Peter Meindl still undefeated in 2001
by John Dye
The pace was slower than Orchard Park NY sr Peter
Meindl wanted, so he was higher than he wanted to be after a mile
in 4:45 (6th instead of 15th). "In the second mile (woods and
hills), the leaders started falling back and I kept the same pace,
so I moved up gradually."
1. Peter Meindl NY
|
2. Jon Pierce NY
|
Meindl took the lead from PA's Dan Mazzocco at about
the 2-mile mark and then he felt sure he would win. "I just
wanted to qualify, but once I got the lead I wanted to win. I kept
an eye out for the kickers (such as Brendan Fennell), but they didn't
come."
Meindl was the New York PHSAA state champion, but
skipped the New York Federation meet won by Brian Dalpiaz last week.
He explained that both the Federation meet (Wappingers Falls on
the Hudson near West Point) and the Northeast regional are a 7-8
hour drive from his home in Orchard Park near Rochester, and he
didn't want that long a drive two weekends in a row. "If the
Federation meet were closer to home, I would have run."
at 1200 meters (photo by Boucher)
the finish
3. Andy Weilacher PA
|
4. Mint Henk VT
|
5. Brian Dalpiaz NY
|
6. Marc Pelerin NJ, 7. Tony Truax NH
New Jersey champion Marc Pelerin was in the
top 10 going into the woods after the first mile.
"I didn't want to get sucked in by the pace. So I waited until
the stretch and then kicked like Hell," Pelerin said
Pelerin told Don Rich he could steal the race next week in Orlando
"Last week (NJ Meet of Champions) there was pressure, but this
week there was much more pressure. Last year I only had NJ to compete
with, and I knew I was stronger than them. Here the weather's been
crazy. The mud. Everyone having good days. Or missing races to get
ready for this.
"It strung out after the mile. And then Meindl
took off, so I just tried to stay with two through five, and it
strung out even more. I don't feel I've been
racing that hard. At states I cruised. I didn't race conferences.
I went hard at sections. But I haven't really raced hard yet. I've
only had eight or nine races. I mean I really ready to go. I'm a
lot fresher than last year.
"I don’t feel any pressure (going into
the national finals). I don't expect to lose. I still want to go
in trying to win. There's no Dathan Ritzenhein this year. I mean
there's good guys, but it's really wide open. If I have a good race,
I
could steal it if it's my day."
8. Ben Stern MD
Awards - Northeast team applauds introduction
of Peter Meindl, who was out cooling down
More boys top 15 photos
Foot Locker Northeast
|
