Top runners compete in Elite Mile

Katie Weiler ’13
Sports Editor

THE ELITE MEET

One mile. 1609 meters. Five and one-third laps around Grand Valley State University’s indoor track.

Goals were high and doubts were nonexistent.

“My main goal going into the race was just to win and put down a solid time,” explained Connor Mora ‘13.

The Gazelle Sports Elite Meet took place on Saturday, Feb. 16 at Grand Valley State University. The top nine long jumpers, hurdlers, and dash finalists received an elite meet shirt. The top 15 milers in the state for men and women were also present, adding prestige to the 2nd annual Elite Mile. Cedar Springs had two representatives: Mora and Kenzie Weiler ’15.

Mora’s personal best time in the mile ranked him first by over ten seconds, making him the clear favorite going into the race.

“My goal was to improve from last year’s place and time,” commented Weiler. “[Also] to show people I could keep up with the best in Michigan.”

The race doubled as a marker for their training efforts this winter. Both agree that they are performing at a higher level than at the event last year. This is also a confidence booster going into their next workouts because it shows that their hard work is paying off.

As for the outcome, Mora defended his Elite Mile title with a 4:15.05, six seconds ahead of second place.

“The hardest part was probably the last 200 meters,” said Mora.

Weiler passed three girls in the final lap to place sixth with a time of 5:03.23. The finish was not the most difficult part of the race for her.

“[It was] thirty seconds in the middle of the race when it wasn’t the beginning or end and I just had to keep my pace and keep with the girls,” explained Weiler.

LOOKING AHEAD

Being part of the best in the state means more than doing well at races. The runners must look ahead and set their goals for the coming races.

“My goal for indoor state is to break 5:00 for the 1600m,” comments Weiler. “It is a goal that I have wanted for two and a half years.”

Weiler will be running the 1600m run at the Michigan Indoor Track Series State Championship. The event will take place at Central Michigan University on Saturday, Feb. 23. After that, outdoor track begins in March, and she is prepared to chase down her goals for the season.

“I want to improve on my PR’s and school records from last season and place higher at state than I did last year,” said Weiler.

Forgoing the state meet, Mora has accepted a special invitation to the Brooks PR meet in Seattle, Washington. He will race the mile on Sunday, Feb. 24 against some of the best boys in the nation. His race will be aired on a live stream at 6:35 PST on www.flotrack.org.

“I’d like to run a fast time at Brooks PR and finish near the top of the pack,” said Mora. “For outdoor, I would like to win state again and get in the low four minutes.”

Emerging Elite: Connor Mora ’13 and Kenzie Weiler ’15 wearing their Elite Meet shirts. They performed extremely well against the elite fields. Photo by Julie Weiler

Mora finishes XC career in California sun

The Final Countdown: Connor Mora ’13 is introduced along with his accomplishments. He jogged to the start to join his regional team.

Katie Weiler ’13
Sports Editor

All-conference, all-area, all-region, all-state, conference champion, regional champion, state champion, Mr. Cross Country, Foot Locker National Finalist. Those are a few of the things Connor Mora ’13 accomplished during his senior cross country season. The most recent is qualifying and competing at the Foot Locker National Championships this past weekend.

The Foot Locker National Championship consists of ten girls and ten boys from each of the four regions in the U.S., adding up to a total of 40 boys and 40 girls competing in the races. In order to qualify, a runner must place in the top ten at regionals. Once they qualify, they are flown out to San Diego, California, for an all-expenses-paid trip to race at nationals. Many runners become professional in the years after this race, proving that it is the most prestigious field of high school runners in the nation.

It was a chilly 28 degrees when Mora ran to an eighth place finish at the Foot Locker Midwest Regional in Kenosha, Wisconsin on Nov. 24. For nationals on Saturday, Dec. 8, the temperature was hovering around 70 degrees with clear skies and sun at race time.

“There’s not much you can do about the temperature change and not a ton you can do to train for it,” comments Mora. “I actually enjoyed it a lot; it’s great getting to run in warmer weather again.”

In preparation for the event, Mora trained specifically for the national course. The 5K course is made up of a loop the elites run twice. There is grass and dirt throughout the course, with a steep hill that they run up and circle around before coming down a long, steep downhill.

“I’ve run a lot of hills practicing my downhill for the big downhill on the course,” explains Mora.

Along with the physical preparation comes the mental preparation and focus that is essential in the competitive atmosphere. The elite runners Mora competed against included the defending Foot Locker national champion, the 2012 Nike Cross Nationals champion, numerous state champions, and other boys with impressive track and cross country credentials leading into the race.

“It [took] a lot of focus,” expresses Mora. “Getting ready, knowing that you’re not going into the race being the best one, that you’re racing the best of the best.”

Each runner was introduced by name and accomplishments before they jogged to the start line, confirming that any one of the 40 boys had a shot at the crown. After all of the runners were introduced, the boys lined up by region on the start line. This is when it hit Mora that this race is a special event to be a part of.

“This is the biggest race I have ever run in my life,” recalls Mora. “It’s a pretty awesome experience and an honor to compete out in California against the best guys.”

Mora got into a good starting position after the gun went off. He did not have a strategy going into the race because he knew anything could happen in the fast field of guys. He instead went in with an open mind, ready to adjust to anything. This allowed Mora to run to a 29th place finish with a time of 15:58 on the tough course.

“I wasn’t 100% satisfied (with my time and place), but I was satisfied with the experience that it gave me and the opportunity to learn a little bit more about racing at this level,” explains Mora. “Overall, I was satisfied with everything I took away from it.”

Mora is in the process of deciding on a college to continue his running career. He has taken official visits during the cross country season.

“Right now I am still undecided,” says Mora. “I have narrowed it down to a few colleges, but have yet to decide.”

As for his accomplishments this season, Mora humbly credits others for helping him get to where he wanted to go. “Without the support that I have had and my team, my coach, my parents, and all of my friends; my successes would not have happened. I am really thankful for all of them.”

Working Hard: Connor Mora ’13 running at the Foot Locker National Championships. He placed 29th in the elite field.