Pajak Continues Unbeaten Streak At Boston's Franklin Park And Runs 14:51 To Earn Return Trip To San Diego

By Mary Albl of DyeStat 

Photos courtesy of Mark Rosenblum

Ryan Pajak admits that as a freshman, his closing speed was nonexistent.

And while the senior from Ringgold High in Pennsylvania may not yet be a sprinter, when it matters late in distance races he can turn on the jets.

Pajak's speed was on full display Saturday morning at the Foot Locker Northeast Regional Championships in Boston. At historic Franklin Park, Pajak moved up on the 5-kilometer course, going from eighth to third and then into the lead.

Battling fellow in-state rival Drew Griffith of Butler PA and Paul Bergeron of Westford MA, Pajak separated himself from the pair in the final mile to win the Marty Lewis Championship in 14 minutes, 51 seconds. His time was a course record, taking down Andy Powell’s 5K time of 14:52, which stood for 25 years. 

“I could not be more proud of Ryan’s race efforts,” Pajak's coach, Jen McMichael, said. “He executed his race plan perfectly against some phenomenal athletes. This outcome today in Boston with the win and a new course record was a fantastic achievement leading into Foot Locker Nationals.” 

The victory for Pajak secured a repeat trip to San Diego. Griffith, who won the event last year when it was held in New York at Van Cortlandt Park was runner-up (14:54), Bergeron was third in 15:02.

Tamrat Gavenas of Andover, Mass. was fourth (15:07), Peyton Shute of Woodbury, N.J. was fifth (15:08) and Colin Whitaker of Lancaster, Pa. finished sixth (15:09). 

Alex Fisher, a sophomore out of Berlin, Ct. was the youngest to qualify, clocking 15:09 for seventh overall. A trio of juniors — Jack Graffeo of Westford, Mass. (15:11), Jack Bertram of Sewickley, Pa. (15:22) and Soheib Dissa of Newtown, Ct. (15:32) — rounded out the final three qualifying spots.

Four runners from Pennsylvania will make the trip to San Diego. Three of them — Pajak, Griffith, and Whitaker — will attend Notre Dame next year. 

Pajak’s record-setting win is the latest snapshot of a truly historic season for the senior. Pajak has gone undefeated this fall, which includes claiming the PIAA District VII title in 15:04, a course record. His PIAA state title Nov. 4 was his first, and also was the fastest time of the entire state meet in 15:21. 

In the girls race, local favorite Ellie Shea of Emerging Elites Club was making her season debut. Standout junior Zariel Macchia from Shirley, N.Y., with racing experience against Shea, and winner of the Nike XC Town Twilight earlier this fall, didn’t miss a beat. Macchia led from start to finish at Franklin Park, running away with the title in an impressive time of 17:13. 

The victory for Macchia is her first regional title and adds to a near-perfect season. She’s won all but one of her races. The lone loss was a runner-up finish at the state championships to Emily Bush of Saratoga Springs. 

Shea, who finished runner-up at the national meet a year ago, was second in 17:21. Rounding out the top three was Boise State commit Ruth White of Orono, clocking 17:30. 

The other top seven qualifiers who will take their way to San Diego for the national race on Saturday, Dec. 9, include: Logan St. John Kletter of Pittsburgh in fourth (17:30), Virginia Kraus of Bethlehem, Pa. in fifth (17:40), Katherine Bohlke of Newington, Ct. in sixth (17:50), Liliah Gordon of Chesterfield, N.J. in seventh (17:51) and Brynn Crandell of Dagsboro, Del. in eighth (18:01).

The ninth spot went to Lily Lyons of Darien, Ct. (18:01), and 10th was Aoife Shovlin of East Watertown, Mass. (18:16).