CALEDONIA — Dan Lennon turned in the top performance among local boys at the NYSPHSAA Track and Field Championships.
He couldn't help but wonder how he would've done with both shoes on.
Lennon, a junior from Peru, clocked 9 minutes, 9.37 seconds to place second in Division II (small schools) and fifth overall in the 3,200 meters at Caledonia-Mumford High School.
Someone stepped on the back of his right shoe, and with it half on and half off, he had to kick it away and run in his sock.
Lennon led the first three laps of the eight-lap race —he said he was "feeling perfect" — but when the shoe started coming off, he slipped back.
"If only ...," Lennon said, pausing for a second. "Well, everything happens for a reason, I guess. I guess I'll just have to wait until next year."
He was one of four North Country boys to reach the podium Friday by placing in the top six in their division. Lennon earned a second medal for his top-six Federation (overall) finish.
He had fallen back to sixth place by the end of the sixth lap but surged back into the top three by the seventh lap. He couldn't hold his position at the end.
The second seed, Lennon had a specific strategy for the race in hopes of edging top-seeded Chad Noelle of Greene.
But the plan went out the window after the footwear glitch.
"I was thinking, 'I came here to win, so I'm not just going to run off the track," Lennon said. "I'm like, 'I don't know if I can win, but I just have to try as hard as I can.'
"So I put in the rest of my effort, got my right leg a little bit of a workout."
Noelle crossed the line in 8:59.03 to claim the Division II title and place second overall.
Friday wasn't the first time Lennon has faced extra obstacles in an important race. He ran his seed time of 9:07.52 while enduring strep throat, and he said his shoe came untied during two other big meets this year.
Devon Anderson's only impediment was rain, which started partway through the Division II discus throw. The Beekmantown senior said that made the pavement slippery, causing throwers to lose power. But he tossed the disc 143 feet, 4 inches to take third.
He went into the competition with the 10th-best distance.
"I felt confident that I was going to move up a couple spots, and I moved up more than I expected," he said. "This is the best I've ever thrown at states. I haven't ever thrown very well, but this year went better than usual."
Franklin Academy's Harvey Smith surprised himself by placing third in the Division I 400 dash — he was the 13th seed and thought maybe he could finish sixth or seventh.
"The first turn was fast for me, and then I coasted and I just tried kicking," the sophomore said, adding that unlike in most of his races, he came out of the blocks well. "The start was very good in that one. Surprisingly. I don't know how I did that."
His time of 49.17 was a personal record by almost one second and qualified him for today's Federation final.
Peru junior Shawn Hendrix didn't quite reach his goal in the triple jump, but he made the podium for the first time at the state meet — in an event he just started this season.
Hendrix, who went in seeded third in Division II, placed fourth with a leap of 43-5½.
"I've never been on the podium before, so that's exciting," he said. "I wasn't close to my (personal record). Could've done a lot better. But I gave it my all, so I can't really complain."
Hendrix competed at the 2010 state meet in the pentathlon, but he tried the triple jump this season and plans to stick with it next year.
Saranac's 400 relay team of Brandon Bushey, Casey Jackson, Jake Martindale and Micah Patterson was seventh, clocking 3:28.14. The Chiefs' Corey Duval (47-4) took 10th in the shot put.
Jay Hebert of Ticonderoga made today's Division II 110 hurdles finals by registering 15.16, the fifth-best time.
Lennon will also compete again today. The 1,600 is his weaker race, so he said his plan is just to go for the best time he can get.
With any luck at all, he'll cross the line wearing both shoes.
"That would be a plus," he said with a smile.
Email Courtney Lewis at: clewis@pressrepublican.com
Police: 5-time Champ Johnny Tapia Found Dead
Native Americans' Olympic Medals Displayed in DC
Manning on Target at First Practice
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Relay Begins in England
Raw Video: Olympic Torch Passed to London
Selig: Oakland Move Might Be Considered
McNamee: Clemens, Canseco Had Steroids Talk
Laurie Fine: My Life Has Been Destroyed
MLB: Mets Get 2013 All Star Game
Bernie Fine's Wife to Sue ESPN
Kyrie Irving Named NBA's Top Rookie
McNamee Says He Gave Clemens Steroids in 1998
Phelps Looks to Add to Medal Haul in London
Raw Video: McNamee Arrives at Clemens Trial
Bulls Bounced From Playoffs
Former NFL Star Junior Seau Found Dead
NFL Suspends 4 Players for Saints' Bounties
Reigning U.S. Champ Eying Olympic Gold in London
Knicks Fans Disappointed in Stoudemire
