Athlete of the Week Competes in Nationally Televised Race

In a nationally-televised meet that featured Olympic medalists and even a World Champion, John Murray decided to go for it.

“I gave it my all in the middle,” he said after the race.

Murray took the lead halfway through the boys’ Junior Invitational Mile during the New Balance Indoor Grand Prix Saturday at the Reggie Lewis Track in Boston.

He led the field, which included the top high school talent from Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland and North Carolina.

However, with about 400 meters to go, Miles Schoedler, of Ocean City, N.J., surged to the front and never looked back.

“He made a move, and I didn’t respond,” Murray said. “I couldn’t pull it off.”

Schoedler would win in a time of 4 minutes, 16.92 seconds. Murray came in sixth in 4:19.75.

The meet will air from 2 to 4 p.m. on ESPN2.

In the men’s mile, American Russell Brown took first in 3:54.81, while University of Oregon-bound Lukas Verzbicas, a high school senior in Carl Sandburg, Ill., was eighth in 4:03.88.

The boys’ mile pitted the New England runners against those from outside the region, and the home team won 32-26, with Murray picking up five points in sixth place.

Murray, the reigning cross country state champion, said he will focus on the two-mile for the remainder of the season.

The Georgetown University-bound senior has the third fastest 2-mile time in the country this season, 9:25.03. He also has the 12th best 1,000-meter time, 2:31.77, and ranks 23rd in the mile, with a 4:17.93.

American record-holders Alan Webb and Jenny Simpson, along with Olympic silver medalist and World Champion Lauryn Williams, also ran in the meet.

“It’s an awesome event,” Murray said, “and for them to have these high school miles, really inspires local kids.”