Thursday, May 31, 2012

Uncle Sam Wants YOU, Sam Chelanga, for Olympic Gold

Is there a nicer, humbler athlete out there right now than Sam Chelanga? Here he talks about the status of his citizenship after the Oxy High Performance Meet (h/t FloTrack), and his dream of running the stars and stripes to Olympic dominance. We want him!


Watch more videos on Flotrack

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Alan Webb--the Class of the American Mile

An incredible record-breaking performance to start off this (shortened) work week. I'll be back soon to analyze a week's worth of incredible HS and NCAA championship performances, and we'll take a look ahead together to the Pre Classic, too.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Anderson Dominates Steeple at Section 3 Meet

Just a quick note on tonight's Section 3 Championship performances. Great times were turned in by all runners, but the distance cake of the night was taken by South Lewis and Sam Anderson, who just became the fifth-fastest 3000m steeplechaser in the state this year. His 9:42.2 won the meet handily.


Monday, May 21, 2012

Happy Trails, Monday Runners

I took a "tactical" weekend off from running (feel free to interpret that how you will), but for those of you who did run--whether it was a PR or an easy Sunday jog, enjoy the beautiful weather all around the country. Get some quality miles in before you find yourself complaining about the heat! And to cage yourself for the coming mileage, watch this mellow but magnificent montage:


   


 Run smart, run free!

Sunday, May 20, 2012

Runners of the Week (5/21)


High School Men
-ERIC HOLT, Junior, Carmel: At the Northern County Championship, Holt proved he was just that: a champion. His 1600m time of 4:15.7 makes him a favorite to win the state title and puts him on the short list of runners who may earn a spot on our All-NY Distance First Team. To do so, he will have to improve on a time that was the 5th-fastest in the state so far this season. 



High School Women
-HOLLY CAVALLUZZO, Junior, Valley Central: It was a dominating weekend for Holly at the OCIAA Championships, winning both the 1500m and the 3000m. As far as distance running goes in New York, Cavalluzzo is the best female out there not named Cain. She will battle with the Bronxville standout for the top spot on the distance running podium in the Empire State. College coaches, look out. 


College Men
-KYLE MERBER, Senior, Columbia University: This outstanding senior isn't just one of the best distance harriers in the state--he is a world-class talent. At the Swarthmore Last Chance meet last weekend, Merber defeated an international field to run the fastest collegiate 1500m time in the country this year--3:35.59. It is the second-fastest time in the US this year (at least, before Galen Rupp and Robby Andrews ran this past weekend at the Oxy HP meet). He also beat the old Ivy-League record by nearly 2 full seconds. With the Olympic "A" Standard firmly in his grasp, can this New York distance-running phenomenon stride all the way to London? We will be watching and cheering our hearts out.

College Women
-AUBREE PIEPMEIER, Sophomore, Vassar College & RACHEL MALONE, Freshman, SUNY Brockport: A pair of championship performances this weekend at the ECAC title meet are enough to net two collegiate females the "Runner of the Week" accomplishment this week. Piepmeier dominated the field in 17:10.29 for the 5000m crown, and Malone beat her nearest competitor by over 20 seconds in the 10000m, clocking a 36:23.48. Incredible performances will hopefully be met by well-deserved accolades by these outstanding young women.

It's Championship Season

We're highlighting outstanding distance performances in this weekend's various championship meets. There were quite a few, and all should turn some DI/II/III heads as our high school runners look to take the leap from NYSPHSAA to the NCAA.


Womens 2000m Steeplechase
A handful of women flirted with the 7-minute mark this weekend in the 2000m steeplechase event. Mantilla--a senior--is the 5th-fastest steeplechaser in the state this year.

Leila Mantilla (Penfield) 7:05.57 Monroe County Champ
Kate Zendell (Suffern) 7:07.90 Rockland County Champ
Amber Goodspeed (Middletown) 7:09.19 OCIAA Champ
Michelle Lujan (Cornwall) 7:12.50
Kelly Hayes (Pearl River) 7:16.90
Beatrice Boylan (Cornwall) 7:16.98
Nicki Nesi (Pelham Memorial) 7:18.66 Westchester County Champ
Molly Shine (Pearl River) 7:19.80
Kalleigh Forrester (Newburgh) 7:20.00
Karli O'Neil (Churchville-Chili) 7:20.33
Ashlin Conroy (Kellenberg Memorial) 7:25.33 NSCHSAA League Champ
Olivia Beltrani (Arlington) 7:28.0 Northern County Champ
Erika Yamazaki (Fiorello H Laguardia) 7:37.87 Manhattan Borough Champ
Linsday Chamberlain (Attica) 7:46.88 Genesee Region Champ
Kate Shults (Coleman Catholic) 7:53.60 MHAL Champ
JI Won Kang (Townsend Harris) 7:55.90 Queens Borough Champ
Sarah Gray (Midwood) 8:07.35 Brooklyn Borough Champ
Joyce Parker (School of the Arts) 9:09.74 Rochester City Athletic Champ

Womens 1500m
A certain Bronxville runner was conspicuously absent from the 1500m this weekend, but that could not take away from the blistering championship run by Holly Cavalluzzo. She clocked the 2nd-fastest time in the state this year; Georgia Tuttle of West Irondequoit clocked the 3rd-fastest.


