PERRY HALL, MD—A Perry Hall High School graduate barely missed making the U.S. Olympic track & field team in Paris.

Vince Ciaettei, who graduated in 2013, came in fourth place in the Men’s 1500m with a time of 3:31:78.

Ciaettei posted to Instagram following the near miss:

At every level of this sport, I’ve had the belief -sometimes completely unfounded- that I could compete with the best. After 4 years at Perry Hall High I got 5th at “nationals”. 5 years at VT- 2nd at NCAAs. It’s taken 6 years of being a pro athlete to have a performance that put me up there with the best. But that belief never left, and that race finally came yesterday. 3:31. Faster than any other Olympic trials 1500. 13th fastest American ever. And still only good enough for 4th.

I’m equal parts proud and devastated. Proud to have put forth a performance like that on the biggest stage of my career when no one – except those in my corner- expected it. Devastated that I executed the exact race I believed I could run and still miss the Olympic team by .25 seconds. I feel no shame in coming that close when the class and quality of the 3 athletes ahead of me is so evident. They are all incredible and legitimate medal threats in Paris. But I’m gutted to have come so close to realizing my own dream to make Team USA this summer. Thankfully, the emotional pendulum is swinging more and more towards pride as I process this race, because it is a shared pride.

I am so grateful for all of the support, encouragement, sympathy, and love from everyone this week. This sport can feel selfish at times- spending some of the prime of my young adult life running hundreds of miles for a few minutes of competition. But when those few minutes of excitement are shared with family, friends, coaches and teammates, all around the country and from every level of my life and career, it makes this sport feel a lot more communal. I am still gutted that my door to the Olympics stayed closed, but I look forward to the other doors this race will open. And even though I didn’t make the team, down the line I aspire to relive the excitement of this race with the same joy that I hope I brought some of you.

At Virginia Tech, Ciaettei took home the silver in the mile in 2018 with a school-record and personal-best time of 3:58.36 and won a national championship as a part of the distance medley relay team that finished with a time of 9:30.76 at the NCAA Championships

Councilman David Marks applauded Ciaettei’s efforts.

“No one gets this far without hard work, grit, and support from family and friends. We are proud!”

Photo via Instagram