Nike Outdoor Nationals Thursday: Spooner 5th 15:01 5K

Jun 14, 2007

The 5000 meter races were contested Thursday at the 2007 Nike Outdoor Nationals at North Carolina A&T University in Greensboro, North Carolina with the 5000 meter races. The race has grown greatly from last year in which the event was first contested at NON as shown by a total of three sections for the boys. West Springfield senior Mike Spooner (pictured left by Don Rich of PennTrackXC.com) kicked off the meet for Virginia with the state's first All-American honors as Spooner bettered his cross country 5K PR of 15:03 with a 15:01.73 clocking on the track for fifth place honors. Laurel MacMillan had the top time among the Virginian girls at 17:51.81 for a personal best time for the Blacksburg junior as the 10th place finisher.

Spooner did not have the finish nor time that he had hoped for, but understood his training would leave him slightly unprepared for the longer event on the track. "It was a good experience, but I realized I was not trained for three miles. I was trained for up until two miles, and counted on my talent to carry me through the last mile and I ended up fortunate to be an All-American," said Spooner

Spooner spent a great deal of time near the front of the pack leading at times as they went through 1600 meters in 4:44 and 3200 meters in 9:31, but fell off the leaders in the final 1800 meters. "There were a lot of surges, but the last mile is where my low mileage hit me." Spooner had been fluctuating in mileage in the 30's and 40's miles per week for much of the track season and been shifting his attention to his team's 4x800 meter relay and even the 1600 meter run individually over the event which has brought him three state titles in the 3200 meter run.

In his final high school meet, Spooner was very proud of claiming his second All-American honor individually to conclude a fine high school career in Virginia. "I am lucky to have the titles I have. From district championships to the four All-American honors. This sport gave me a track and a goal with my life." We wish Mike the best as he moves onto the University of Tennessee in the fall.

Meanwhile, Blacksburg junior Laurel MacMillan had a nice close to her track season with her first sub 18 clocking in 17:51.81 as it should be a springboard for her cross country season in which MacMillan looks to lead the defending AA state champion Blacksburg girls, who will return a strong nucleus of runners again to go for another title run under the direction of Coach James DeMarco.