Running stride for stride with Olympic Gold medalist Maria Mutola could have been unnerving for recent Easton grad Chanelle Price. After all, it was 650 meters into the biggest 800 of her young career, and Price had been in her trademark position since the cut-in off the waterfall start – the lead.
"It was a little nerve-wracking" Price said this week a few days after her US#2 all-time 2:01.61 at the Prefontaine Classic. But Price didn't back down, and stayed with Mutola through much of the final curve.
Photos by Victah Sailor - PhotoRun.net
It was the furthest Price had gone with the lead in a race with this level of competition. In last year's USATF Championships, where Price raced all three rounds before placing 7th in the finals... she had been caught and passed at the 600 meter mark.
Pre was different. All week and weekend, her coach, Ken Abney, had encouraged her to act like she belonged. And Price did her best to fit in. After all, last year's US Champs rounds had given her valuable experience with the pros. A few of the pros had even given her encouraging words after each race.
And at this winter's USATF Indoor Championships, when Price had fallen off the pace early and did not advance to the finals, those same pros would remind her that she did belong... and that everyone has a bad race. She found the words comforting. But she redoubled her efforts in training, and when she popped a solo 2:02.90 to win the PA state title and break a meet record held by all-time prep best Kim Gallagher, and a Federation record held by Joetta Clark, her confidence was peaking at the right time.
But nearly two weeks later, Price found herself sitting within a few feet of Mutola at dinner before Prefontaine. And on Sunday, the day of the meet, Price again found herself looking for a corner to make camp as she prepared for the race. Again, she walked by the pros - Nicole Teeter, Alice Schmidt, Hazel Clark-Riley, and the icon of the event, Mutola. "This is not Shippensburg," Price says she was thinking.
Price reminded herself that she did belong with this group. "We found our own spot. I listened to my music, and kept to myself."
Abney had told her that she would have the lead at 400 if she came through in 57-58. She did.
And he told her she would still be in the lead at 600 if she came through in 1:28. She did.
"I thought they would come by me at 600, but at 650, I still had the lead, I just prayed I could keep it" Price said.
Mutola was the first to go by. Then Clark. Then Schmidt. "But last year, they took over at 600. I actually stuck with them to 700." Price continued, "I'm getting close. It's how I wanted to run the race, even if it's not the time. I really wanted two minutes. So, yes, it's a little disappointing."
But Price says that the race was immensely fun. "This time I felt a lot stronger. I felt the best I've ever felt. I tried to pump my arms, stay on my toes and relax," Price said. "I have to get a little stronger. But at least this time, the pain didn't start until 775 meters."
After the race, Price says she was congratulated by most of the pros. "Hazel (Clark) gave me a hug. And Alice (Schmidt) always talks to me. She said 'way to run with heart', Price shared.
Price wanted to meet Mutola, but the opportunity never was there. But the post-race was almost as much fun as the race itself. "Little kids were asking me for my autograph. And it was cool to hear it announced for the #2 all-time."
Price will not race in either Nike Outdoor Nationals to defend her title, or in the the USATF Junior Outdoor Championships this weekend, to focus instead, on the Olympic Trials the following weekend.
Her 2:01.61 now ranks her #5 on the US list. And the additional experience and success in Pre will help her as she prepares for what she hopes are her three best races of the year.
But don't necessarily expect to see Price in the lead. "I can't go out in 57 or 58 in every round. I don't want the rounds to kill me," Price says. "But I'll do what my coach tells me."
Her coach told her to act like she belonged at Pre. And Price did exactly that.
