Lennon second in Foot Locker NE Regionals

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November 28, 2011

Anonymous Press-Republican The Press Republican Mon Nov 28, 2011, 02:23 AM EST

KINGS PARK — Dan Lennon's short but stellar high school cross country career will continue on for another race.

Lennon, a senior at Peru, finished second in the boys' race at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional Saturday at Sunken Meadow State Park Saturday.

Lennon crossed the finish line in 15:45.4 and, as one of the top-10 finishers, qualified for the Foot Locker National Championships Saturday, Dec. 10, at Balboa Park in San Diego.

"I'm really excited," Lennon said.

Last year, Lennon finished 60th out of 189 runners in the regional race as a junior in his first year running cross country. He took what he learned last year and applied it to Saturday's race.

He said he got off to a slow start last year, and in a race with as many runners — 152 for the seeded-boys race this year — a faster pace from the beginning was important.

"I knew I had to get out stronger," Lennon said. "I got myself into position for that instead of letting every one else take a lead."

Edward Cheserek, a junior at St. Benedict's Prep. in New Jersey, finished first and broke the course record in 15:20.

Angel Piccirillo of Homer City, Pa. won the girls' race in 18:01.

Lennon said the most difficult part of the course at Sunken Meadow State Park is a hill referred to as "Cardiac Hill."

He said training on a hill by the Mother Cabrini Shrine in Peru helped him prepare. That hill, he said, was used by former Peru cross country standout Joshua McDougal.

McDougal took fourth in the 2003 national race to earn first-team All-American honors.

Lennon's trip to the national race, and for all top -10 regional finishers, is paid for by Foot Locker. The top 15 to finish in the national race are named All-Americans.

"My gain goal is to get All-American this year," he said. "Hopefully I can get in there. Another goal is to get top three, as crazy as that sounds."

Mike Francia, a volunteer coach at Peru who has worked with Lennon all season long, said the senior is a hard worker.

"There are very few kids who will set these high goals and achieve them, and he's one who did," Francia said.

The race, which will begin at 1 p.m. (Eastern time), will be streamed live at www.footlockercc.com.

Saranac's Josh Wade, who finished fourth in the Boys' Freshman Race last season, finished 25th in the Boys' Sophomore race.

Saranac's Tracy Rush placed 25th in the race for senior-class girls.