next few years too.

The Pratt family, Henry dad Dan, mom Susie and three younger siblings live on Mohawk Road, and they all help Henry with the “Causeway Half-Miler” that raises money for Marblehead’s Citizen Scholarship Foundation.

Track coach Brian Crowley said that Pratt was one of the most dedicated and hard working athletes he’s ever had the pleasure to coach.

After finishing 7-0 in 2011, Marblehead moved up from the NEC Small Division to the NEC Large Division, and they just kept on rolling, ripping off another seven straight to go 7-0 this past spring.

Marblehead dumped Peabody 75-61 and rolled over Swampscott 97-37 on June 7.

Pratt ran a 4:48.5 mile against the Big Blue, taking first place.

Pratt said he would always cherish his time at MHS, on the track and off it.

The Henry Pratt File:

Age: 18

Class: Recently graduated MHS 

Favorite food: Steak on the grill

Favorite TV show: The Simpsons

Favorite movie: The Bourne Trilogy

Favorite musical artist: U2, and a lot of different kinds of rock

Most embarrassing song on my iPod: “There’s a few.”

Dream: “I still hope to beat my Dad’s time, that would be nice.”

Up next: Heading to Bowdoin College to study, with medical school in the plans, and a college track career

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