INSIDE TRACK & FIELD: Nation-leading Kangaroos relays eye Millrose titles, Molloy, Fordham Prep win diocesan crowns

Robert Rhodes knew his senior year couldn’t go like his junior campaign at Boys & Girls.

The Kangaroos' 4x400 and 4x800 meter relay teams underachieved a bit and the squad’s work ethic wasn’t where the star middle distance runner wanted it to be. He asked if he could be named captain and made a vow.

“I promised the team would stay focused and stay together and do everything they are supposed to be doing to so we can do well,” Rhodes said. “So far it’s been working.”

Both teams currently own the nation’s fastest times in their respective event. With Rhodes nursing a minor knee injury, the squad of Javaun Grant, Joel Johnson, Curtly Renwick and Richard Rose won the 4 x 400 at the the Millrose Games Trials with a mark of 3:19.90. The 4x800 squad of Rhodes, Grant, Darryl Williams and Lashley Winter took first at the New Balance Games with a time of 7:52.50.

Robert Cole

Back from injury Robert Rhodes will try to lead Boy's & Girls 4 x 400 and 4 x 800 relays to Millrose Games titles.

“They set goals for themselves,” Boys & Girls coach James Jackson said. “They are more attentive to what you want them to do. You don’t have to prod them to come to practice.”

The 4x400 team, especially with Rhodes back healthy, has a chance to do something special on Feb. 11 at the Armory. It was just two years ago that Rhodes’ stellar anchor leg gave Boys & Girls its first victory at the Millrose Games since 1996. This season they will come into the meet as the favorite and be looking for a second title in three years after a long drought.

“We talk about it every day,” Rhodes said. “That’s all we do is train hard and talk about what we want to do during this whole year.”

Outside of an improved work ethic, the Kangroos have gotten a boost from Rose, a freshman. He is currently running the team’s fastest leg at 48.5. Rhodes called him a big factor and Jackson saw the potential right away.

“He realizes he has that ability and he’s a hard worker,” the coach said of Rose. “That’s why he's running fast times.”

A stark improvement from Williams has also helped the development of the 4x800 team, which lost standout Daniel Simon. Williams went from the 2:20 mark to around 1:58.

The 4x800 is the race where Rhodes can shine the most at the anchor spot. He owns the nation’s third fastest time in the individual 800 at 1:53.81. It was a personal best mark run at the Marine Corps Holiday Classic. Boys High will be competing in the Metropolitan 4x800 at the Millrose Games.

Winning is one of the many goals the Kangaroos want to accomplish this season.

“It’s just like a whole different mentality for the team,” Rhodes said. “Everybody is coming together to do what is needed to be done so that we can win our races.”