SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, December 14 — Making his third trip to Foot Locker Nationals, Tam Gavenas reveled in the familiarity of Balboa Park’s rolling 5000-meter challenge.
Cresting the course’s signature climb on the second revolution, however, made the Phillips Academy senior feel especially at home.
“My school is located on the top of a hill so [the climb] really didn’t scare me at all,” smiled Gavenas, who placed 3rd here last year after crossing 31st in the 40-runner field his sophomore year. “My coach had the perfect plan for me and I was able to execute it.”
The 5-foot-8, 125-pound Massachusettsan had dreamed of being among the lead pack cresting the top of “the big hill” with less than three-quarters of a mile remaining. Instead, the dream turned to shocking reality as he found himself edging into the pole position as Indiana’s Sam Quagliaroli felt abandoned by his own burning quads.
Sensing the opportunity, the reigning New England Private Schools Track Association (NEPSTA) champion unleashed a concerted surge that ultimately slammed the door on the competition. A final descent of Upas Hill and then the remaining “humpback” obstacle leading to the finish were no issue en route to a 4-second victory in 15:23.9.
“I run the downhills, the uphills, all the hills well, so I really felt getting the lead at that point that the race was mine,” said Gavenas, who moved to the United States from Ethiopia at the age of 3. “For me, the more hills the better. This is my type of course.”
Only Nebraska State champion Juan Gonzalez, who had placed 13th at NXN in Portland a week earlier, would emerge as a remaining threat; despite a strong closing, however, Gonzalez ran out of real estate and settled for the runner-up position.
Jack Graffeo made it a 1-3 finish for Massachusetts by finishing 7 seconds behind Gonzalez.
“[Tam] came into this race like every race, with a mindset to win,” said Coach Patrick Rielly of Gavenas, who will attend Harvard next fall. “Fortunately, today was a culmination of all the work he’s put in over the years. As gifted a runner as he is, he’s an extremely well-liked person too. He’s a very unique talent and personality and very deserving of his success.”
Despite missing part of the season to injury, Gavenas’ fitness proved enough to carry him to…
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