KSC runner goes national

Senior Keene State College student Peter Najem ran the 800 meter race in the USA Indoor Track and Field Championship last Saturday in Albuquerque, N.M. and was the first student from KSC to qualify in the event in the school’s history.

“It was a huge honor to be a [KSC] student and getting to race in the event,” Najem said.
Although he is a KSC student, Najem is unable to represent the college in the race because of eligibility issues.

“I had already run four years of indoor track, so I had to run as an unattached runner,” Najem said. “Basically, it means that I am running for myself and not for the college.”
Najem, who had an extra year of college, wanted to make the most of it, according to head coach Peter Thomas.

“He trained very hard during the winter and [by] running meets unattached and built on the success that he experienced last year,” said Thomas.

Najem qualified for the event by running a personal best 1:50.08 in the 800-meter race at the Boston University Valentine Invitational.

“When I was crossing the finish line, I saw the clock go from 1:49 to 1:50,” Najem said. “I knew I had a good time.”

By qualifying for the race in Albuquerque, Najem got the opportunity to race against competition of the highest quality.

“He got the chance to race with some of the best runners in the nation. He was up against runners who were on the Olympic team,” Thomas said. “It was a very elite group that he ran with.”

By putting up his personal best time he qualified for the biggest race of his running career. Going into the race, Najem said his nerves were going to be a factor.
“I have been nervous but I am trying not think about it too much,” Najem said the Wednesday before the race. “By the time that I actually get to the race, I’m sure it will be 100 percent nerves.”

Although halfway across the country, Najem still asked for Thomas’ advice on how he should run the race.

“I told him that he needed to get out to a good start,” Thomas said. “I wanted him to see him get out to second place early.”

Najem raced in the second heat on Saturday but was unable to take his coach’s advice and early on in the race was in fifth place. Najem told Thomas every one was clumped together for the first three laps of the four lap race but, when they got to the final lap, the top runners showed why they were the best in the nation.

“In the final lap, they just took off,” Thomas said. “The runners there just had an extra gear that [Najem] hasn’t reached yet.”

Najem was unable to keep up the success he had in Boston as he finished last in his heat with a time of 1:52.11 and was unable to qualify. Thomas said that was the difference between running with college runners and running with national runners.
“If [Najem] were running at the collegiate level, he would have been up a second and a half,” Thomas said.

Despite the results, both Thomas and Najem said they were proud of the results.
“I wasn’t too disappointed. It was the third fastest time I ran,” Najem said.
“After the race I told him that he did a great job. Enjoy your time down there,” Thomas said.Najem took his coach’s advice, following the race and took in the experience of going to nationals.

“The experience was overwhelming,” Najem said. “When I was getting my credentials for the race, I saw the Oregon track team walk by. They’re one of the best teams in the country. When I was stretching before the race, I saw professionals and Olympians walk by. It was crazy.”

Najem said he also got to meet some big names in the track world. He got his picture taken with Bernard Lagat, a world champion who holds the national record for the indoor 5000-meter race, and Ryan Hall, one of the best American marathoners. Najem said he also used the trip as a learning experience to help him become a better runner.
“Talking to some of the best runners in the nation, I got tips on how to improve my strategy and to get the most out of my training,” Najem said.

Najem is now focusing on the outdoor season, where he will be able to represent KSC because he missed a spring season due to an injury earlier in his career. He said the trip to nationals gave him a boost of confidence for the upcoming season.
“I know I can run and hang with the best of them,” Najem said. “The next goal is to make NCAA nationals.”

Najem said he will start training upon his return.

Chris Thelin can be contacted at cthelin@keeneequinox.com