Anoush Shehadeh and Thomas Pollard: NSAF Emerging Elites of the Week

This is the 15th and final Fall 2013 edition of our NSAF weekly feature on nationalscholastic.org: the Emerging Elites of the Week.  The New Balance Nationals Indoor and Outdoor meets have become known for the ever-expanding and improving competition in the divisions of the same name.  Similarly, the NSAF seeks to give weekly recognition to track and field and cross-country athletes reaching new and exciting competitive levels with their recent performances.

Photos courtesy of Victah Sailer, Photorun.net

Female – Anoush Shehadeh, Phillips Academy Class of 2015, Andover MA

4th, 17:34.3, Foot Locker Finals, 5k, Balboa Park, San Diego CA

Other than the champions themselves, there was probably no one more pleased with their Foot Locker Finals finish last weekend than Anoush Shehadeh.  That’s partly due to the fact that her biggest goal was just to finish.  Making it to San Diego at all in 2012 had been an unexpected thrill for Shehadeh, but the trip and meet itself – with a DNF – wound up being much less than hoped for (see below).

So when the Phillips Academy (Andover, Mass.) junior took off at Balboa for the second time last Saturday, making it across the line unassisted was the biggest priority.  Unfortunately, an early spill added some adversity, but Shehadeh’s approach to racing – having adapted to multiple racing strategies – would serve her well as she passed more than 30 runners on her way to a wonderful 4th-place finish in 17:34.6.

If you didn’t recognize her name when she qualified with her runner-up finish at FL Northeast, it’s probably because Shehadeh’s results from New England prep school (NEPSTA) competition don’t always make it to the national web sites.  But you should recognize Phillips Academy if you follow XC in New England and nationally, because of 1999 Foot Locker Finalist Melissa Donais (Class of 2002) and Cayla Hatton – who didn’t run with the team but set the track world on fire in 2012 with great performances from 1,500 to 10,000.

Despite rarely getting pushed, Shehadeh not only ran great times, but learned hard, yet even-paced racing.  She has smashed Donais’s school CR three times overall, lowering it 42 seconds.  “What stands out to me is her amazing sense of pace,” says Phillips’ Coach Becky Hession.  “Once she finds a goal pace she'll work on it and then, even in varied terrain and no competition, she'll find that pace and then push a little harder.”  Shehadeh, however, is quick to give credit to her coach and her Phillips teammates.

A few thoughts from Anoush:

On the story behind her DNF at the 2012 FL Finals:  Last year was my first season of XC, so I was very surprised to qualify for Foot Locker, let alone place 5th in my region.  Unfortunately, leading up to the Finals, I was not in a position to race.  I had just finished a stressful week of finals that had had to be condensed due to the trip out to San Diego. Then my first flight was delayed and I missed my connection, so I ended up arriving in San Diego at 3 a.m. Friday morning and the consequential lack of sleep really messed up my whole body.
On Saturday morning, I still felt sick and once the race started, I went out too hard.  By the 2.5-mile mark I was completely spent and I collapsed.  At the time, I was extremely disappointed in myself, but now I look back on my DNF as a learning experience. It created a solid goal that I have been able to work towards with my coach since the summer and it has also allowed me to offer comfort to any racer who has a bad day because I’ve been there.  While in the moment it stinks, I have now proven to myself and others that you can return even stronger.

On overcoming adversity during this year’s Finals and avoiding the “golf cart” finish:  I knew the race would go out blazing fast, so at the starting line I just told myself to stay relaxed and not panic if I was in the back, because I know that I am not a fast starter. Going into the first loop, I was near the back, so I tried to move up.  Unfortunately, someone’s shoe caught mine and I face-planted into the dirt.  By the time I got up, I was second-to-last and there was a gap between the main pack and me.
I have no experience being in the back of the pack, so I just kept telling myself that my goal was to finish and to stay calm and relaxed.  I was feeling good. so over the next two miles I tried to work my way steadily up even though I had no specific goal (except my “no golf cart” rule – to cross the finish line on my feet and not in a golf cart). From the second big hill onwards, I hung with a girl from the West and then in the last 0.1 mile I definitely had something left, so I powered away from her.
Coming over the crest of the last mini-hill, when you can see the finish line, I felt so happy because at that point I KNEW I was going to finish and it was the best feeling in the world.

On her ability to be ready for Foot Locker despite rarely being pushed in competition:  I’ve been able to train with the boys on some days, which allowed me to experience what it was like to be pushed during a workout.  But until Foot Locker, I am really just racing against the clock, and as a result I have broken many course records in our prep school league.  While this makes me very inexperienced in actually racing a 5k where people are pushing me, it also has allowed me to develop a different type of mental toughness.  When I’m out in a race by myself, struggling up a steep hill near the 2-mile mark, the only thing that’s pushing me is my mind.  So in that way it has made me stronger.
In addition, racing virtually against myself has allowed me to develop my own race strategy where I drop even splits for much of the race.  This paid off at Foot Locker Northeast, as I started out near the back of the pack and finished second, while a number of other girls faded down the stretch.  I had confidence that I could run a quick 5k and I was excited for the prospect of it coming down to a sprint to the finish.
The Finals is a unique experience because every girl there can run very fast, so there are no stragglers and there’s a tight pack for much of the race.  It was kind of nerve-wracking being around so many people, but it was a great learning experience!

On her background in XC and how she came to Andover from New York:  In 6th grade, I couldn’t run half a mile.  I had always been athletic, playing soccer, basketball and lacrosse, but had never been an endurance athlete.  Then in 8th grade we ran the mile for gym and I did pretty well, so when I was approached by the high school track coach (also my English teacher) I thought, “Hey, why not try a new sport?” I had some amazing mentors on my team that year and I honestly fell in love with running, although I still played soccer.
I decided to come to Andover was because I didn’t have the extracurricular opportunities or academic challenges that I wanted at home, so I applied to a variety of schools in 8th grade and Phillips Academy seemed to be the best fit.  I am so glad that I made the decision to go to Andover; it has shaped me in countless ways and I can honestly say I love it.

