Tuohy Breaks Records, Wanted To Go Faster Still

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. -- The search continues for Katelyn Tuohy. A perfect race. A faster time. A little more competition. Friday evening’s performance was the ideal example of Tuohy’s current pursuit.    

Under the stadium lights at White Plains High, and a faithful fan base that stuck around to see the final event of the day, the sophomore from North Rockland NY crushed the 3,200-meter event, clocking a time of 9 minutes, 47.88 seconds to break the national record.

PHOTOS | KATELYN TUOHY INTERVIEW

“I wanted to run a little faster than I did tonight,” Tuohy said. “But I didn’t have anyone pushing me along the way. It wasn’t quite what I wanted, but I’m happy with the national record.” 

A national record and still searching for more. That ambition is one of Tuohy’s greatest traits. 

“She always feels like she can go faster, and that’s what makes coaching her that much easier at times,” North Rockland coach Kyle Murphy said. “I don’t have to motivate Katelyn anymore. She does all of that by herself. And I’ve learned in my few years with her, I’m not putting a limit on what she can and can’t do. If she feels like she can go faster then I firmly believe she can.” 

Runner-up Kelsey Chimel of Saratoga Springs ran 10:27.23. Third place went to Elizabeth Stockman of Rocky Hill CT in 10:32.84.

Tuohy’s time broke the 1996 national record of 9:48.59 held by Kim Mortensen of Thousand Oaks in CA. It also converts to slightly faster than Brie Oakley's national record outdoor 2-mile time of 9:51.35. She shattered the 2011 Loucks meet record of 9:56.16 held by Cornwall Central’s Aisling Cuffe, an individual she’s looked up to. 

“It definitely means a lot,” Tuohy said of the records. “It definitely gives me motivation to keep running faster.” 

Murphy explained Tuohy performed well today, and it was another step in her growth as a racer. 

“She’s still really young so it’s still tough to go out and execute a perfect race plan, but she’s getting better. Every time she goes out, she’s more in tune with what needs to happen and more engaged on what the end result is. We are having a lot of fun right now. We’re learning how to race.” 

Although Tuohy feels like she’s in better shape than she’s performing, there are no current plans this spring season to enter a race against a pro/elite field. Murphy explained that Tuohy is all about the team, and hopefully at the state level or a national meet she’ll be able to get into a competitive race. 

While Tuohy said she was hoping to get under 9:40 Friday to break Mary Cain’s indoor 2-mile record of 9:38.68, that search could soon end, especially with the way she’s been progressing. 

“The records are fun because it puts everything in perspective,” Murphy said. “And it’s bananas that she’s running as fast as she is this early.”