Sports

Running for two

• Deerfield-Windsor's Kelly Conway goes for a second consecutive GISA Class AAA cross-country title today in Macon.

Paul Dehner Jr.

ALBANY — Deerfield-Windsor cross-county star Kelly Conway has become accustomed to running alone.

All season, the defending cross-country state champion, who also has won three state track and field state titles last season, has broken away from underwhelming competition to find herself running with only the sounds of nature and her dominating strides serving as the soundtrack.

Just a champion versus the clock.

Today, however, that will change. In a race she has seemingly been waiting for all year, Conway will attempt to defend her title in Macon at the Georgia Children’s Home at the GISA State Championship Cross-Country meet.

Pushing her along the way will be Erin Oshust, the last girl to beat Conway in a race of any kind, along with Erin McAnnally, both from North Cobb Christian. Oshust topped Conway during a one-mile race last track and field season and also holds the lowest time of anyone entering the championship race at 19 minutes, 48 seconds, set at Riverside earlier this season.

Conway feigned a bit of nervousness prior to the showdown, but admitted little of that anxiety surrounds the actual race, rather the pressure building around it.

She surprised last year in capturing the title and the quiet speedster has added the stress of dealing with the spotlight to her growing list of obstacles this season.

“Last year I wasn’t’ really expected to win,” Conway said. “Now that I have won a couple state championships, people are expecting more.”

That includes Conway. Battling through a rough early season stretch where Conway fought off an ankle injury and missed a few meets, she finally regained her full strength. Now, healthy and humming, she appears ready to reach heights even she hasn’t crossed before.

Conway’s personal best time is 20:09, set last year. She came close to breaking it, posting a 20:10 less than two weeks ago. Her goal all season has been to break the 20-minute mark.

That’s not easy to do when essentially running by herself.

“I really hope that I can break 20,” Conway said, “but I think with other girls pushing me I should be able to hopefully break that.”

The lack of competition was to blame last Monday when Conway easily captured the region title. Conway blew the competition away by two minutes and likely could have accelerated toward a personal best, but had no reason to find another gear.

“She didn’t even have her best day,” DWS coach Joe Bishop said. “The last 800 (yards), she just didn’t feel like pushing herself because nobody was close.”

The knowledge alone that the situation will be different today in Macon brings a smile to Conway’s face. In gathering state championships in the 800 meters, 1,600 and 3,200 this past spring in track and field, Conway excelled when under pressure from Oshult and McAnnally, where one of the two finished within at least five seconds of Conway in each event.

Though Conway hasn’t gone up against either this season, she knows what to expect. She also knows what to expect out of the course in Macon. Unlike most tracks on the cross country circuit, the Georgia Industrial Children’s Home finishes with a steep downhill at the last 200 meters, allowing for high speeds heading over the final hill for the finish line.

Conway took one final jog of the course with Bishop this past weekend and the two believe they have found the winning strategy.

“She’s looking at running with the pack while she’s comfortable,” Bishop said. “Then somewhere halfway through find another gear and find a little separation.”

If she does, she will again hoist the state championship trophy and can slide it onto her quickly crowding display. The pile of awards has placed a new target on her back. She may have come out of nowhere last year, but she won’t surprise anyone at this year’s race.

Back to today's Sports>>