by T. Patrick O'Dowd
Keith Kelly (Drogheda, Co. Louth) is a senior with another year of eligibility at Providence College in Providence, Rhode Island. Kelly is majoring in marketing and sociology. He is coached by Ray Treacy (Villierstown, Co. Waterford). Kelly attended St. Mary's secondary school in Drogheda and when in Ireland runs for Boyne A.C. He was an All-American in cross country last season and this fall and was the BLÉ Junior Cross Country Champion in 1996.
Irish Runner.com: In 1998 you were fourteenth at the NCAA Championships in cross country, this year you were ninth. You improved but after the race this year in Bloomington, you didn't seem that pleased. Recap this year's race, critiquing your race plan and performance.
Kelly (#326) with the early lead at this year's NCAA Championships
Keith Kelly: As far as the race goes, we based it on last year. Last year's race went out fast! I hung on last year to a pack that was brutal from the start. We went through 5k in 14:30 and we were really movin'. I got dragged away from the chasing pack, then hung on, then the chasing pack passed me, and then I out-kicked one or two guys to get fourteenth. Until 8k in that race, I was no lower than seventh or eighth position.
This year, I found myself at the front 'cause the race went out slow. I didn't want to be there. I was uncomfortable running slowly - leading. I moved into pack after 3k - got dragged around but cramped up really bad at 6k. Just as I was starting to cramp up and it became kind of uncomfortable, they went at the front. For some reason, I just sat back to get rid of the stitch. When I did I was content to stay with Ryan Shay [Notre Dame] and Tim Broe [Alabama] instead of saying stuff it, this is NC's and chase down the group that was ahead. There was a bit of a confidence problem there. When it came to 800 metres to go, I easily ran away from Ryan Shay and Tim Broe, caught Karanu [James from Arkansas] and almost caught Morrison [Paul from Princeton]. I finished the last 400 metres, according to everyone I talked to that was there - faster than anyone in the race. Looking back at it, there's no way I should've finished running close to sixty seconds for the last 400 metres, when everyone else was dying. They obviously went for it and I didn't. It was a definitely a weakness. It had something to do with that I didn't have enough challenging races this year. I wasn't working out with anyone else this year and was leading all my reps in practice. Last year I had Ben Noad. When it came to a race situation I didn't have the verve to go with them and finish strong. The disappointment comes from not really improving from last year. Matt Lane was eleventh last year, beat me by a little [9 seconds] and was fifth this year and beat me by a good bit [15 seconds]. Andrew Begley was sixteenth last year and he beat me this year (seventh).
IR.com: What's your goal for next fall's cross country season and what will you do to reach it?
KK: When I look to next year, I have to get off my ass and learn to accept the fact that I have got a bit of talent but that can only get me so far. I have to start working. This year my average was 70 miles a week and that was starting in September. I am sure everybody that was ahead of me ran 85-90 and Matt Lane even had 100-mile weeks. If I can do that it could take me to a new plane of fitness. Next summer I am not going to go home - next year I am going to go for broke, I'm going to go for it.
My goal for next year is - WIN. This year I said to myself that there's no way that I am as good as these guys. They beat me fair and square - 35 seconds ahead of me. I gave them too much respect - it comes from a confidence problem. Last year [14th] I thought it might have been a fluke, but this I proved it wasn't a fluke [9th]. Going into this track season I am full of confidence.
IR.com: You've had success on both the track and in cross country. Which do you prefer? Why?
KK: I prefer cross country. It definitely comes from the juniors at home in Ireland. I had bad luck every year in track and field in Ireland but I had phenomenal success in cross country. I feel I am a very impatient athlete. Running around a track - I really get frustrated. Whereas in cross country, it's a totally different tactical game. I love the fact that you can get around a corner and put on a surge. I love the way you can sit back for awhile and kick up a hill or kick going off a hill. I love all the different tactics you can apply to cross country. How you can mentally beat somebody on the country more so than on a track. I can open up a lead in cross country by thirty seconds and maintain it. There's no way I'd ever be able to do that on the track because it is so hard to break people on the track. I definitely feel my running style is more suited for cross country.
Keeith Kelly Winning 1999 IC4A 10k
Photo by Bill Kamenjar
IR.com: What do you think your best event is on the track?
KK: My best time is over the 5k [13:55] but I think eventually I'll pop a big 10k. My best time in the 10k is the one at IC4A - 29:38 I think it was. I was ready to run a lot faster last year over 10k had I got a race.
IR.com: Last season you qualified for indoor nationals at 5k but got sick and didn't compete. Are you going to try to qualify indoors at 5k or train through it to concentrate on outdoors in the 10k?
KK: I am definitely going to focus on indoors because I am redshirting outdoors. I am coming back for a fifth year and will have all three seasons of eligibility if I redshirt outdoors. We [Coach Treacy] are looking at totally carrying over my cross country fitness and continuing to do more training through the next two months. I am going to try to run in the13:40 region indoor.
IR.com: What's up with that thing in your lip or chin? Is there a story behind it?
KK: [Laughing] It's a lip piercing I guess. I was leaving for America my junior year and I was with my friends in Dublin. They were all egging me on to do something for a bit a craic and then I got this done. I definitely like the fact that it's different. It's a little fashion statement. I would definitely have more piercings if I had the choice. The people in the athletics department here can only tolerate so much. I had a deal that if I had finished outside of All-American - I would take it out. Next fall if I win there's going to be something added - around the nose or the eye.
IR.com: Anything else you want to add?
KK: To the people in Ireland I'd like to tell them that things are going very well over here and I am very, very happy with the system. I think NCAA competition is unbelievable. I am as focused now as I ever was. A long term goal I have now is to be on the senior team for the World Cross in Dublin next year.