Holly Cavalluzzo (Valley Central) 4:35.58 OCIAA Champ
Georgia Tuttle (West Irondequoit) 4:37.51 Monroe County Champ
Meghan McCormick (Canandaigua) 4:38.15
Katie Lembo (Penfield) 4:38.36
Jazmine Fray (Kellenberg Memorial) 4:39.80 NSCHSAA League Champ
Erin Jaskot (Tappan Zee) 4:41.50 Rockland County Champ
Kelly Hayes (Pearl River) 4:44.3
Molly Shine (Pearl River) 4:44.7
Gianna Frontera (Newburgh) 4:44.86
Caroline Brown (Holy Trinity) 4:45.77
Shannon Miller (Pittsford Mendon) 4:45.87
Lauren Chapey (Mamaroneck) 4:51.03 Westchester County Champ
Bella Burda (Arlington) 4:55.8 Northern County Champ
Jhanee Sterrett (Boys and Girls) 4:57.61 Brooklyn Borough Champ
Emily Waligurski (Onteora) 5:02.40 MHAL Champ
Denise Branch (Benjamin N. Cardozo) 5:04.90 Queens Borough Champ
Fabiola Oubida (HS Health Profession) 5:06.24 Manhattan Borough Champ
Emma Sullivan (Mount St. Mary) 5:07.28 MMAA All-Catholic Champ
Jenny Crossen (Oakfield-Alabama) 5:10.81 Genesee Region Champ
Joyce Parker (School of the Arts) 5:51.22 Rochester City Athletic Champ


Womens 3000m
A pedestrian run by Cain (compared to earlier season performances). Holly Cavalluzzo does a remarkable double, winning--with incredibly fast times--a 1500m and 3000m championship.

Mary Cain (Bronxville) 9:53.15 Westchester County Champ
Holly Cavalluzzo (Valley Central) 9:57.36 OCIAA Champ
Gianna Frontera (Newburgh) 10:05.64
Delphi Cleaveland (Arlington) 10:11.4 Northern County Champ
Ariana Bottalico (Brewster) 10:16.1
Kelly Hayes (Pearl River) 10:17.1 Rockland County Champ
Katie FitzGerald (Warwick Valley) 10:17.99
Leila Mantilla (Penfield) 10:25.89 Monroe County Champ
Ashlin Conroy (Kellenberg Memorial) 10:45.86 NSCHSAA League Champ
Anne Laure White (Brooklyn Technical) 10:46.55 Brooklyn Borough Champ
Emily Waligurski (Onteora) 10:54.00 MHAL Champ
Emma Sullivan (Mount St. Mary) 11:03.85 MMAA All-Catholic Champ
Jessie Frank (Hunter College High) 11:09.20 Manhattan Borough Champ
Emily McCracken (Oakfield-Alabama) 11:32.50 Genesee Region Champ
Marta Tomaszewski (Townsend Harris) 12:00.40 Queens Borough Champ
Zaila Foster (School of the Arts) 13:18.14 Rochester City Athletic Champ


Mens 3000m Steeplechase
The OCIAA Championships saw a lot of fast times. Grandinali led a dominating Warwick Valley performance in this event. Tancin's Northern County crown was equally impressive for RCK this weekend.

Patrizio Grandinali (Warwick Valley) 9:41.39 OCIAA Champ
Ryan Tancin (Roy C. Ketcham) 9:45.0 Northern County Champ
Brendan Worton (Dobbs Ferry) 9:45.28 Westchester County Champ
Ray Farinella (Warwick Valley) 9:45.55
Aaron Peterson (Warwick Valley) 9:46.30
Hunter Proscia (Eldred) 9:51.40
Kevin Murray (St. John the Baptist) 9:52.49 NSCHSAA League Champ
Jake Hensler (St. Anthony's) 9:52.54
Travis Jordon (Gates-Chili) 9:54.37 Monroe County Champ
Dan Lewandowski (Monsignor Farrell) 9:55.41 NYCHSAA Sectional Champ
Justin Maguire (Brewster) 10:00.7
Alfredo Mazzuca (New Paltz) 10:07.40 MHAL Champ
Jeffrey Antolos (Notre Dame-Batavia) 10:13.90 Genesee Region Champ
A.J. Stuver (McQuaid Jesuit) 10:25.62 Rochester City Athletic Champ
Victor NG (Francis Lewis) 10:30.36 Queens Borough Champ
Eric Chen (Stuyvesant) 10:59.11 Manhattan Borough Champ
Artur Balanovskiy (Brooklyn Technical) 11:11.54 Brooklyn Borough Champ


