Ben Petrella of Liverpool broke the New York State Championship course record by 10 seconds in 15:45 to defeat No. 10 ranked Aidan Tooker. Kyle Brazeil of NY MileSplit talks to the senior about improving from runner-up in 2014 to champion in 2015, as well as the leading the No. 15 ranked Liverpool boys to the team title.
Kyle: You [dropped] the course record by almost a full minute in 15:45. How does it feel to come away and not only win, but to break away from the entire crowd?
Ben: After coming in second last year, I knew it would be good, obviously, to have my teammates with me and that was the big thing we were focusing on. I wasn't really gonna be satisfied with anything but first [place] because I wanted something new and wanted to end my career and my season on a good note.
At the mile, it was you and Aidan [Tooker], how was that mentally just one on one out there?
There was a lot going through my head. I know some athletes can really clear their head but for me, all that was going through my head was, 'oh man, he's drafting off of me, oh, there's a nasty wind coming straight towards us.' And obviously, I have no idea how he's feeling. So I'm going out there trying to push it as hard as I can and trying to cook him a little bit. At the same time, he might be doing the same thing.
We're about 10 miles from where you're going next year. Tell us a little about that decision [to go to West Point] next year.
I think of myself as a pretty patriotic person and West Point is the best opportunity I have to serve my country. I think the coach they have there, Coach Smith, he's only been there for a little over a year and what he's told me about the old program and what he's doing, I think the country should be keeping their eyes open for West Point in the next couple years.
Your team [Liverpool] had three guys in the top 10. What's it like to be part of a strong team this year?
It's something we had coming for a long time. My freshman year, we didn't even come in second at sectionals. I know second at sectionals says a lot when you have FM right there. But we didn't even come in second and we had no dreams of going anywhere in the nation and in the past couple years, I've really enjoyed seeing the team progress. This year was just the icing on the cake because we've really stepped it up.
Is Feds [New York Federation Championships] on your mind? [Or] are you looking at Regionals next?
Coach made the decision, we're not going to race at Feds but we'll be at Regionals and we'll be ready to run.