On thoughts regarding Phillips’ great alums Cayla Hatton and Melissa Donais:  Unfortunately, I never had the chance to train or race with Cayla, but she indeed posted impressive times.  I have chased (and caught) some of Melissa’s Andover records, including our home course record which is now at 17:18 for a 5k.  I know that Melissa lives in Andover and I would love to meet her!  All of the successful athletes at Phillips Academy inspire me because I know how much work it takes to perform at a high level.

On training with her coach and teammates:  There is no doubt in my mind that I wouldn’t be anywhere close to the runner I am today if it wasn’t for Coach Hession and the Andover team.  The amount of care and individual attention that Coach Hession gives each athlete is truly incredible.  Our workouts are never the same, and she is such a smart coach in terms of keeping us healthy and strong and planning over the course of the season and the year.  She also has a great positive outlook and makes sure our training is well-rounded while balancing the academic environment at Andover.
As for my teammates, they are some of my best friends and the memories we have made are unforgettable.  Every day they inspire me through their balance of hard work during the workouts and meets and fun afterwards!  I truly can’t imagine a greater group of girls to run with or a better coach to train under and I’m so grateful for all the support that everyone has given me.

 

Male – Thomas Pollard, Gilbert HS Class of 2015, Gilbert IA

13th, 15:33.1, Foot Locker Finals, 5k, Balboa Park, San Diego CA

Some of the best stories (and even gratifying finishes) at Foot Locker are those outside of the top three, or even the top 10.  Runners who haven’t yet made a national footprint, some of whom are surprise qualifiers, don’t necessarily contend for the win, but nab All-American spots that can propel them to much greater things down the road.

And, as in Thomas Pollard’s case, you can set a new standard for your home state.  No one from Iowa had ever finished higher than 14th (Simeon Wright in 1992) in the 35 years of the Finals, but the Gilbert junior upped the ante there by taking 13th in San Diego with his 15:33.6.  And this from someone who with his 7th-place finish at FL Midwest had not really been on most folks’ All-American radar.

But Pollard had been on a mission since his state meet.  He was 2nd at 2A state as a soph in 2012, then really captured notice in Iowa and the Heartland with his 9:10.97 3,200 win at Drake this past April.  At state this fall, however, he was runner-up again, which didn’t sit well with him.  His focus thereafter on Foot Locker Midwest and beyond has resulted in this success. 

Gilbert is a consistent state top-3 team under Coach Aaron Thomas and Pollard, now one of the nationally heralded elites in the Class of 2014, has a year-and-a-half left as a prep to keep ascending toward the top.

A few thoughts from Thomas:

On executing his Finals plan and whether the relatively slow pace early helped:  The race could not have gone any better for me.  My strategy going in was to sit on the back of the lead pack for as long as I could.  The modest early pace definitely helped, because it gave me time to position myself where I needed to be.  Then it just became a matter of holding on for dear life during the second half.
I was really hurting going up the big hill around 2.5 miles, but I was able to use the downhill to get myself going again. I would say this was the most important part of the race for me, because it helped me gap some of the guys behind me enough that they weren't going to be able to come back.  This also secured my All-American spot, which was my goal coming in.

On how he got the job done qualifying from FL Midwest to the Finals:  My goal coming into the regional was just to qualify.  I knew it was going to be a challenge because of how deep the field was.  The race was very bunched up at the start, with a lead pack of 20-30 runners at the mile.
By the 2-mile mark it had turned into a group of eight up front.  I was just sitting on the back of this pack until 2.5 miles, when some of the guys up front made a move and the pack was strung out.  Not much changed from there to the finish and I came in at 7th.

On a tough runner-up finish at state and how sweet it was bouncing back:  State was very disappointing.  I was 2nd last year and wanted nothing other than 1st this year.  I was sick and missed school for a couple days leading up to the race, but still felt that I should have pulled it out.  I have to give (state champ) Michael Melchert credit, though, because he ran a great race.
So yes, Foot Locker Midwest was definitely sweet because it allowed me to redeem myself.  It was also sweet because it validated my decision to not play basketball this year.  I wanted to be able to focus on running and I wouldn't have been able to run my best at Foot Locker if I was playing basketball, too.

On the benefits of summer track and the Youth Trials experience:  I feel it is a huge advantage to run in those summer track meets because it has taught me how to race.  One of the reasons I ran well at Foot Locker is because I'm used to running in big races against good competition.  The Ttrials were a great experience and helped me realize what I want to achieve.

On the impact of his big Drake 3,200 win as a soph last spring:  I went into the race thinking I was in 9:20 shape, which I thought would keep me in the race until the end.  As the race unfolded I never realized how fast we were running because I got caught up in the race with Josh Evans.  That race really boosted my confidence and also helped me at Foot Locker.

On training with Coach Thomas and the program at Gilbert:  I have been fortunate to be on a top-3 team at state for all three years of high school.  Coach Thomas keeps it fun and we have a lot of guys out.  However, he allows me to supplement our workouts in order to achieve my individual goals, as well.

On inspiration from his father:  My dad (Jamie Pollard, Iowa State U. athletics director) was a 5k track national champion in college (1987, UW-Oshkosh) and the biggest thing he has taught me is the value of long term goals in running.  My training has been very conservative because being a great runner is a process; it doesn't happen overnight.

On goals for track:  I just want to stay healthy and continue to improve.

 

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