Mens 1600m
A bunch of urgent times this weekend, with two impressive times at the top. Carmel's Eric Holt ran the 5th-fastest time in the state this year, and HFL's Cooper Roach ran his way to a very impressive Monroe County Championship. This will be the most competitive men's event at the state championship.

Eric Holt (Carmel) 4:15.7 Northern County Champ
Cooper Roach (Honeoye Falls-Lima) 4:17.17 Monroe County Champ
Sibby Hanson (Arlington) 4:17.5
Thomas Awad (Chaminade) 4:19.16 NSCHSAA League Champ
Marc Violone (Byram Hills) 4:19.46 Westchester County Champ
Kieran Brennan (Pearl River) 4:20.1 Rockland County Champ
Keith Pease (Greece Athena) 4:21.19
Stephen Shine (Briarcliff) 4:21.77
Kevin Kreider (St. Anthony's) 4:22.38
Mickey Burke (Rush-Henrietta) 4:22.46
Tyler Ranke (Hilton) 4:23.29
Sean Ferguson (St. John the Baptist) 4:23.31
Mark Schramm (Stuyvesant) 4:23.41 Manhattan Borough Champ
Dmitri Zuccarello (Xavier) 4:23.78 NYCHSAA Sectional Champ
Patrizio Grandinali (Warwick Valley) 4:23.94 OCIAA Champ
Ryan Phillips (Regis) 4:24.50
Ryan Cross (Suffern) 4:24.6
Brennan Root (Rush-Henrietta) 4:24.74
Alfredo Mazzuca (New Paltz) 4:28.90 MHAL Champ
Mitchell Kun (Sheepshead) 4:29.86 Brooklyn Borough Champ
Alex Schaffstall (St. Francis) 4:33.61 MMAA All-Catholic Champ
Felipe Yanez (Forest Hills) 4:34.98 Queens Borough Champ
David Smith (Holley) 4:35.26 Genesee Region Champ
Ben Ivie (Wheatland-Chili) 4:36.93
Nick Ciolkowski (McQuaid Jesuit) 4:43.11 Rochester City Athletic Champ


Mens 3200m
Grandinali put in some big miles this weekend and managed to pull off a double for his efforts, winning both the 3000m steeplechase and the 3200m run at the OCIAA Championships. Elsewhere, Xavier's Dmitri Zuccarello was the class of the NYCHSAA meet.

Patrizio Grandinali (Warwick Valley) 9:23.11 OCIAA Champ
Dmitri Zuccarello (Xavier) 9:26.09 NYCHSAA Sectional Champ
Ray Farinella (Warwick Valley) 9:27.67
John Bentivegna (Monsignor Farrell) 9:30.16
Hunter Proscia (Eldred) 9:33.55
Evan Ward (Suffern) 9:33.9 Rockland County Champ
Michael Turi (John Jay-East Fishkill) 9:37.6 Northern County Champ
David Busby (New Paltz) 9:39.60 MHAL Champ
Grant Parrelli (Warwick Valley) 9:40.19
Brian Cook (Pearl River) 9:40.8
Luke Vasadi (Washingtonville) 9:41.29
Thomas Awad (Chaminade) 9:43.75 NSCHSAA League Champ
Thomas Slattery (Chaminade) 9:46.39
Stephen Shine (Briarcliff) 9:46.51 Westchester County Champ
Kevin French (John Jay-East Fishkill) 9:46.8
Travis Jordon (Gates-Chili) 9:47.19 Monroe County Champ
Kyle Collins (Suffern) 9:50.1
Matthew Taddeo (St. Anthony's) 9:50.97
Nicholas Ruiz (Midwood) 10:02.97 Brooklyn Borough Champ
Alex Schaffstall (St. Francis) 10:07.77 MMAA All-Catholic Champ
Michael Delligatti (Francis Lewis) 10:08.10 Queens Borough Champ
Konrad Surkont (Stuyvesant) 10:23.02 Manhattan Borough Champ
Chris Helber (McQuaid Jesuit) 10:40.95 Rochester City Athletic Champ
David Smith (Holley) 10:43.90 Genesee Region Champ

High School Distance Rankings: Section X

Next up: the North Country's very own distance rankings! Great times put up so far this season. (Remember, these rankings are formed by taking both men's and women's performances thus far this season!)


