Seneca Valley's Mike Kolor was far ahead of the pack in the 800-meter run at the Mars Invitational Friday night. In the 1,600-meter run, Kolor set the school and the meet record with his effort of four minutes, 16.17 seconds.

ADAMS TWP — Mike Kolor's unassuming demeanor belies his fierce competitive spirit.

That attitude was on full display Friday at the Mars Track and Field Invitational.

The Seneca Valley junior set a school and meet record by finishing the boys' 1,600-meter run in four minutes, 16.17 seconds.

He also earned first place in the 800 run and was a member of the top 4x400 relay squad, earning Boys Track MVP honors in the process.

“He's one of the most polite and genuine kids you'll ever meet,” said Seneca Valley coach Ray Peaco, “but he just doesn't like to lose. These words are overused in sports, but he is one of the most motivated and driven kids I've seen. He is the total package.”

Though known for his distance running, Kolor had not competed in the 1,600 run much this season. But that didn't stop him from expecting a great performance out of himself. He crossed the finish line 10.06 seconds faster than the runner-up, North Hills' Jacob Heinauer.

“I came in here wanting to run somewhere in the 4:15 to 4:16 range,” he said. “My tactic is I just focus on myself. If I do that, the numbers will come. I just try to stay in the moment. If you lose focus in the 1,600, you lose seconds that you can't make up.”

Even with his strong showing at the Mars Athletic Complex, Kolor wants more.

“I feel like I am the strongest I have ever been,” he said. “I want to go significantly faster by the end of the season and want to finish among the top in the state.”

Kolor's winning time in the 800 was 1:58.25. He ended his day by anchoring the Raiders' 4x400 team, using a strong push down the front straightaway to edge out Hampton for first place in the event.

His teammates included Alex Dixon, John Morgan and Parker Laughlin.

Kolor's teammate, senior Creamon Frazier, earned what was for him a meaningful first-place finish in the triple jump.

“I had never won at an invite before, so this was huge for me,” said Frazier, who went a personal-best 42 feet, 3.5 inches in the event.

“This gives me the utmost confidence for the rest of the season,” he added. “I jumped my best for now, but I'm still looking to improve and I've got some time to do it.”

Seneca Valley did not go home empty-handed in the girls meet. Isabelle Biase followed up her win in the 800 at the Butler Invitational last week with another top effort in the event, this time finishing in 2:23.06.

Emma Lizewski also won for the Raiders in the triple jump, topping the field thanks to a leap of 35-9.

“My best is a 36-3,” said the sophomore. “I just wanted to have fun today and practice for WPIALs and I did that. I picked the triple jump up in eighth grade and it is definitely my best event. I love how it feels, the three phases of the event.”