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First time entry at Footlocker leads to automatic qualifier in Oneda
By Nicole Lemal (run.nicole.wvu@gmail.com)
Tristaterunnur.com
November 28, 2011
By Nicole Lemal (run.nicole.wvu@gmail.com)
Tristaterunnur.com
November 28, 2011
SUNKEN MEADOW STATE PARK, N.Y. - Lacing up her racing spikes for the first time in cross country as a sophomore, Winters Mill’s Hannah Oneda didn’t know what she was doing.
Much like she felt on Saturday, Nov. 26. She was an inexperienced runner at this caliber meet and didn’t know the course. But in three years, Oneda had taught herself something that can’t be cultivated without true passion, and that’s guts.
After battling a sickness earlier in the week, Oneda placed sixth (18:26.6) in her very first race at the Foot Locker Northeast Championships, which automatically earned her a spot on the line at the Footlocker National Championships to be held on Dec. 10 in San Diego, Calif.
In a race of that caliber following the setbacks she had, she didn’t know how to react when she crossed the line.
“I’m still pretty shocked about it,” she said.
Based on the top-10 times from previous years, she knew she had an outside shot of qualifying for the national meet. But, because she had not run all week, her faith vanished.
“I kind of thought to myself, ‘Well my chances of qualifying now are dwindling and are completely gone.’ But I thought, ‘I want to have fun and I want to do well.’ Leading into her race, she maintained that low key attitude, trying her best to not let her nerves affect her performance. As the gun sounded and the runners clipped off a quick pace in the first half mile, Oneda settled into the middle of the pack. Read More
“I’m still pretty shocked about it,” she said.
Based on the top-10 times from previous years, she knew she had an outside shot of qualifying for the national meet. But, because she had not run all week, her faith vanished.
“I kind of thought to myself, ‘Well my chances of qualifying now are dwindling and are completely gone.’ But I thought, ‘I want to have fun and I want to do well.’ Leading into her race, she maintained that low key attitude, trying her best to not let her nerves affect her performance. As the gun sounded and the runners clipped off a quick pace in the first half mile, Oneda settled into the middle of the pack. Read More
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Laura Leff,Syracuse,NY..Hannah Oneda,Wesminster,MD
Holly Bischof,Hainesport,NJ
Holly Bischof,Hainesport,NJ
Oneda finishes out season at Footlocker in 33rd place
By Nicole Lemal (run.nicole.wvu@gmail.com)
Tristaterunnur.com
December 12, 2011
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Even though Winters Mill's senior Hannah Oneda was in unfamiliar territory at the Footlocker Cross Country National Championships, she was certain of one thing.
By Nicole Lemal (run.nicole.wvu@gmail.com)
Tristaterunnur.com
December 12, 2011
SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Even though Winters Mill's senior Hannah Oneda was in unfamiliar territory at the Footlocker Cross Country National Championships, she was certain of one thing.
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"I knew that everyone was going to go out incredibly fast," Oneda said following her race on Saturday, where she finished in 33rd place with a time of 18:21.
And they did. The lead pack hit the mile during what she described as fairly flat at approximately 5:10. As she hung on in the middle of the pack at approximately 5:30 pace, she could feel the difference in pace.
In most races she would hit the first mile at 5:40. However, in such a high intensity race like this one, she knew she needed to step it up a few notches to be in the right position.
"The 5:30 was definitely a faster time than I am used to," she said. "Anytime I did do that and held that pace was at the Monocacy Valley Athletic League (MVAL) when I ran a 16:58 for three miles, but I knew that course was flat. So, it was bit of a different strategy today."
Prior to the race, she walked the course and took a long hard look around, coming to the conclusion that it was going to be fairly easier than the North East regional championships. At the Foot Locker Northeast Championships last month, she placed sixth in 18:26.6 on a relatively hilly course. And earlier this season she nearly clinched the 18:00 minute mark, running an 18:03.
"It was actually a little bit harder than you expect when we were walking it. It didn't seem as bad. I wouldn't say the course was that tough, but I'm still really tired and sore. It wasn't flat. That's for sure."
And they did. The lead pack hit the mile during what she described as fairly flat at approximately 5:10. As she hung on in the middle of the pack at approximately 5:30 pace, she could feel the difference in pace.
In most races she would hit the first mile at 5:40. However, in such a high intensity race like this one, she knew she needed to step it up a few notches to be in the right position.