Section X


1. MALONE
2. Potsdam
3. Madrid-Waddington
4. Canton
5. Massena
6. Norwood-Norfolk
7. Clinton-Fine
8. Gouverneur
9. Ogdensburg
10. Tupper Lake

High School Distance Rankings: Section IX FINAL

Congratulations to this year's Section IX Outdoor Distance Champions

Warwick Valley (A) edged Monroe-Woodbury by 1 point;

New Paltz (B) paced the field and second-place Onteora; 

Tri-Valley (C/D) slipped past Eldred! 

Great season and excellent running to all of our Section IX high school runners!

CLASS A

1. WARWICK VALLEY
2. Monroe-Woodbury
3. Cornwall
4. Pine Bush
5. Newburgh
6. Middletown
7. Kingston
8. Washingtonville
9. Wallkill
10. Minisink Valley

CLASS B

1. NEW PALTZ
2. Onteora
3. Saugerties
4. Red Hook
5. Marlboro
6. Rondout Valley
7. Goshen
8. Highland
9. Port Jervis
10. Spackenkill

CLASS C/D

1. TRI-VALLEY
2. Eldred
3. Sullivan West
4. Rhinebeck
5. Coleman Catholic
6. Millbrook
7. Pine Plains
8. James I. O'Neill
9. Webutuck
10. Chapel Field

Friday, May 18, 2012

High School Distance Rankings: Section VIII

Incredibly impressed with the folks running great times in Section VIII. I really enjoyed putting together these rankings. They're non-standard (much like Section VII's), but I wanted to conform to the conferences already established.


SECTION VIII


CONFERENCE 1


1. SYOSSET
2. East Meadow
3. Massapequa
4. Port Washington
5. MacArthur
6. Farmingdale
7. Ocean Side
8. Baldwin
9. VS Central
10. Uniondale


CONFERENCE 2


1. MEPHAM
2. Calhoun
3. Wantagh
4. Garden City
5. Great Neck South
6. Herricks
7. JFK Bellmore
8. Roslyn
9. Long Beach
10. New Hyde Park


CONFERENCE 3


1. MANHASSET
2. Plainedge
3. Hewlett
4. Division Avenue
5. Sewanhaka
6. Floral Park
7. VS South
8. South Side
9. Great Neck North
10. Lynbrook


CONFERENCE 4


1. NORTH SHORE
2. VS North
3. Friends Academy
4. Clarke
5. CSH
6. Island Trees
7. Oyster Bay
8. Mineola
9. Locust Valley
10. East Rockaway

Stop Buying Your Kids Running Shoes!

Barefoot running. Minimalist shoe design.


They're all the craze these days among everyday runners like you and I looking to squeeze faster times out of busier work days with less time to train. Running shoe companies almost seem to market these products like others market weight-loss pills: "Amazing Weight Loss! One Simple Pill!" Just imagine how much faster you could run if your feet weighed less?!


Admittedly, I am a fan of minimalist running. I'm not going to get caught getting into an argument with nature or God about His (or Her!) optimal design of the human foot for running. To me, the more true you are to your carnal running form, the better of a runner you will be--time-wise, injury-wise, and chi-wise. I started running in shoes made by Newton in 2003, and despite my efforts, haven't been able to find a better shoe for running.


But when should you buy your feet gloves or your expensive new (light) treads?


I have watched too many friends accrue too many injuries by trying to bite off more than they can chew, or not understanding how their body will react to lighter (or structurally revolutionary) footwear.


Think about it: you have been wearing running shoes--or shoes of some sort--since when? Your toddler stage? Terrible twos? Depending on how old you are, your body has adapted for decades to the feeling of getting around in sneaks.


When I run in shoes, it's easy to let my form slacken--too often I find myself slouching shoulders, hanging my head, and half-assing my stride carriage. Yet when I take my shoes off to do barefoot sprints or strides, it is much more difficult to let myself slack off--it hurts when you're not efficient!


You and I and our running society have gradually, over countless decades, been evolving farther and farther away from that efficient, natural, speedy gait of our forefathers. Take a look at what youngsters in countries like Kenya, Ethiopia, Morocco and elsewhere are wearing on their feet when they are young, and you don't have to go very far to figure out why they have eclipsed us so completely in global distance running.


So should you transition to minimalist, or barefoot, running? Absolutely. But understand that for you and I, the time required to transition and be able to run as far as we'd like will be measured in years, plural. So what does that mean?


Don't buy your kids running shoes.


That's pretty revolutionary, right? You don't just buy their sneakers for physical fitness but also to keep their feet protected from the nasty outside world. Where would you be if you couldn't be in line on Black Friday to stage a mad-dash for the last pair of new Nikes or Air Jordans for your tot?


