Wakefield cross country/track
Mallory makes his mark
at Junior Olympics
Before Wakefield junior Mitch Mallory even took a stride in the 3,000-meter run intermediate boys division of the Junior Olympics Track & Field Championships in Greensboro, he knew the course would run fast.
"A friend of mine in the slower heat ran a 9:03, so I knew we were going to have a quick race," Mallory explained, adding that no runner in the July 30 elite heat had placed better than nine minutes heading into the championships.
And while the field did put up stellar numbers, Mallory more than held his own, snagging second place with an impressive late charge.
In the process, the Wolverine finished in 8:55 — nearly 20 seconds ahead of his personal best. Kamal Korosa clipped Mallory by four seconds, grabbing first place.
Entering the meet, Mallory was ranked fifth according to his pre-race results, but the junior felt confident he could have a strong showing.
"It was about a month ago that I ran my last two mile, so I thought I could do better," he said. "I was really focused on fixing my form because I had some breakdowns."
Beneath an overcast sky, Mallory fought for position early in the race before settling comfortably into the lead pack.
"For the first quarter of the race I was in the front, or rather, battling to get to the front because there were so many people," he said.
After the initial surge, Mallory slid behind one of the leaders and tailed him step-for-step for about a "mile, maybe a mile and a half."
With the finish line approaching, Mallory turned it on, capturing second in an all-out sprint.
"The track was nice and cool, and the competition was quick," he said. " I had someone to pace myself against, and that helped a lot. It's a lot harder when you're out there just pushing it by yourself.
While the Junior Olympics Championships mark the end of Mallory's season on the track, the junior is just a few weeks away from leading the Wakefield boys cross country — as a sophomore, Mallory was the Wolverines' No. 1 runner. It's a change he can't wait to make.
"We are going to start pounding out some miles now," he said.
Mallory explained the track season is more complicated than cross country, which seems more "natural."
"In track, it is all about strategy — who you are going to tuck in behind and how you are going to run," he said. "But cross country is more you go out there, run your butt off for three miles and see how you do."
Momentum will definitely be on Mallory's side entering Wakefield's season opener Aug. 19 against Durham Riverside.
