Top 10 Moments of 2016 - Numbers 6 & 5

No. 5 - Homecoming For Talent


In 2015, the Loucks 3200m captured the eyes of the nation.  It ranked second on our list of memorable moments last year, and almost lead to Mikey Brannigan capturing the top moment two years in a row.  Surely, 2016 would be hard pressed to live up to the hype.  Well, the race rolled around, and lightning indeed struck twice.  A junior, Noah Affolder, sprinted away from the field to capture the win, and the class State Record.  And yet, despite all the fanfare and accolades on the track, Affolder's biggest moment came on the grass, when it was least expected.

Affolder wasn't always the top contender he may be now.  The sophomore-transfer from Illinois had a mixed sophomore career, winning the XC State Meet for Class B, but then taking 15th at Feds.  On the track was much the same, setting a class state record in the 3200m one week, while not making the seeded heat at States the next.  That fueled the now junior through the summer training.  Right out of the gate, Affolder made it known he was a racer to watch out for.  The first three weekends of the season, Affolder was out hard, taking first in three consecutive races.  With a commitment to both McQuaid and Manhattan, it was a different strategy than most, racing hard with little rest at the beginning of the season.  It was time to test the strategy against top level competition.

Well, that national competition was supposed to come at Manhattan.  For the McQuaid Invitational, it was almost an afterthought.  Yes, McQuaid is a national caliber meet, but the top level talent heads to the AAA-Race, later in the day.  For Affolder, the priority of the day was making it back home for the 'Homecoming Dance.'  Conor Lundy (Fordham Prep) had been set to be in the race, but dropped out due to illness.  So for Affolder, it would be time trial out front, nothing to prove to anyone but himself.


The gun went off, and Affolder seized the situation.  He took off with unparalleled speed for the AA-Race, so fast that he had gone through the first mile in 4:42.  While the course can run faster than most, the pace put the crowd on notice.  Had Affolder gone out too fast, only to blow up?  Only his brother, and a top Canadian were close, so the lead was significant.  The race continued, and the surge prolonged.  At two miles, Affolder was at 9:30, meaning Affolder's second mile was 4:48.  With much of the race now downhill, the course record set by Mickey Burke in 2013, who then went on to place fourth overall at Foot Locker Nationals when the only three to beat him both were two athletes who went sub-4 in HS, and another who placed 26th as a freshman at NCAA's XC.

On the final descent, Affolder heard over the PA system that he was on course record pace.  His stride intensified, his muscles relaxed.  Everything had worked against him so far.  The weather was unseasonably cold, the race was void of upfront competition, and his race schedule had already been loaded up.  But the promise of a course record was too much to pass up.  Affolder pushed through the pain, across the line, and shattered the course record.  His mark was 10secs under the previous course record, which had stood for two years.  The meet is nearly 50 years old, and some of the top upstate runners had passed through.  Affolder surpassed all of them in less than the best of competitions, and did so as only a junior.  With the drop so significant, it led many people to wonder, "Was it actually possible for a runner to break 14mins?"  Affolder had set the bar, but it remains to be seen if he will have the opportunity to do so as a senior.  Over the summer, he has since moved to Carlisle, PA, and the course record being lowered remains as the mercy of the new coaching staff.  Regardless, this is one record that could stay for a very long time.

Relevant Articles

Watch the Race

Hear From Noah Affolder after the Race

Twenty Minutes With Noah Affolder: Manhattan, Foot Locker And Hockey