I'm not talking about eschewing footwear completely, though--we'll leave that to Little House on the Prairie re-runs. I am talking about simple, cheap shoes with very little (if any) support and probably few popular, brand-name logos. If this seems like an offensive suggestion, then think about how you are furthering the problem distance runners face today.


If you could go back in time and keep in touch with your natural gait--and practice that over the course of your life--how much better would your running be? How many Olympic gold medals have we cost ourselves (and for whom? The American running shoe industry pulls in billions a year), how many injuries have we caused ourselves, how much more fulfilling would your fitness feel?


If you are putting your children in these ultra-supportive, cushioned, lights-flashing, gucci shoes, well...I hope you have good genes and a family history of a high VO2 max.


Save yourself some money. Start the new trend. Don't handicap your kids from the get-go because it is what society has come to expect. Allow them to grow up knowing what their natural running gait feels like, and then let them go--let them experience that kind of a life without the handicap of Nike, Adidas, Reebok and the like.


Will they win Olympic gold? Maybe. Will they beat a world record? Possibly. Will they keep in good physical shape? I hope so!


But with those big clunkers parents have been putting on kids' feet for the past 50 years? The answer to those questions is a resounding: No.


I can't guarantee the results. But I can dream about what will be. That is the hope of American distance running.

High School Distance Rankings: Section VII

There are more than a few Section VII schools without serious distance-running programs, and that saddens me. I've been to places like Chazy and Lake Placid--the running there is impeccable. If you are a runner, coach or interested enthusiast from the area, please share the great things that our runners are doing, or programs you hope to implement and we will help (itstands@gmail.com). Our goal isn't just to rank and to judge, but to take kids who otherwise wouldn't run and introduce them to the lifelong passion that is distance running.


Section 7


1. PERU
2. Seton Catholic
3. Plattsburgh
4. Beekmantown
5. Saranac
6. Ticonderoga
7. Northeastern Clinton
8. Saranac Lake
9. Lake Placid
10. Ausable Valley

Thursday, May 17, 2012

High School Distance Rankings: Section VI

CLASS A
1. CLARENCE
2. Frontier
3. Williamsville North
4. Orchard Park
5. Lockport
6. Jamestown
7. West Seneca West
8. Lancaster
9. North Tonawanda
10. Kenmore West

CLASS B
1. EAST AURORA
2. Starpoint
3. Sweet Home
4. Lake Shore
5. Pioneer
6. Williamsville South
7. Hamburg
8. Olean
9. Springville
10. Amherst

CLASS C
1. FREDONIA
2. Falconer
3. Akron
4. Cattaraugus-Little Valley
5. Southwestern
6. Allegany-Limestone
7. Alden
8. Gowanda
9. Royalton-Hartland
10. Salamanca

CLASS D
1. MAPLE GROVE
2. Holland
3. Barker
4. Randolph
5. Frewsburg
6. Clymer
7. Portville
8. Panama
9. Franklinville
10. Silver Creek

High School Distance Rankings: Section IV

CLASS A
1. CORNING
2. Horseheads
3. Vestal
4. Elmira District (Southside)
5. Ithaca
6. Maine-Endwell
7. Union-Endicott
8. Binghamton

CLASS B
1. ONEONTA
2. Chenango Forks
3. Norwich
4. Windsor
5. Susquehanna Valley
6. Waverly
7. Chenango Valley
8. Dryden

CLASS C
1. BAINBRIDGE-GUILFORD
2. Lansing
3. Trumansburg
4. Newark Valley
5. Watkins Glen
6. Walton
7. Groton
8. Unatego

CLASS D
1. GILBERTSVILLE-MOUNT UPTON
2. Milford
3. Laurens
4. Elmira-Notre Dame
5. Edmeston
6. Southern Cayuga
7. Schenevus
8. Cherry Valley-Springfield

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

You Think YOUR Run is Tough?

Having a tough run? Thinking of quitting?





Yeah. THINK AGAIN. 


 Run smart, run free.

Runner's Anemia

Had my annual flight physical this morning, and had a little unexpected run-in: runner's anemia. I was floored: really? Having largely eschewed red, beefy meats recently and increasing my vegetable intake (also, my Lean Cuisine diet...), I thought I was on the right track. It turns out there were some things I had not considered.

Here is a brief description from the blog How 2 Run Fast:

"Studies indicate that about 20% of long distance runners are suffering from Runner’s Anemia. Many of them don’t know it.  They have iron levels that are lower than normal, may experience fatigue, and suffer diminished performance in training and in races.
There are several potential reasons for Runner’s Anemia:
  • Increased blood volume resulting from training
  • Foot strike hemolysis - destruction of red blood cells caused by your feet hitting the ground
  • Loss of iron through sweat and urine
  • Blood loss through the gastrointestinal tract
  • For women - blood loss from menstruation
Although none of these factors are a major cause for concern, it’s important to have your doctor rule out other, more serious potential causes of blood loss.

