NB: McDonnell making up lost time

(Pub April 25)
Several weeks ago at the Camden-Gloucester Relays, Kevin McDonnell toed his first high-school race since he suffered a season-ending stress fracture. The injury happened midway through the cross-country season, roughly thereabouts. Ballpark.
"178 days ago I broke my foot," the Camden Catholic senior said after clocking in a 3:19 in the 1,200 leg of the distance medley.
Oh.
For a guy who doesn't lose – McDonnell went the entire season without taking second to a single South Jersey runner – losing time to his competition is devastating, especially as a senior.
The time away hasn't tapered his expectations as McDonnell, who kicked off his revival in late March running a 1,500 unattached in 4:10 at Widener College, had hoped to break 15:20 in a rare 5,000 (12.5 laps) at the Moorestown Invitational two weeks ago.
He won the race in 15:18.68. Haddonfield sophomore Boo Vitez placed in 15:30.85 and one of North Jersey's best, Brick Memorial's Andrew Brodeur, finished a distant third in 15:52.80.
McDonnell has been training since Jan. 9, cutting back on his 85-mile weeks during the fall with 50-mile weeks and punishing workouts, and has occasionally joined Vitez and Haddonfield sophomore Colin Baker on some Sunday runs, none of which, Baker stresses, fall under the category of "Long Slow Distance'.
"Our last two miles can be below 5:20 and that's at the end of a long run. So they're booking it," said Baker, noting the pace is a far cry from the duo's normal stride of 7:00. "We may dip down to 6:30 maybe and then he shows up and he's flying.
"It's what we need but we like giving him a hard time for that."
Reasons for his injury remain unclear and range from wearing the wrong sneakers to running too long or too hard, McDonnell said.
While his shoes and mileage have changed, one look at his performances this spring will tell you his last-race mentality has not.
"It's how I take every race. I just feel anything can happen," McDonnell said at the Cam-Glo Relays. "This could've been my last race, so why not run as hard as I can?"

Cool Running
Some athletes make a name for themselves by performing at a high level. Others don't even have to do that.
Then there are others with the full package: creative guardians, crazy talent and cool names.
For those of us you who repeat certain names to yourself just for the fun of it, here's a list of track stars that should keep you occupied. Remember them, but then again, I don't think you'll have much of a choice:

Dustin Roadside – If this Egg Harbor Township freshman ever makes it as a rock star, if that's his thing, he's already got a leg up over such bland stage acts as John Cougar Mellancamp, Jon Bon Jovi , Sting and – dare I say it – Meatloaf. No identity crisis here.
While the name may conjure up tumbleweeds blowing over the old Route 66, Roadside, the long-distance runner, crosses the line much faster, blowing by Vineland and Oakcrest runners last week in both the 1,600 (4:33) and 3,200 (10:40).
The freshman was arguably the major difference between the Eagles leaving the crucial tri-meet with two wins instead of two losses.

Xavier Fraction – Although his parents were dissuaded from naming the Washington Township junior "Damian" after watching a horror movie, Fraction still turned out to be a speed demon.
"I'm the only Xavier in my school," he said. "It's cool to have a name all to myself."
While the Minutemen have won many meets by a Fraction, the team's go-to anchor leg – known sometimes as "X-man" or just "X" to his teammates and coaches – led off his distance medley relay team at last Saturday's Woodbury Relays, running the 1,200 in 3:13 to help his team win the Group 4 relay in 10:35.9.

Major Mobley – Most majors earn their title after many pushups, pinups and buzz cuts. This Cherokee junior elevated through the ranks and achieved such status Day 1 in the crib.
Elevate is the operative word since Mobley, alongside Chris Steliga, has given the Chiefs one of the best jumping tandems in South Jersey.
Mobley was key in a dual meet win over Washington Township this month and had later teamed with Steliga to set a new triple-jump meet record (81-5) at the Hall of Fame Relays.

Boo Vitez – The name "Boo" may sound odd, if not ironic, for a light, curly haired distance runner, but that hasn't stopped anyone from calling the Haddonfield sophomore just that.
Although his birth certificate reads as Jonathan, Vitez is known to family, friends and foes as Boo, a nickname even he can't explain. Scary talented as one of South Jersey's best 3,200 runners already, having had won the Indoor Group 1 title this past winter, Vitez is a name that may linger in legacy long after he's gone (to school).

James Brown – Contrary to belief, the Glassboro junior got his name from his dad, not from the godfather of soul.
And yet the Brown continues to be the heart and soul of his team, powering the 18th-ranked Bulldogs past defending champ Penns Grove 76-64 Wednesday by winning the 100 (10.7), the 200 (22.6) and the 4x400 (3:32.5).
Penns Grove was without star sprinter Aaron Hayward, who reportedly pulled a hamstring at the Woodbury Relays last Saturday.

Chasing Steeples
Haddon Heights junior Colin Lynch doesn't shy away from challenges, even odd ones.
"It is a goofy race," Lynch said. "It's like the hardest distance race and the hardest sprinting race put together. It's weird. Thank God there's no water pit."
If 'goofy' or 'weird' didn't clue you in, Lynch is of course referring to the steeplechase, a race he was introduced to last Saturday at the Woodbury Relays.
Lynch learned on the go how to approach the 3,000-meter event lined with hurdles, winning in an impressive 9:56.9.
"First two legs were easy," he said. "It wasn't that tall, you're nice and rested, but then it just got harder and harder. I'm not used to that.
"Three laps to go it was just murder. I didn't know what I was doing basically. I'd either hop off it or hurdle it basically. It was different every time. But as long as I got over it, it was good."

Marathon
Former Shawnee runner Adam Ambrus was the top South Jersey finisher at last Sunday's Boston Marathon, finishing 53rd out of more than 20,000 entrants in 2:29.44.
The 2001 graduate ran the first 13.2 miles in 1:15:39 and averaged a 5:43 mile pace throughout.
Before leaving for the University of Maryland, Ambrus ran a personal-best 16:13.51 at Holmdel Park, the cross-country championship site, as a senior.