DISTANCE RUNNERS
OF THE MONTH
April


Seth Darrell

Senior at
 Lemon Monroe High School

P.R. 's
Cross Country 16:15
Track 4:36 (1600)
  9:46 (3200)
Advice "To give anything less than your best, you sacrifice the gift"
Favorite Shoe Nike Air Pegasus 

College Choices
Cumberland College

 
  "Monroe Runner a True Warrior!"

     Webster defines a warrior as a person taking part or experienced in conflict.  Lemon Monroe ’s Seth Darrell has been a warrior in track and cross country the last two years.  Sure, the senior finished 9th in DIII in cross country earning all-state honors, but it was in the spring of 2004 that he became a true warrior.  After finishing 10th at the state cross country meet as a junior, Darrell was poised to make a run at the podium in the 3200 during track season.  In mid April, Darrell’s season looked in doubt when a case of appendicitis flared up. 
     After surgery Seth decided that his season wasn’t over.  He was able to recover enough to qualify for the state in the 3200 finishing twelfth.  “I had to run with pain.  It probably wasn’t completely healed when I started back,” Darrell said.  “But I was able to make it state.” 
     Darrell’s running career began as a member of one of the area’s most impressive Junior Olympic Cross Country Teams. As a 5th grader Seth teamed with Middletown studs Jeff See, Malcom Tipton, and Michael Veatch.  “We were pretty good.  We won the state meet and eventually made it to nationals finishing 13th,” he said.  Darrell’s father, Lindy, (an outstanding road racer in the 80’s and 90’s) coached the team with Middletown distance coach Dave Fultz.
     Seth’s pedigree helped him develop an outstanding work ethic.  This past summer he logged between 55-70 miles a week in preparation for cross country.  However, the senior began experiencing cramping symptoms in his stomach during training runs and races.  Darrell again was able to run through the pain recording a personal best 16:15 en route to a district title.  The following week he finished 3rd at the regional meet.  His 9th place finish at the state meet earned him all-state honors for the second consecutive season.
     A healthy Darrell hopes to make it to the podium at the state track meet this spring.  Seth has signed with Cumberland College and will run cross country and track for the Patriots..  He’s also a solid student with a 3.5 g.p.a. and is planning on majoring in education.  Good Luck Seth!!


 
Shannon Alejandro
Senior at
Springfield North High School
PR's
Cross Country 19:18
Track 2:18 (800)  5:11 (1600)
Advice "You always have more left than you think you do"
Favorite Shoe Saucony
   

College Choice
Lehigh University

"Panther's Alejandro a Real Blur!"
     Springfield North's Shannon Alejandro not only runs a fast pace on the track, but her life is in the fast track to success as well.  The senior standout boasts one of the region's best times in the 800.  She also manages to find time to work a job and maintain her stellar academic record.  Shannon carries a 4.0 g.p.a and is ranked 11th in her class of around 300 students.  "I like to stay busy," said the senior.  "I'm always on the go."
     Her running career didn't take off until the 8th grade when Alejandro decided to go out for track.  "I really just ran track for the social thing, but I did really well," she said.  She continued running track in high school and has qualified for regionals in the 800 every year.  
     After her freshmen track season, Shannon decided to run cross country for Coach Tommy Mann.  "Coach Mann was my distance coach in track and talked me into to running cross country," Alejandro stated.  It didn't take long for Shannon to establish herself in cross country either.  She qualified for regionals as a sophomore and made it to the state meet as a junior finishing 41st.
     Shannon missed out on the state cross country meet as a senior which has motivated her to train even harder for track season.   Alejandro and the Lady Panthers ran six days a week over the winter in preparation for this spring.  The workouts have already paid off.  Alejandro won the 800 meter title at the Dublin Coffman Invitational in April.  She will look to improve on her 7th place finish at the regional meet last year.
     Alejandro credits her parents and Cross Country and Track coach Tommy Mann for her success.  "My parents are very supportive and are at every meet.  Coach Mann is great.  He really pushes and motivates us." she said.  Shannon has excepted a scholarship to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, PA.  She will run cross country and track for the Mountain Hawks.  She will major in pre-med focusing on Biology for her undergraduate work.  Good Luck Shannon!