I found out that I had Runner’s Anemia a few years ago.  My doctor told me that my hemoglobin and serum ferritin levels were low and that analysis of my red blood cells showed that they were smaller than normal and pale in color.  He recommended a colonoscopy, which ruled out any serious causes of internal bleeding. 

I’m a regular blood donor, donating between 4 and 6 units of blood per year (58 units lifetime). At my doctor’s recommendation, I took a break from donating and started taking (65 mg) iron tablets.
Over a several weeks, my iron levels returned to normal and my training improved.  I still donate blood, but time my donations around my marathon race schedule. 

If you have been feeling run down, you might want to have your iron levels checked.  Don’t take iron tablets without a doctor’s recommendation, as there can be side effects to taking too much iron."

Bottom line: If you're a runner, you should be seeing a doctor at least twice a year. Not to complain, but just to get checked out. Having your blood tested (not doping-style) is imperative because--unlike eyeballing your urine or stool content (sorry, gross)--you need a microscope and a medical degree to determine any irregularities.

When it comes to cardiovascular fitness--priority number one for distance runners--good, healthy blood is the main component. Help keep yourself strong by keeping your blood up to specs. Get yourself checked out.
 

Thursday, May 10, 2012

Our Men's Olympic Marathon Team

The boys came out to New York City today. Not sure if they ran up the steps to the top of the Empire State Building (killer workout!), but here they are with New York Road Runners CEO Mary Wittenberg.


Rock on New York!

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Best American Track Video, Ever

This gem--the 1964 Olympic 10,000m run--is by far my favorite running video and performance by an American in the Olympics. It is almost surreal, and gives me goosebumps every time! Run smart, run free! Run like Billy Mills!


Monday, May 7, 2012

Runners of the Week (5/7)


High School Men
-THOMAS AWAD, Senior, Chaminade: A class-setting pace of 9:16.43 in the 3200m this weekend at St. Anthony's Invitational gets Awad the nod over Section V runner Mike Anvelt. Awad has been a "watch out for this guy" athlete since the beginning of the season, and while he's going to have to keep dropping those times to achieve a state title, he is a runner any college coach would be fortunate to have. He leads Chaminade's combined distance team this year.


High School Women
-MARY CAIN, Sophomore, Bronxville: I know, I know--she was Runner of the Week last week. But you just can't make this stuff up: Cain barely missed the Olympic "B" standard of 4:17.00 in the 1500m, running a 4:17.03. That makes her the second fastest high-school sophomore ever to run the 1500m. Hey, when you break records, you remain our Runner of the Week for an unprecedented second week in a row.

College Men
-LEE BERUBE, Senior, SUNY Geneseo: It was a record-setting weekend for Berube at the 2012 SUNYAC Championships at SUNY Oneonta. Berube broke the SUNYAC meet record with a blistering 14:43.44 in the 5000m, garnering another championship for his impressive resume. For good measure, he added a 10000m performance in 32:08.05, good enough for 3rd. Impressive showing for Berube, helping lead the way at the "SUNY Geneseo Show"--aka the SUNYAC--this weekend.

College Women
-SARAH PAGANO, Sophomore, Syracuse University: Your 2012 10,000m Big East Champion! Sarah far outpaced the field in Tampa this weekend and hopes to take that success into regional finals. A national force to be reckoned with, Sarah leads a powerful Syracuse University distance squad with its eyes set on American dominance.

Syracuse Distance Dominance at Big East Championships

It was a championship weekend for the Syracuse University Men's and Women's distance running track teams at the Big East Championships in Tampa, Florida.




Dominating performances from Orange juniors Tito Medrano, Pat Dupont and freshman Matt Hehir saw Syracuse win the men's 5000m championship at this weekend's Big East Championships. The runners finished in 14:23, 14:26 and 14:27, respectively, and although Villanova sophomore Sam McEntee won the race, the Syracuse distance team accrued more points.


As if that wasn't enough, Syracuse came back with impressive showings in the 10000m. Junior Robert Molke missed the title by 1/2 second, running 33:07.07, and Tito Medrano came back with a second remarkable weekend performance--he finished 5th with a 33:12.16.



But it was junior Pat Dupont who would take the cake for the men's distance team, winning the 3000m steeplechase by only .6 seconds, at 8:49.40. He was joined in scoring by sophomore Joseph Whelan, who finished 6th.



On the women's side, a champion was crowned. Sophomore Sarah Pagano took home the 10000m crown in an impressive 34:37.94, pacing the field by nearly 7 seconds. Her teammate--junior and last week's NY College Distance Runner of the Week Lauren Penney--came in 4th place with a 35:24.85.


