Saugerties High distance runners excel at state track and field qualifier (original) (raw)
SAUGERTIES, N.Y. — The future seems bright for distance running at Saugerties High.
Landon Lang and Wanda Rosen both ran personal bests in their events at the Section 9 Class B outdoor state track and field qualifier at Rondout Valley High on Thursday, May 29.
Lang, an eighth-grade student, was brought up to the varsity this season and it was his first year running track and field.
Lang lowered his personal-record time of 12 minutes to 10:44 at 3200 meters at the state qualifier. He was the first eighth grader from Saugerties to qualify for the state event.
Saugerties High assistant coach Tommy Z. Struzzieri marveled at Lang’s performance at such a young age.
“He is a pleasure to coach and is one of the most talented runners I have seen at that age,” Struzzieri said in a phone interview with the Freeman. “He is a kid that advocated for himself and pushed to be on the varsity track team. We’re always hesitant to bring up kids who are too young because the varsity is a big jump, but he’s been very impressive and is a great kid to coach. He’s still learning, but I think he has a bright future ahead of him.”
On the girls’ side, Rosen lowered her personal-record time in the 3000 to 11:34 in the state qualifying event at Rondout Valley. She is a sophomore.
“She’s a hard worker and never gives up on herself,” said Struzzieri, who works alongside Sawyers’ head coach Steve Buonfiglio in both track and field and cross-country. “She had to work a little more to get to where she is. Landon is quite talented, but Wanda had the work ethic to push through and get to her time. She was on the team last year and she has significantly improved to become our No. 1 (girls) runner and heading into the cross-country season she has a real good shot at being competitive in the MHALs (Mid-Hudson Athletic League) and possibly states coming up in the fall.”
Struzzieri, who just finished up his second season as an assistant coach for track and field in the spring and cross-country last fall, said both Lang and Rosen have put in the time required to be successful runners. He said the sport requires dedication to ultimately lower times at long distances.
“I always use it (running) as a metaphor for life,” he said. “What you put into it is what you’re going to get out of it. These younger kids are really working hard and they want to do a lot. It’s important to have that medium between working too hard and not working hard enough, so we can make sure you don’t get injured. Not running too many miles and being smart about their training. Both of these kids have been great to work with and we’re looking ahead to next season already.”