"The 5:30 was definitely a faster time than I am used to," she said. "Anytime I did do that and held that pace was at the Monocacy Valley Athletic League (MVAL) when I ran a 16:58 for three miles, but I knew that course was flat. So, it was bit of a different strategy today."
Prior to the race, she walked the course and took a long hard look around, coming to the conclusion that it was going to be fairly easier than the North East regional championships. At the Foot Locker Northeast Championships last month, she placed sixth in 18:26.6 on a relatively hilly course. And earlier this season she nearly clinched the 18:00 minute mark, running an 18:03.
"It was actually a little bit harder than you expect when we were walking it. It didn't seem as bad. I wouldn't say the course was that tough, but I'm still really tired and sore. It wasn't flat. That's for sure."
Ideally, she wanted to be somewhere in the middle of this 40 woman pack before charging forward in the second portion of the race to pass some of the runners.
"I think I was probably there the first mile," she said. "I thought I would pick it up and come back strong, but I don't think I moved very much at all. I kind of just stayed where I was."
Nevertheless, she doesn't take her experience for granted. Up until the beginning of this year, she wasn't even aware of the Foot Locker race, let alone did she ever believe she would make it this far in her running within a few years. Knowing that she is now grouped with some of the fastest girls in the nation makes her proud, even if she didn't place in the top portion.
"It feels pretty amazing," she said after her race. "I feel like it still hasn't even hit me that I'm here. It's a real honor to even run with these incredible girls. I was in shock, hearing these 4:40 mile times and 10:19 two miles. I'm just like 'Wow, this is really cool to be running against people like this.' It was a great experience."
But, it wouldn't have been the same without her family. Although she insisted they didn't need to be there, her mother, father, and grandmother made the trip. With her family on the sidelines, she felt like she had everything she needed and was so grateful they were there.
"I was really glad they did come because I was looking around. A lot of kids were talking to their coaches and talking to their parents, and I was thinking, 'I am really happy that my parents came. It was great. The fact that they, especially my dad, supported me all season long and him always believing in me - half the time I don't believe in myself. So, the fact that he always does was kind of a good thing, and I'm glad he was here."
As she looks forward to the rest of her senior year, she has found a new fire burning inside of her. Disappointment in not completely reaching her goals for the season has only inspired her to chase down her goals with more perseverance and desire.
"I don't think I ran as well as I definitely wanted to, but sometimes you need to have a little disappointment to really keep you going for the next season, to really keep you going strong. It's good to always end on a really high note, and I am not saying that it isn't. But, I think this is going to push me further to really keep running hard."
"I think I was probably there the first mile," she said. "I thought I would pick it up and come back strong, but I don't think I moved very much at all. I kind of just stayed where I was."
Nevertheless, she doesn't take her experience for granted. Up until the beginning of this year, she wasn't even aware of the Foot Locker race, let alone did she ever believe she would make it this far in her running within a few years. Knowing that she is now grouped with some of the fastest girls in the nation makes her proud, even if she didn't place in the top portion.
"It feels pretty amazing," she said after her race. "I feel like it still hasn't even hit me that I'm here. It's a real honor to even run with these incredible girls. I was in shock, hearing these 4:40 mile times and 10:19 two miles. I'm just like 'Wow, this is really cool to be running against people like this.' It was a great experience."
But, it wouldn't have been the same without her family. Although she insisted they didn't need to be there, her mother, father, and grandmother made the trip. With her family on the sidelines, she felt like she had everything she needed and was so grateful they were there.
"I was really glad they did come because I was looking around. A lot of kids were talking to their coaches and talking to their parents, and I was thinking, 'I am really happy that my parents came. It was great. The fact that they, especially my dad, supported me all season long and him always believing in me - half the time I don't believe in myself. So, the fact that he always does was kind of a good thing, and I'm glad he was here."
As she looks forward to the rest of her senior year, she has found a new fire burning inside of her. Disappointment in not completely reaching her goals for the season has only inspired her to chase down her goals with more perseverance and desire.
"I don't think I ran as well as I definitely wanted to, but sometimes you need to have a little disappointment to really keep you going for the next season, to really keep you going strong. It's good to always end on a really high note, and I am not saying that it isn't. But, I think this is going to push me further to really keep running hard."
Photo Courtesy of Footlocker