Metro Athletes headed west
13 dyestatmetro athletes will be among the 80 runners in San Diego this weekend
Jim Lambert and John Nepolitan on site
The runners from New Jersey and New York have a message for the rest of the country. Watch out, here we come.
Don’t look now but the Metropolitan area is packing a wallop as it storms its way into San Diego for Saturday’s 30th Foot Locker National Championships.
A staggering thirteen runners (eight girls and five boys) of the 80 qualifiers (40 in each race) run for schools in either New Jersey or New York.
A New Jersey record eight runners (four boys and four girls) will toe the line while another five (four girls and one boy) from the Empire State will be competing over the 3.1-mile course at Balboa Park.
Only California, which will send 11 runners (six girls, five boys) to the starting line, has more competitors chasing individual glory than New Jersey. Texas is third with seven.
 The New Jersey qualifiers are Tyler Udland of Millburn, Phil Wood of Pennington, Brett Johnson of Ocean City, George Galasso of Holmdel, Lanie Thompson of Voorhees, Chelsea Ley of Kingsway, Katie Kellner of West Windsor-Plainsboro South and Laura Vigilante of Mendham.
The New York contingent is headed by the amazing Shelby Greany of Suffern, who is making a remarkable fourth appearance in the FL national race. She’ll be joined by state mates Aisling Cuffe of Cornwall Central, Erin Cawley (photo right by John Nepolitan) of Newark Valley, Emily Lipari (photo left by John Nepolitan) of Roslyn, and Joe Whelan of Hamburg.
Thompson said New Jersey can hang with any state in the country.``We’re a powerhouse,’’ said the Oregon-bound Thompson, the New Jersey Meet of Champions winner the past two years, who qualified for nationals by placing fourth in the Northeast Regional. ``Eight runners from one state is insane. New Jersey can run with anyone.’’Udland, the New Jersey boys M of C winner and Northeast runner-up, had a feeling the Garden State would harvest a bumper crop this fall.
``I think it is incredible how well New Jersey is running this year,’’ said Udland, a junior. ``Going into the year everybody was saying how strong of year this was going to be in New Jersey and I think the Jersey guys and girls did a great job of confirming this. It really is incredible that we have eight qualifiers this year, but it doesn't really surprise me. I definitely thought there could be four or five boys from Jersey qualify. It may not necessarily be who I thought it would be at the beginning of the season, but there are just so many strong runners in the state that everybody is just stepping up. Not only did Jersey do very well at FL, but we also had a great showing at NXN with West Windsor-Plainsboro North (fifth) and Don Bosco Prep (sixth). It’s been an incredible year.’’ There probably would have been more qualifiers from New York and New Jersey, but runners like Danielle Winslow of Queensbury NY, Courtney Chapman of Fayetteville Manlius NY, Sean Pohorence of Morris Hills, NJ and Joe Rosa of West Windsor North, all ran in the Nike Cross Nationals. FM won that title last week in Oregon. ``If there wasn’t an NXN (Nike Nationals) imagine how many qualifiers we could have had at FL,’’ said Udland. ``It’s still blowing my mind how many great runners there are in our state and I'm just so happy to be a part of that.’’ Greany said having eight of the 40 girls in the field coming from the bordering states is pretty impressive. ``I think it shows just how competitive the area is. I think that some of the top runners in other states don't realize how competitive the Metropolitan area is until they run against us,’’ said Greany. ``Eight of the top runners in the nation are from that area. That’s 20% of the race coming from one area.
 THE ALL-AMERICAN BOY
A lot of runners are content with just making it to San Diego and aren’t real concerned about what time they run or place they finish. But not Udland(photo left by John Nepolitan).``It would be amazing to finish in the top 10, but to make the top 15 and get All-American would be the perfect way to finish off this season,’’ said Udland, second in the Northeast regional in 15:36.6. Udland has come a long way since placing 41st in 18:42 in the freshman race at the Northeast Regional in 2006. He was fourth in the sophomore race a year ago in 16:32.``I remember running at the Foot Locker regional when I was a freshman and seeing Craig Forys and Brandon Jarrett qualify and telling myself that I wanted that to me one day. That was a real driving force for me to get where I am today.’’
Udland, who ran 9:04.80 to win the NJ M of C 3,200 last spring, said consistency in his training has been the key to his success. ``I’ve been between 70-75 mile a week for two to three months now and that has really made me strong. ``Last spring I kind of peaked for the Meet of Champions and my legs were toast in my two races after that, but with my mileage, I think all the strength I’ve built up will prevent that from happening again.''Udland said Northeast champion Solomon Haile of Maryland will be tough to beat.``I think he has to be the favorite,’’ said Udland. ``I tried to go with him when he started to go up the hills after the first mile, but he’s just so strong. And the way he finished it looked like he could have run even harder if he had to. He’s just so good that as long as he doesn’t have any problems during the race, I just don’t see how anyone is going to beat him.’’