The 3000m steeplechase was a show of strength for these women, too, as they finished 3rd, 4th, 5th & 7th to round out the scoring. 4 seniors, in order, set the pace: Katie Hursey, Natalie Busby, Heather Stephens & Rebekah MacKay.


Seniors Katie Hursey and Heather Stephens finished in 6th and 9th place for Syracuse in the 5000m.



Tallying up the distance events only, Syracuse won decisively. The men scored 44 points, followed by Georgetown with 22, Louisville with 13 and Villanova with 12. The women squeaked out a close won, winning with 35 points, followed by Providence with 33, Notre Dame with 13 and Louisville with 12.


Combined, Syracuse University's distance team scored nearly twice as good (79 points) as any other team in the field (Providence came in second with a combined 41 points). All in all, a dominating day for the Orange distance team, and on to the next round!

Chasing Olympic Dreams

From today's NY Daily News, in full; an article on a local New Yorker written by Mitch Abramson.



There was a time, not long ago, when Kerri Gallagher’s life was all mapped out like the turns on a track. Gallagher — a former runner at Bishop Kearney — had the job she wanted and a boss she liked. 
Hired as a financial planner at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney in Manhattan last April, Gallagher appeared to be sprinting toward a life of success in the corporate world. 
“She was a bright girl, a fast learner,” her supervisor there, Dino Kallenekos, said. “She had a lot of potential.” 
But something happened to Gallagher on her way to a normal life. She grew restless. She missed running. 
So after a meeting with her former track coach at Bishop Kearney, John Lovett, over a burger and fries last June, she decided to plot a new, less predictable course. 
In late July, Gallagher stunned her boss and parents by quitting her job to devote her time to trying to make the U.S. Olympic team for the 1,500-meter event this summer in London. 
What made her decision all the more jarring was that her track career at Fordham University did not suggest that she would someday have such grand ambitions. Gallagher was a star middle distance runner for the Rams, setting several school and Atlantic 10 conference records, but success on the national level always eluded her. 
“She had goals in college,” said Tom Dewey, her track and field coach at Fordham, “but (the Olympics) never entered her thought process.” 
Gallagher, 22, is pragmatic about her chances. If she can qualify for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials, set for late June in Eugene, Ore., she will consider her decision a success. She moved down to Washington, D.C., in late August to start training with noted track coach Matt Centrowitz. She has just over a month to achieve the times needed to qualify for the team trials. 
“Realistically, I’m not in a place where I think I can make the Olympic team,” Gallagher said after an early-morning run on Friday. “But if I can get to trials and be competitive there, it will have made all of this completely worth it.” 
Others — specifically Lovett and Centrowitz — believe she has the talent and the willpower to make a run at the Olympics. They point to her rapid development since she relocated to train with Centrowitz and the New Balance Pacers Track Club. 
“She wasn’t a national class (runner) in college,” said Centrowitz, a former two-time Olympic distance runner out of Power Memorial Academy in Manhattan. “So we’re trying to go beyond that right now. It’s a big leap and I just think that certain people mature differently — mentally and physically. I just think she’s a little bit of a late bloomer. I think there’s a lot more she can do.” 
Gallagher’s progression from high school runner to Olympic hopeful wasn’t exactly fast out of the gate. She didn’t start running at Bishop Kearney until the end of her sophomore year, and she never won a city championship with the Tigers, finishing as high as second in the 1,000-meter run. 
She finally broke out as a senior at Fordham, setting the school record for the 800 meters in the indoor season, clocking in at 2:07.61 and reaching the NCAA East Regional Championships last May. 
Then, she all but stopped running after taking the job at Morgan Stanley Smith Barney. But Lovett sensed she wasn’t finished. 
Over comfort food at a restaurant in her hometown of Belle Harbor, Lovett asked Gallagher if she wanted to “go to an elite level of running where she can make the Olympics.” 
She said yes before he could even finish his sentence. After talking with her father, John, who reminded her how difficult it is to find a good job in this economy, the decision was final. 
“No regrets,” Gallagher said. “There are times when you wonder if you’ve made the right decision. But I realized I love what I’m doing. There are days when I’m on the track and I just feel this is where I need to be.”

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/high-school/kerri-gallagher-runner-bishop-kearney-fordham-university-quits-job-pursue-dream-running-olympics-article-1.1073160#ixzz1uFJne2vR

All the best wishes in the world to our own Kerri Gallagher!

Friday, May 4, 2012

Local Wounded Warrior Run This Weekend


Cadyville: "The Annual Chief Run is sponsored by the Saranac High School National Honor Society. This year the club has chosen to raise money and awareness for Wounded Warrior Project. The event will include a 5k and 3k run for all ages." You can find more information here.

