Menlo School’s boys’ 4x1600 relay shatters a 44-year Central Coast Section record and took second at Mt. SAC Relays in 17:19.22 on Friday night.
In a neck and neck finish, Torrey Pines won in 17:19.10. Menlo now holds the second-fastest time in the country.
Menlo sophomore Landon Pretre, senior Aiden Deffner, sophomore Will Hauser & senior Justin Pretre broke the CCS record of 17:24.84 set by Leigh in 1979.

Senior William Floyd cleared 14 feet in the pole vault, and Duke junior and Menlo 2020 graduate Charlotte Tomkinson took first in the women’s 1,500-meter event in 4:24.99  

The competition was fierce, but the Knights relay had their eye on taking gold. Pretre had lined up against Torrey Pines anchor Ryan Thomas twice this season.
“We all knew there were a lot of highly competitive teams in that race going into it and that we all would have to compete within our own leg to set ourselves up for the win,” Justin Pretre said. “(Thomas) had out-kicked me both times so when I saw him take the lead with a lap to go I definitely knew it was gonna come down to the last few meters, he ended up getting me again which is frustrating but it motivates me to keep grinding at practice so I can find that final gear at the very end of my races.”
Landon Pretre ran in 4:17.0, Deffner ran in 4:27.8, Hauser in 4:21.0 and Justin Pretre 4:13.4 The Knights relay is injury free as they head into the second half of the season.
It “is a really good sign as we approach the postseason,” Justin Pretre said. “We’re going to keep pushing for the next few weeks and then it’s all about competing and maintaining until the end of the year.”