By Ron Brocato

How fast is FAST?

Brother Martin junior sprinter Easton Royal can tell you after his record run to the finish of the 100-meter dash highlighted the annual Chubby Marks Invitational Track and Field Meet on April 10.

In winning the event, Royal covered the distance in 10.20 seconds, eclipsing his own personal mark of 10.26, set earlier in the season. The run helped the Crusaders to a second-place finish in the longtime meet, hosted by Brother Martin and featuring a field of 21 participating schools.

The Crusaders won five events, including two in which Royal and sprinter-jumper Owen Moller ‘27 played big parts to total 101 points. Jesuit won the men’s half of the meet with 105 points, with Mount Carmel winning the women’s events.

Royal’s time in the 100 was a fraction short of the state composite, but wind-aided record of 10.13 set by Warren Easton’s Germain Smith-Mata at the 2024 LHSAA state meet. Royal also tied the previous composite mark of 10.20 set by East Jefferson’s Harlen Davis in 1986.

Among Brother Martin’s individual and team victories was the 4x100-meter relay, anchored by Royal with teammates Gaines Randol ‘27, Moller ‘27, and Devin Kensel ‘26. That quartet covered the one-lap distance in 41.34 seconds, a school record.

Earlier in the meet, Moller won the long jump with a first-place leap of 21-3½. The distance fell short of his 22-10 mark but was worth 10 winning points nevertheless.

In events participated in by the Crusaders’ cross country runners, the team added valuable points. Caleb Carmouche ‘27 won the 1,600-meter run in 4:30.17, and Evan Galliano ‘27 added fourth-place points.

The exchange crew of William Lionnet ‘26, Daniel Bonilla ‘28, Anders Maitrejean ‘26, and Ian Acosta ‘26 added eight points with a second-place finish in the 4x800-meter relay, which opened the men’s running events. This foursome covered the eight laps around the Tad Gormley oval in 8:04.86, just shy of the school record.

Also winning was Brother Martin’s Brady Allen ‘26, whose javelin throw of 162-1 topped the field of 10 competitors, including his Crusader teammates, Connor Vorhoff ‘27, who placed third, and fifth-place Luca Ascani ‘28. The three combined for 18 event points.

Allen was the No. 2 qualifier in the javelin behind the 2025 Class 2A champion, Dylan Kolonovsky of Newman. But Allen’s fourth throw outdistanced all eight competitors who qualified, including the reigning champion, best of 158-6.