Tuohy Gains Valuable Racing Experience In 9:01.81 3K

By Brian Towey of DyeStat

NEW YORK -- On the practice track at North Rockland High, Brian Diglio, the coach of Katelyn Tuohy, did his best to simulate the ingredients of a professional race.

On lap nine of the women's professional 3,000 meters at The Armory's Dr. Sander Invitational on Saturday, when Amanda Eccleston pushed past Tuohy into first, coach and athlete knew it was a move they couldn't replicate.

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"Every step, from the very beginning, was different," Diglio said. "She's usually the front-runner. Right before the race the last thing I told her was, 'You can't pass the rabbit.'"

Tuohy finished third and broke Mary Cain's national high school indoor record with 9:01.81. The only preps who have run faster were Alexa Efraimson (9:00.16 on an oversized track) and Katie Rainsberger (9:00.62 outdoors). 

Eccleston won the race in 8:56.68.

In a high-stakes contest -- elbows prevented her from tracking a position on the rail -- and one she's monitored for some time (at least since last fall), Tuohy conveyed the same ferocity that, as a high schooler, has made her so difficult to beat.

"I was so close to sub-nine," Tuohy said. "But I'll get it the next time. I feel like if I pushed it a little sooner I might have been able to go sub-nine minutes. But I came here to race professionals and I'm happy with the outcome."

Tuohy led for parts of the race (laps 7-10 out of a total of 15), tracking behind rabbit Danielle Aragon. But when Eccleston pulled alongside her at the 2,000-meter mark, Tuohy had a decision to make.

"Getting passed is a new experience," Diglio said. "When she dropped back to third, she didn't like that. But she fought and tried to get into second."

For Tuohy, who has so thoroughly dominated her competition at the high school level, the experience and that chance to learn something new is valuable. 

"I think that everything has its time," Diglio said. "If the goal is to get to the Olympic Trials by the end of high school, this was the time to run against professionals."

Added Tuohy: "It's been in the back of my mind for a really long time. Probably since cross country last year. The idea was in the air. I thought we were going to do it last year. I just wasn't ready."

With back-to-back titles at Nike Cross Nationals, and a high school record in the girls mile (at New Balance Nationals Outdoor), Saturday marked a new, perhaps frightening experience.

Yet Tuohy seemed relieved not to lead from the outset.

"I had a great time," Tuohy said. "I was so close to breaking nine. My goal was just to see what it was like to run against professionals. Time goal: sub nine."

As reporters massed around Tuohy in The Armory's Stan Saplin media room, and the pros faded to the background, the pride of North Rockland, still just 16, seemed to lift ever slightly. 

"She seems excited by this," said Diglio of his normally unflappable athlete. 

It was something new, a chance to evaluate an actual race. An opportunity for growth.

"The girls made me work off of them," Tuohy said.