Valenzuela Breaks Chatham Indoor School Record in 3200m

Chatham High senior places 2nd at NJSIAA Meet of Champions with personal-best time of 8:56.14

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Marcus Valenzuela, a senior at Chatham High School, placed second in the 3200m event at the 2026 NJSIAA Meet of Champions Indoor Track & Field competition, running a personal-best time of 8:56.14 and breaking a 20-year-old school record in the process. Valenzuela's performance was the 7th fastest time in New Jersey history and the No. 1 time in Morris County history, currently ranking him 11th in the nation.

Why it matters

Valenzuela's record-breaking performance at the prestigious NJSIAA Meet of Champions highlights his exceptional senior season and cements his status as one of the top high school distance runners in the country. The feat also brings recognition to the Chatham High School track and field program and the community.

The details

Valenzuela erased his previous personal record in the 3200m by 16 seconds and smashed the Chatham High School record of 9:12 set by the late Ben Massam in 2006. Luke Hnatt of Christian Brothers Academy won the event with a time of 8:53.83. Chatham senior Thomas Haines also ran the 3200m, breaking his personal record with a time of 9:37.78 and finishing 20th overall.

  • Valenzuela set the new Chatham High School record in the 3200m on Sunday, March 8, 2026 at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions.
  • Valenzuela's previous personal-best time in the 3200m was set the prior Saturday at the USATF National Indoor Championships, where he ran 4:11.58 in the high school mile.

The players

Marcus Valenzuela

A senior at Chatham High School who placed second in the 3200m event at the 2026 NJSIAA Meet of Champions with a personal-best time of 8:56.14, breaking a 20-year-old school record.

Ben Massam

A former Chatham High School student who held the previous school record in the 3200m with a time of 9:12, set in 2006.

Luke Hnatt

A student-athlete from Christian Brothers Academy who won the 3200m event at the 2026 NJSIAA Meet of Champions with a time of 8:53.83.

Thomas Haines

A senior at Chatham High School who also competed in the 3200m event at the 2026 NJSIAA Meet of Champions, breaking his personal record with a time of 9:37.78.

Brady Byrne

A Chatham High School senior who qualified for the Meet of Champions and competed in the 800m event.

Kevin Grundy

A Chatham High School senior who qualified for the Meet of Champions and competed in the triple jump event.

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What’s next

Valenzuela's record-breaking performance has cemented his status as one of the top high school distance runners in the country, and he will likely receive increased attention from college recruiters as he prepares for the next stage of his athletic career.

The takeaway

Valenzuela's achievement demonstrates the hard work and dedication required to excel at the highest levels of high school track and field. His success not only brings pride to the Chatham community, but also inspires other student-athletes to push their limits and strive for greatness.