Peter Meindl still undefeated in 2001

by John Dye

The pace was slower than Orchard Park NY sr Peter Meindl wanted, so he was higher than he wanted to be after a mile in 4:45 (6th instead of 15th). "In the second mile (woods and hills), the leaders started falling back and I kept the same pace, so I moved up gradually."

1. Peter Meindl NY

2. Jon Pierce NY

Meindl took the lead from PA's Dan Mazzocco at about the 2-mile mark and then he felt sure he would win. "I just wanted to qualify, but once I got the lead I wanted to win. I kept an eye out for the kickers (such as Brendan Fennell), but they didn't come."

Meindl was the New York PHSAA state champion, but skipped the New York Federation meet won by Brian Dalpiaz last week. He explained that both the Federation meet (Wappingers Falls on the Hudson near West Point) and the Northeast regional are a 7-8 hour drive from his home in Orchard Park near Rochester, and he didn't want that long a drive two weekends in a row. "If the Federation meet were closer to home, I would have run."

at 1200 meters (photo by Boucher)

the finish

3. Andy Weilacher PA

4. Mint Henk VT

5. Brian Dalpiaz NY

6. Marc Pelerin NJ, 7. Tony Truax NH

New Jersey champion Marc Pelerin was in the top 10 going into the woods after the first mile. 
"I didn't want to get sucked in by the pace. So I waited until the stretch and then kicked like Hell," Pelerin said

Pelerin told Don Rich he could steal the race next week in Orlando
"Last week (NJ Meet of Champions) there was pressure, but this week there was much more pressure. Last year I only had NJ to compete with, and I knew I was stronger than them. Here the weather's been crazy. The mud. Everyone having good days. Or missing races to get ready for this.

"It strung out after the mile. And then Meindl took off, so I just tried to stay with two through five, and it strung out even more. I don't feel I've been racing that hard. At states I cruised. I didn't race conferences. I went hard at sections. But I haven't really raced hard yet. I've only had eight or nine races. I mean I really ready to go. I'm a lot fresher than last year.

"I don’t feel any pressure (going into the national finals). I don't expect to lose. I still want to go in trying to win. There's no Dathan Ritzenhein this year. I mean there's good guys, but it's really wide open. If I have a good race, I
could steal it if it's my day."

8. Ben Stern MD

Awards - Northeast team applauds introduction of Peter Meindl, who was out cooling down