North's Patrick Lavan Breaks Coach's Freshman Mile Record

Sachem North track and field coach Rich O’Brien starred for Sachem cross country and track teams in the mid-70s.  

Coach O’Brien presently coaches the Sachem North boys winter track and field and girls spring track and field teams. Coach O’Brien was at St. Anthony’s on Saturday as the North girls distance squad was enjoying it finest meet day of the spring season when freshman Patrick Lavan stepped to the starting line for the boys unseeded 1600 meter run.

Patrick is one of the emerging stars of the boys track team and had learned a lot about mental toughness and running from O’B (as all boys and girls team members refer to Coach O’Brien) during his rookie indoor season.

Patrick settled into mid-pack during the first half mile of a fast-paced race. He began moving through the field after the 800 meter mark and finished seventh overall in a time of 4:46.08. Patrick was also the first freshman across the finish line in a race that featured runners from grade 9-12.  

No one enjoyed Patrick’s race more than Coach O’Brien as O’B saw his 39-year-old Sachem freshman mile record fall to a runner he coached in winter and mentors during the spring season. Coach O’Brien ran a 4:49 mile in his freshman spring season (1973) and continued to set records throughout his high school career – some of which still stand four decades later.

Coach O’Brien and Patrick enjoyed a congratulatory talk following the race.

Coach O’Brien remarked “I was thrilled to see Patrick break my record today,” to Patrick’s father, Tom Lavan. Patrick’s big sister, Kelly (who would run a career-best 1500 meter time later in the day), Mr. Lavan and other Sachem runners happily surrounded the past and present Sachem running stars after a post-race photo was taken.

Article/photo courtesy of Alex Young, head coach of North girls track and field