John Barrett Saint John’s Prep School Danvers 1960. His relay team members were often told “just get me the baton and I will do the rest” These were words often spoken by track legend John Barrett prior to running the anchor leg. Two members of this relay team are here in the building today. The fabled track coach out of Falmouth, John Carroll and one of the most respected track officials in Massachusetts, Chris Lane.

John, the son of a major league baseball pitcher spent his first two years playing baseball and Football for Central Catholic High School. In the middle of his sophomore year, Barrett transferred to St John’s Prep in Danvers. It was then that he decided to join the Indoor Track and Field team.

“It was while at St. John's that I met my future wife & I met a man who, other than my father, had more influence on me than any man that I would ever meet. His name was Brother Patrician and he was also my track Coach. Brother Patrician had an immediate impact on Barrett.

During the 1959 Indoor Track season, he was a dominating force on the Boston Garden boards. He was the State Class C 300 Yard Champion, as well as the anchor leg on the winning Relay team. During the spring season, John was the Class C State Champion in the 220 Yard dash and runner-up in the long jump. His 220 Yard time established a new meet Class C Record.

In his Senior year, John set a new Class C Record in the 300 Yard run with a time of 32.6, and once again anchored his team to another relay title. Later that season, the St. John’s Prep team travelled to New York City to compete in the National Indoor Championships. The team won the National title in the 4x440 Yard Relay with Barrett anchoring the team with a 50.6 second split on the old and slow boards of the Garden. The winning time was 3:27.5.

In the spring Barrett was named the New England Catholic Meets most “Outstanding Performer” as he established meet records in both the 100 and 220 Yard Dashes. Later that spring he went on to break his own 220 Yard Class C Record, and was crowned New England Scholastic champion at 220 Yards.

John had personal best times of 9.7 in the 100 Yard Dash, 21.3 in the 220, 48.5 in the 440 yard run.

After high School, John attended Boston College on a Football scholarship. Before getting injured at BC one of his best college friends Dave Duffy said this of Barrett football prowess, “As for John's speed, I have a vivid memory of #22 (which years later was Doug Flutie's #) when his quickness made watching his "end runs" a joy to behold.”

John Barrett is a member of the Massachusetts State Track and Field Officials Association, where he started many of the State meets in the 1980’s.

John Barrett won many State Class Titles, he was a New England Champion, and a national champion. He was also the States leading scorer in Football, but when asked what his favorite memory was in his high school career this is the answer he gave us.

“My fondest memory at St. John's Prep was the day that I realized that I had been accepted by my new teammates. I had transferred from Central Catholic in Lawrence to St. John's in the middle of my sophomore year. Central & St. John's had been fierce competitors at that time. I did not know if I would be welcomed by my new team. The day that a teammate said to me "you are one of us" remains, to this day, my favorite memory.”