Seeded 12th overall with a modest personal best of 4:39.65, Algonquin’s Steve White was well under the radar when he went to the starting line of the B.A.A. mile event on Friday’s first day of the MSTCA Northeast Invitational.

In a meet with more than 3,000 competitors over the next three days at the Reggie Lewis Center, it’s doubtful anyone will shatter their personal best as much as White obliterated his.

White played the part of underdog in the early laps while teammate Chris Kardow and Bona Bradshaw of Littleton jockeyed for the lead through a 2:12 opening 800. White surge hard and moved up into fourth with 200 left before switching gears and sling-shotting off the final turn to pass the leaders for the win in 4 minutes, 22.45 seconds.

White’s new best was a 17-second improvement and was a definite confidence builder. Bradshaw never faltered and took second in 4:23.12 and Kardos hung on for third place in 4:23.18.

White, who has a best of 9:40 in the two mile, plans on concentrating on the deuce the rest of the season and take at least one more shot at a faster mile time.

“I want to get as much as I can out of this season,” said the Titan senior. “I knew I’d do better than (4:39). I haven’t run a mile since spring track, but I let my speed take over. I was a little scared about kicking too early, but when I saw my teammate Chris (Kardow) pushing up front I knew I had to give everything I had and kicked. It’s great to feel good in a race. I think this is a good indication of the shape I’m in.”

Natick’s Matt Acquah continued his torrid triple jumping. After breaking the school record in a Bay State Conference dual meet on Thursday night, Acquah returned Friday and broke it once again with a 45-6-3/4 leap. That jump moved him to No. 1 in Massachusetts and No. 24 in the country.

Acquah is working towards a 47-foot leap this winter.

“I got a big push off on my approach,” said Acquah, who uses a 112-foot approach. “I usually do my best on the first or last jump. I’m working on my hip rotation and I’ve been a little late on the board with arms.”

Mackenzie Cook of Oyster River (N.H.) was stuck at 5:10 in the mile in her last four races before breaking out of her “slump” and pulling away with three laps to go with a personal-best win of 5:06.08.

“My legs were moving good,” said the junior. “I wanted to get a feel for it at first so I hung back for the first three laps. I went with three laps to go. My mom (Olympic triathlete Summer Cook) said to always pass with authority.”

Lincoln-Sudbury’s Gabrielle Pierre didn’t have her usual warmup thanks to heavy traffic, but the Warrior junior still had a big day as her 35-10 effort in the triple jump earned her the gold medal in a tight finish. Norwell’s Liliana MacDonald was just inches back at 35-7-3/4.

Logan Alfandari of Amherst-Pelham led the field in the shot put cage with a toss of 56-10 as five athletes bettered 50 feet. Theo Joseph-Seale of Chelsea was second with his 53-5 and Peabody’s Alex Jackson earned the bronze medal at 53-4.

Elisie Opdyke of Wachusett Regional competes in the triple jump at the MSTCA Northeast Invitational on Friday. (Staff Photo/Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)