By STEPHEN MAZZONE
Photos by Scott Mason (REALLY GOOD!)
Neely Spence stood on the stage near the finish line with a medal draped around her neck. She had every reason to smile.
Since a stress fracture cut short her dreams of competing at the U.S. Olympic Trials this past spring, Spence made her boldest statement on Sunday morning that her injury is now safely behind her. The 22-year-old former high school phenom from Pennsylvania and Shippensburg University claimed the runner-up spot at the CVS Caremark Downtown 5K in Providence, R.I., a race that also served as the U.S. Championships.
Spence blazed to a fast clocking of 15 minutes, 33.7 seconds for the new five-kilometer layout. U.S. Olympian and 5K outdoor American record-holder Molly Huddle, who resides in the host city, captured the individual title with a winning time of 15:29.9. Liz Maloy of Washington, D.C., was third at 15:36.7.
“There are so many great athletes out there,” said Spence, who collected a total of $5,000 for her placement, including $3,000 for her U.S. finish. “I was so excited to come out here and race with these girls. I have watched them compete all summer long. They have been doing wonderful. I knew they would set up a race that would really test my ability.”
“My goal was just to hang with the lead group and just see what I can do,” she continued. “I just wanted to try and stay as relaxed as possible and be one of the last leaves on the tree.”
The CVS event was only one of a few races for Spence in 2012. Her year was shortchanged since suffering a broken foot while competing in a cross-country race in Edinburg, Scotland back in January during her final season at Shippensberg, where she won eight NCAA Division II individual titles, including cross-country crowns in 2010 and 2011.
Her injury derailed any chance of competing in the U.S. Trials where she was hoping to have a strong showing in the 5,000 meters.
“The injury took a really long time to heal,” said Spence, a 4:48 miler in high school and winner of the two mile at the 2008 Nike Outdoor Nationals. ”Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to come back until May and start running again. I had to forego the Trials because I just wasn’t ready for it. I am so excited to be back to racing. It’s been a long haul back, but my training has been going better than ever. I think I was able to work on some weaknesses during that time that I was injured.”
Spence, who had been coached since her youth as a home-schooled teenager by her father, Steve Spence, the 1991 IAAF World Championships marathon bronze medalist, recently took her talents to Michigan where she hooked up with the successful Hanson-Brooks Distant Project. She feels that has enhanced her progression.
Spence currently logs about 80 miles a week and incorporates a steady weight-lifting routine.
“I signed a contract with my agent Ray Flynn in December,” she said. “It took the winter and the time that I had being injured to look into the different coaches and the groups that are out there to see what would be a good fit that would match with my training.”
Spence’s appearance at CVS was not her first time in New England this summer. She was in Cape Cod last month, toeing the line with some of the country’s best at the New Balance Falmouth Road Race.
She finished 11th among women and third American with a time of 37:52 for the 7.1-mile distance that stretches from Woods Hole to Falmouth Heights.
“It was twice as long as I have ever run before,” Spence said. “It went well. I had been doing strength work going into it. It was more go out there and stay comfortable the first half and see where I am at the second half. It really set my season up well. I had a real positive experience. That helped me get excited for this race.”
Spence, who is getting married on New Year’s Eve to Dillon Gracey, a former teammate at Shippenburg and the school’s current assistant coach, is looking forward to competing in more road races in the coming months. She’s also enjoying life as a professional athlete.
“I just want to take it one race at a time and have some solid training in between,” she said. “It’s great. It was so nice not having to go back to class this fall. I am loving my new routine. I am really enjoying my team in Michigan. It’s been a great transition.”