FAIRFIELD, Conn. Fairfield Prep runner Connor Rog landed one of the 40 exclusive spots in next months Foot Locker National Cross Country national championships finals in San Diego. But getting there was no smooth trip.
Rog, a senior, finished 10th in Saturdays Northeast Regional at Sunken Meadow State Park on Long Island in Kings Park, N.Y. The top 10 from four regions advance to the national championship race. What made Rogs journey harrowing was a fall just more than a mile into the race. Rog was fighting for third when he tripped over a tree root and took a nasty tumble. He suffered scrapes to his knees, elbows and hands and had the wind knocked out of him. I went down hard, Rog said. I have some amazing gashes. It was an insane fall, and I went from fighting from third to fighting for 10th.
Rog recovered to finish in 16:03, just six seconds ahead of the 11th place finisher. Fairfield Warde senior Harry Warnick finished 13th in 16:20.
The championship race is Dec. 10 at Morley Field in Balboa Park in San Diego. Race organizers provide a three-day stay in San Diego for the qualifiers. Rog believed his dream to reach the nationals died in his fall, and he didnt realize until late in the race he still had a chance to qualify.
Coming down toward the bottom of the final hill, Im thinking its over, Ill finish 11th or 12th, Rog said. Then somebody told me and another runner that we were ninth and 10th. I heard that, and I had a second wind and just held on.
Rogs fall probably cost him a top five finish. I was working with some of the top guys in the nation, Rog said. I felt amazing.
Fortunately, the North Carolina-bound runner recovered to reach the national championship. That will cap a senior year in which he won the State Open, finished second in New England and led the Jesuits to their second State Open title and first in 14 years.
This is definitely the main race that I wanted to qualify for, Rog said. How many people get a free trip to San Diego? Its what Ive been working for all season. I have a lot of respect for my coach (Bob Ford) in helping me get there.
Several of Rogs teammates also ran well in other races at the regional event. Christian Alvarado won the freshmen race, running 16:49.4. Michael Whelan was fifth in the senior race, and Andy Thane was 11th in the freshmen race. Complete results are available online.
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