As part of the Hoka One Future Stars program, MileSplit is highlighting some of the top underclass cross country runners throughout the country. Our next profile will feature sophomore Connor McMenamin of Souderton. McMenamin had a sensational sophomore season, finishing in the top 31 at the AAA state cross country championships, and as the 3rd sophomore in the race. He also earned four top five finishes in a row and outside of the state meet, he never finished worse than 11th in any competition. McMenamin looks back at a great season and looks ahead at his track prospects.
1. Tell us how you got involved in competitive running.
I got involved in competitive running in 7th grade when I joined the track team at Indian Crest Middle School. Before then I really had no experience with track or cross country. Prior to running track in 7th grade I played soccer in my community league and swam during the winter and summer in Souderton. My mother suggested I give track a try as she felt that I was a pretty fast runner and she thought I would enjoy it. She was right!
2. What were some of your expectations heading into your first season?
I was not sure what to expect going into my freshman year. Before summer training, I had, at the time, never ran a 5K race before in my life and the furthest I ever ran for competition was the 800m, where I knew I had some speed because my 8th grade personal best was a 2:13. So I just wanted to see how I would do and go in with an open mind. I was hoping to be competitive and to be one of the top freshman at Souderton. It was only after my first couple of 5k’s that I realized I had a chance to run varsity and to be competitive with the upper classmen.
3. Talk about the one race that gave you the belief that you could be really good at running.
The 2013 freshman race at the Centaur Invitational hosted by DeSales University was when I thought for the first time that I could do really well in my freshman season and the rest of my career at Souderton. I went into the meet just wanting to run with the top group of freshman to see where I would place. My personal record at that time was 18:10. At the Centaur I lowered my PR to a 17:49 and finished in third place. This really amped me up to go out and to work harder. My coaches were very excited because I ran a pretty decent time on a difficult course that has some tough switchback hills. My teammates were also very supportive and gave me a lot of encouragement to keep going out and lowering my PR from there.
4. Which season do you enjoy the most (cross country, indoor, outdoor) and why?
I really like all three seasons, but if I had to choose only one I would say that I like spring track the most. I am really in to statistics and checking out what everyone is running. Even though cross country is fun in outdoor track it is so much easier to compare times, athletes, and scores between teams. The progression of lowering my time has a greater feeling of success during track because all races are run on identical courses, rather than different terrain and hills, which makes comparing runners in cross country more difficult.
5. Which is my favorite cross country course and why?
My favorite cross country course has to be the Parkview Course at Poop-Out Hill in Hershey, PA. While I have only ran once on the course, at states earlier this year, it is the textbook definition of a cross country course because it has the perfect combination of terrain (uphill, downhill, and straight-a-ways) and is a course that is rewarding and yet unforgiving at the same time. I was thrilled with my 31st place finish in my first state championship meet and I am looking forward to going back to states next year and lowering my time from 16:35.
6. Which is you favorite track event and why?
I really enjoy the 3200. The 3200 meter is a race that has plenty of speed and distance, but is also a very tactical race that requires perfectly placed surges and precise pacing of one’s self to be able to win or succeed in a superb fashion.
7. How do your coaches help you with each step in your progression? How did they keep the sport fun? How did they take the pressure off?
Both of my coaches, Mr. Donahue and Mr. Klimovich, have truly assisted in my progression throughout my time at Souderton by adding a combination of quantity and quality throughout our training. Their insight and guidance has helped me improve my times from last year by training smarter and at the same time harder.
My coaches are pretty easy going and so all of our seasons have a light and loose feel to them, making the sport of running truly entertaining. The stories that Mr. Donahue has (from 16 or so seasons of being a head coach) are extremely funny and some of his stories just sound too good to be true. In a corresponding manner to the funny stories told by Mr. Donahue, our assistant head coach, Mr. Klimovich, can be very funny as well. He is very supportive of all the guys on the team and he often has great advice right before we go out on the course. Normally he is the one to “stir the pot” of craziness that erupts from the cross country and track teams.
Both coaches take the pressure off our team going out and being successful, as they are very supportive and at the same time reassuring to us, typically by telling the team that everything is going to turn out the way you want it to if you worked hard for it and want it seriously.
8. What is your interactions like with your teammates since your early success?
My teammates have been great. My interactions with the guys on the team does not feel any different now than they were our first day together freshman year. My teammates have really come to appreciate my attitude towards becoming a better individual runner, and I think this is because we all work very hard to support each other and to become a better team first, and better individual runners second. Our team has a large sophomore class and we have all been improving our times. I think we will be really competitive in the next several years.
9. How do you handle the expectations that get placed on you each season?
I enthusiastically agree to take on the expectations that are placed upon me from my teammates, schoolmates, and coaches. I just go out and do what is needed; I don’t worry too much about expectations. I know I am only human and will not always reach every goal, every time out, especially because we run in a very competitive league (Suburban One League - Continental), which has teams like North Penn and Central Bucks West and great runners such as Jake Brophy and Casey Comber, but I just keep getting out there and work hard to keep lowering my times and supporting my teammates.
10. What were you goals for the 2014-15 year? How successful were you in reaching them?
Qualifying for AAA States was probably the biggest goal I had for the cross country season, which I accomplished. Along the way I also broke the 16-minute 5K mark, which was another goal that I wanted to go out and conquer. I fell a little short of my goal of a top 25 spot at States, but I had a very successful season. I still have goals to accomplish, for myself and also for my team. Some goals include going to States for both Indoor and Outdoor Track and running a sub-9:15 two-mile in the spring. As for a team goal I would like to see Souderton challenge for Suburban One League Team title in track and maybe even in cross country before I graduate. Our team has a lot of talent and our 4x800m Relay has a really great chance to qualify for Districts this coming spring. If we all stay healthy, work hard, and do well in school I really think we can achieve these goals.
