PERU — Dan Lennon's remarkable career in distance running for cross country and track and field began on a typical day his sophomore year.
During gym class at Peru, Lennon ran a mile in less than 5 minutes, 30 seconds.
"I thought I should start taking up distance running," Lennon said with a laugh.
He did just that in indoor and outdoor track and field and switched his fall sport from football to cross country. It didn't take long for him to excel.
Since then, Lennon has achieved extraordinary success.
In two years of cross country, he never lost a Section VII race. Lennon finished second in the NYSPHSAA Class B championships as a junior and went back as a senior to grab first. He set the Section VII outdoor 3,200 record as a junior.
Lennon has shown the ability to compete and flourish at the local, state and national levels, finishing second in the Foot Locker Northeast Regionals and 21st in the event's championships in the fall.
And now he will be taking his talents to Syracuse University. Flanked by his parents and coaches, Lennon signed his National Letter of Intent in the Peru High School auditorium Tuesday in front of students and faculty, who gave him a loud round of applause when he had finished thanking everyone for their support.
Lennon will run distance events for the Orange's cross country and track teams.
He said he was deciding between Syracuse, Iona and Wisconsin.
"(Syracuse is) a really great, young program right now," Lennon said. "I loved the team when I went on the visit. Actually, the guy that was my host, he's been texting me like all the time, like asking me how I've done on races and stuff. So it just helps to see there's a lot of support amongst the team."
He also lauded the school's academics, and he said he plans to major in public policy.
The Syracuse cross country team, under the helm of Chris Fox, captured consecutive Big East titles in 2009 and 2010. The Orange, however, will be making a switch to the Atlantic Coast Conference in 2014.
Fox also coaches track. The 2011 outdoor season featured the most athletes (four) to qualify for the NCAA Championships during Fox's tenure.
Lennon began running indoor track as a freshman, but he started to take the sport seriously and blossomed as a sophomore in the outdoor season.
As a sophomore, Lennon set the school record for the 3,200. He had a memorable battle with then-Seton Catholic star Mike Champagne in the state qualifier, finishing second. Lennon went on to finish eighth at the state meet.
His junior year was nothing short of dominant. Lennon won every Section VII cross country race he competed in and finished second in the NYSPHSAA Class B championship.
His capped his indoor season that year with a second-place finish in the Emerging Elite 2-Mile Run at the New Balance Indoor National Track and Field Championships.
When the outdoor track season rolled around, Lennon set a new Section VII record (9:07.52) in the 3,200, breaking the mark held by Ticonderoga's Lee Berube. Lennon captured victories in the 800, 1,600 and 3,200 in the Section VII Track and Field Championships and grabbed first in the 1,600 and 3,200 in the state qualifier.
At the state championships, Lennon placed second in the Division II 3,200 despite losing a shoe several laps in. He finished fifth in the Division II 1,600. He took 16th in the 3,200 at the New Balance Track and Field Outdoor Nationals.
This past cross country season, Lennon once again dominated local competition on his way to winning a state title.
His next task is the Section VII Indoor Track and Field Championships Saturday.
Peru outdoor coach Mike Francia and cross country coach Alison Provost said they knew Lennon had natural talent when he first started running.
"The first goal was to make states, and he got there and saw what kind of level was there and was like, 'I have to raise the bar again,'" said Francia, who has also been helping Lennon train outside of the outdoor season. "And he's kept doing it year after year until he's broken in on the national level.
"He hasn't reached his full potential, yet," Provost said.
Lennon's parents, Dan and Betsy, sat on either side of their son as he signed his letter. It was a bittersweet moment for the pair.
"I'm kind of emotional because I'm basically turning him over to Chris Fox, and he will tell him when to eat, breathe and sleep," Betsy said laughing and then paused for a moment to correct herself. "Eat, run and sleep. I'm proud of him; it's just a little overwhelming."
Email Ryan Hayner at: rhayner@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