 FOUR-TIMER
There is no runner in the girls’ race with more experience in this setting than the Providence-bound Greany(photo left by John Nepolitan). Greany was 38th at nationals as freshman, 19th as a sophomore and 24th a year ago. She qualified this year by running 17:37.7 to place second to Emily Jones of Bromfield, Mass (17:31.1) in the Northeast regional. ``I think the experience will help, but each year I have had a different approach,'' she said. ``This year I'm just going to run and race how I did at the regionals. I'm not going to think about where I should be or who's in front or behind me. A lot can happen from one mile to the other, so I am just going to stay focused and run my own race.’’ Greany knows this is the greatest girls field in meet history with three former champions. Jordan Hasay of Mission College Prep in California (2005), Kathy Kroeger of Independence High in Tennessee (2006), and defending champion Ashley Brasovan of Wellington High School in Florida lead the star-studded cast. Last year, Brasovan was first, Kroeger second and Hasay third. ``Its always a honor to be able to compete with the best girls in the nation. My first year running in this race I was very star-struck, but this year I know I belong in this race and have proven I can run with these girls. This year is going to be very competitive and it's going to be very interesting to see what happens. I think the end of the race will be very fast, it’s the beginning that will be a mystery.’’
Where does Greany see herself?
``With this race it’s pretty packed up until the mile, so I would expect myself to be up near the front, but who knows. I have no idea what’s going to happen. With this race it's so hard to tell. It can be anyone’s race with whoever is in the top group with 800 to go.’’
What advice does Greany have for all the first timers in San Diego?
``No matter how many times you have seen the course it always looks different. The only advice I have is on Friday (the walk through) pay attention to the course and the tangents. When you get in a race at this level, little things make a difference.’’
Greany said her preparation over the last couple weeks hasn’t changed a whole lot.``During the season I run anywhere between 36- 42 miles a week depending on the week. This week will be close to 36 because the hay is already in the barn as my coach would say.’’
What has been the key to Greany’s unbelievable high level of consistency over her career?
``I would say the key to my success is loving to run and having fun while I run. I love to compete and just run without hesitation. I also think not being afraid to lose and not being afraid to be challenged has also played a key in my success.’’
Greany said her preparation over the last couple weeks hasn’t changed a whole lot.
``During the season I run anywhere between 36- 42 miles a week depending on the week. This week will be close to 36 because the hay is already in the barn as my coach would say.’’
 REDEMPTION TIME
Thompson (photo left by John Nepolitan)was not pleased with her regional race (fourth in 18:05.9) as she suffered her first loss of the season. She was expecting to battle Jones to the tape. ``My legs felt tired and I just had an off day’’ Thompson said. ``I’m looking forward to nationals and trying to beat the girls who beat me.’’
Thompson is confident she’ll run well despite a recent illness. ``I was pretty sick from the end of last week and into this week,’’ said Thompson. ``Every year around this time I get strep throat and I was afraid I was getting that again, but that wasn' it. It wound up being something worse than a cold but not as bad as bronchitis. I’ve been able to still workout and I’ve been feeling better each day. I’m confident I’ll be fine for the race.’’Thompson said she’ll take her shot at running up front with the lead pack. ``I’m definitely not looking at this race as just icing on the cake for my season,’’ she said.`` I want to run well, run fast and be happy with the result. I want to try to stick with the top group for as long as I can. Who knows what could happen if I have a really good day. Whoever is feeling better is usually the one that wins a race like this because there are so many runners that have similar talent levels. With this many great runners, it’s the kind of race where you will never be by yourself and have to rely on your competitiveness.’’
Thompson said she plans to get some advice on how to navigate Balboa Park from future Oregon teammate and Foot Locker veteran Nicole Blood. Blood was four-time national qualifier from 2002-05 while at Saratoga Springs in N,Y..``I’ve been talking to Nicole a lot and plan to ask her about the course and stuff,,’’ said Thompson. ``Every little bit helps.’’.This is Thompson's first trip to San Diego. She would have been a favorite to advance last year, but choose to run with her team sineast at the Nike Nationals. ``Last year was great because I got to run with my team in Oregon, but running at Foot Locker is going to be just as special since it's chance to run with the top 40 girls in the country. It’s such a prestigious race and one that everyone dreams about running in.’’
SURPRISE, SURPRISE, 
There’s probably no one who will take the starting line on Saturday more surprised to be there than Laura Vigilante (photo right by John Nepolitan).
