Kelly Martin was her typical vocal self at Saturday's Nike
Cross Nationals Northeast Regionals.
The La Salle Academy coach could be heard loud and clear throughout the girls' race, yelling words of encouragement to her runners as they traversed the demanding 5K layout at New York's Bowdoin Park. Would it provide that extra mental boost her squad would need to the finish?
With less than a mile left, it was anybody's guess who would be the teams that would secure the necessary top-two placements to earn a berth to next week's Nationals in Oregon.One thing was clear, Pennsbury (PA) had the team title wrapped up. But the runner-up position was was tight between the Rams, Coe Brown Academy (NH) and Unionville (PA).
"I was definitely very nervous," she said. "I didn't know what to expect."
The expected nail-biter materialized during the late stages of the race with a mere seven points separating the trio at the finish. In the end, though, it was Martin and her Rams that punched their ticket to NXN in Portland next Saturday for the second straight year. Pennsbury cruised to the team crown with just 59 points. La Salle tied with Unionville with 125 points, and earned the coveted second-place position based on the finish of their sixth runner.
That all-important person on Saturday was sophomore Allyson Walsh, who was 52nd overall in 19 minutes, 59 seconds.
"I knew it was very tight between four teams. I am just so happy. I am actually really relieved to find out that we came in second,"Martin said. "These girls worked so hard throughout the season and the summer. I am glad they get to experience this. It's a once in a lifetime experience. Nike does an amazing job. I am happy and thrilled for them."
One has to believe that this squad, the state and New England champion, has the ability to match
(or exceed) last year's team that finished ninth at
the Nationals after earning an at-large bid. La Salle took second on Saturday, despite not running to its full capability.
It was still a courageous effort for the Rams against the stiffest of competition. But Martin and her team admitted it could have been a lot better. Leading the way for the Rams was senior Eliza Rego, who was 16th overall with a time of 19:06.20. Sophomore Grace Connolly was 20th at 19:20.60.
Just 52 seconds separated La Salle's top six runners - Rego, Connolly, senior Karina Taveres (34th, 19:40.60), sophomore Emily Kane (35th, 19:40.90), senior Audrey O'Neil (50th, 19:59.0) and Walsh.
"Our team didn't really have a great start," Rego said. "We probably had most of our problems there. The first mile is all uphill, so that was definitely tough. It was a little slippery. It wasn't the best for our team, though."
"Our sixth man saved the day," Martin added. "It's our pack. I told them our pack was going to save us today. We need to do a better job a little bit up front. I know Eliza is stronger than that. Karina is stronger than her performance today. But it was our pack that saved us. I am just really happy that they packed it in. To win on a sixth man is craziness."