New York Distance Project is a proud support of the Wounded Warrior Project. Do your part for those who do so much for you, and support wounded warriors through these great events or by donating your time, treasure and thoughts. "The greatest casualty is being forgotten."

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

High School Distance Rankings: Section III

CLASS A
1. FAYETTEVILLE-MANLIUS
2. Cicero-North Syracuse
3. Liverpool
4. West Genessee
5. East Syracuse-Minoa
6. Baldwinsville
7. Jamesville-Dewitt
8. Central Square
9. Corcoran
10. Whitesboro

CLASS B
1. MARCELLUS
2. Westhill-Ludden
3. Cazenovia
4. Skaneateles
5. Clinton
6. Christian Brothers Academy
7. Jordan-Elbridge
8. Homer
9. Hannibal
10. South Jefferson

CLASS C
1. TULLY
2. South Lewis
3. Onondaga
4. Beaver River
5. Fabius-Pompey
6. Sauquoit Valley
7. Cooperstown
8. West Canada
9. Cato-Meridian
10. Weedsport

CLASS D
1. HAMILTON
2. Remsen
3. LaFayette
4. Faith Heritage
5. Old Forge
6. Living Word
7. DeRuyter
8. Tyburn Academy
9. Oriskany
10. Port Byron

High School Distance Rankings: Section II

CLASS A
1. SARATOGA SPRINGS
2. Shaker
3. Niskayuna
4. Bethlehem
5. Colonie
6. Shenendehowa
7. Guilderland
8. Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake
9. Columbia
10. Ballston Spa

CLASS B
1. FONDA-FULTONVILLE
2. Queensbury
3. Broadalbin-Perth
4. Gloversville
5. Notre Dame-Bishop Gibbons
6. Mohonasen
7. Cohoes
8. Lansingburgh
9. Ravena-Coeymans-Selkirk
10. South Glens Falls

CLASS C
1. GREENWICH
2. Corinth
3. Hoosic Valley
4. Berne-Knox-Westerlo
5. Mekeel Christian
6. Mechanicville
7. Maple Hill
8. Taconic Hills
9. Voorheesville
10. Stillwater

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

High School Distance Rankings: Section I

Ranking the best in distance running, combined, in swanky Section I:


CLASS A
1. SUFFERN
2. Arlington
3. North Rockland
4. Tappan Zee
5. Brewster


CLASS B
1. PEARL RIVER
2. Nanuet
3. Byram Hills
4. Pelham
5. Harrison


CLASS C
1. BRONXVILLE
2. North Salem
3. Rye
4. Dover
5. Dobbs Ferry

High SchoolDistance Rankings: Section V

Our first round of High School Distance Rankings comes from Section V. Congratulations to our Leaders so far--Notre Dame-Batavia, Geneseo, Palmyra-Macedon & Pittsford-Mendon! We look forward to more excellent running out of Section V this year. (Look for the remaining sections to be ranked in the coming days, and updated weekly)

CLASS A
1.       Pittsford-Mendon
2.       Rush-Henrietta
3.       Honeoye Falls-Lima
4.       Victor
5.       West Irondequoit
6.       Fairport
7.       Pittsford-Sutherland
8.       Penfield
9.       Brighton
10.   Hilton
CLASS B
1.       Palmyra-Macedon
2.       Penn Yan
3.       Newark
4.       Bath-Haverling
5.       Byron-Bergen-Elba
6.       Geneva
7.       Batavia
8.       Dansville
9.       Aquinas
10.   Hornell
CLASS C
1.       Geneseo
2.       Oakfield-Alabama
3.       Pavilion
4.       Holley
5.       Wayland-Cohocton
6.       Gananda
7.       Campbell-Savona
8.       Pembroke
9.       Perry
10.   Canisteo-Greenwood
CLASS D
1.       Notre Dame-Batavia
2.       Keshequa
3.       Alfred-Almond
4.       Harley-Allendale-Columbia
5.       Wheatland-Chili
6.       Bolivar-Richburg
7.       Fillmore
8.       Gennesee Valley
9.       Northstar Christian
10.   Jasper-Troupsburg


SECTION V OVERALL

1. Pittsford-Mendon
2. Rush-Henrietta
3. Honeoye Falls-Lima
4. Victor
5. West Irondequoit
6. Geneseo
7. Fairport
8. Palmyra-Macedon
9. Penn Yan
10. Notre Dame-Batavia
(Another note on methodology: this is not scientific but--like the college rankings--a "writer's" poll. I take a combination of men's and women's times, meet performances and the like in events longer than 1500m. The result is what you see--a combined measure of where distance running thrives in New York State.)