The junior at Mendham in NJ wasn’t even sure if she’s make it through the season after a sinus infection halfway through the season curtailed her training for a big portion of October. ``This is all a shock to me because when I was sick in the middle of the season I didn’t even think I’d make it to the state Meet of Champions,’’ said Vigilante. ``And now here I am on my way to San Diego. It’s all so hard to believe.’’ Vigilante had no idea that the Foot Locker nationals even exists until a year ago. ``I didn’t even know what it was until last year when I saw it on televsision,’’ she said. ``I remember wondering how those girls got there. I didn’t even know there was such thing as a qualifying race.’’
Vigilante admits she will be in awe of her surroundings on Saturday. ``It’ll be an honor to take the line with so many well respected and talented runners,’’ she said. ``I’ll just go and run the best I can and see what happens.’’
 NO PAIN, NO GAIN
Competing at the Foot Locker Nationals means so much to Brett Johnson (photo left by John Nepolitan) that he’s determined not to let an injury prevent him from realizing his dream. Johnson sprained his right foot and a ligament in that foot in the early stages of the second mile at the Northeast Regional on his way to an eighth place finish. He was on crutches last week, will board the plane for San Diego wearing a walking boot, had a cortizone shot this past Monday and has run less than a total of three miles since the regional.
But Johnson said he plans to run.``I’ll go there and see how I feel, but I’d have to say right now I’ll probably toe that line in San Diego on Saturday,’’ said Johnson, a 4:08 miler. ``I feel like if I can just get through this race then I can take time off and get healthy.’’ Johnson said he could only run 50 meters last Saturday before stopping becuse the pain was so bad. He ran two miles this past Tuesday, but could only make it 200 meters on Wednesday.``I finally got on that big podium this year to get a trip to San Diego,'' he said.`` This is my senior year and I finally made it to the Foot Locker Nationals. I have to try to run and I expect to be there when the guns goes off. I’ll try to go as hard as I can for as long as I can.’’
DREAM CHASER
Senior Phil Wood (photo right by John Nepolitan), a native of Yardley, Pa. who arrived at Pennington after his sophomore year at La Salle College High in Pennsylvania, has fantasized about running at the Foot Locker Nationals for the past seven years. He wasn’t going to let exercise induced asthma and allergy problems derail his trail to the Golden State. ``I’m ecstatic to be running in San Diego,’’ said Wood. ``I really can’t describe what it means to me. I’ve been watching the Foot Locker race since I was in fifth grade and always had it as a dream of mine to run there someday. ``I’ve had some tough patches over the years, dealing with exercise induced asthma and allergies, but I never stopped believing in myself that I had the ability do this. Over time I learned how to adapt to the asthma with relaxation techniques.''
Wood said he’s alays had the talent, but needed to work on something else to reach his full potential. " I’ve matured a lot since last year and have such a better mental approach,’’ said Wood. ``That’s the difference between last year and this year.Wood isn’t concerned with his place or time. ``I’ll just try to stick my nose up as close to the front as I can and run as hard as I can from start to finish.’’
IN THE CHUTE:
 Ley (photo left by John Nepolitan), a junior at Kingsway, is the only New Jersey runner returning to nationals. She was 18th last year in 18:04. She’s on pace to join legendary Janet Smith of J.P. Stevens (1981-83), Jodie Bilotta of North Hunterdon (1985-87) and Monal Chokshi of Bridgewater (1989-91) as the only three-time qualifiers from N.J.
Cawley a senoir at Newark Valley (NY) this week announced her college plans and will be attending Syracuse in the fall.
The Cornell-bound Kellner, a senior at West Windor South, is the first girl from Mercer County to run at the FL nationals, but is the second runner from her school to run in San Diego. Last year, current Princeton University star Brian Leung of West Windsor South was 15th in the boys race in 15:41. West Windsor South is the sixth school in New Jersey to have a boy and a girl qualify for nationals. North Hunterdon, Hunterdon Central, Haddonfield, Berrnards and Colts Neck are the other five.
Galasso, a senior at Holmdel, is the fifth boy from Monmouth County to qualify for nationals. That’s one behind Hunterdon County for the most by a county in New Jersey.
 There hasn’t been a boys champion from the Northeast Region since Matt Downin of New Hampshire won in 1994 and Abdirizak Mohamud from Massachusetts won in 1996 and 1997. Solomon Haile of Maryland has a great shot at ending that drought.
New York has had three winners, all girls. They are Christine Curtin of Bellmore (1982), Erin Davis of Saratoga Springs (1994) and Aislinn Ryan of Warwick Valley (2004).
New Jersey has crowned two champions. Janet Smith of J.P. Stevens ran 16:43.7, a course record that stood for seven years, when she won in 1983, and Brendan Heffernan of North Hunterdon clocked a 15:13.4 to win in 1992.
George Galasso of Holmdel(NJ) photo left by John Nepolitan
  
Katie Kellner of West Windsor-Plainsboro South(NJ), Aisling Cuffe of Cornwall Central(NY), and Joe Whelan of Hamburg(NY) (photos by John Nepolitan)
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