Track star represents well at Nationals
Published in the March 17, 2017 edition
KEVIN WHEELOCK represented Melrose High at the 2017 New Balance National Indoor Championship in New York City on March 10, 2017. (file photo)
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE— Melrose High School’s three-time state champ Kevin Wheelock finished 18th overall and 7th in the Emerging Stars division of the New Balance National Indoor Championship in New York City on March 10, 2017. Wheelock qualified during his indoor track season at MHS and on Friday completed the 5k race in a time of 15:41, just over five minutes a mile.
Meanwhile, at Melrose High School, about 50 high school students watched him race via live streaming in the Learning Commons of the school when Wheelock raced on Friday.
Coach Kevin Allison was one of those who watched from afar. “It was just another incredible performance. Most of the cross-country runners I coach hope to break 19, maybe 18 minutes in their career over a 5k course. Running under 16 minutes displays an incredible level of fitness and determination.”
When asked about the experience, Wheelock spoke of the pride in running with the nations’s best. “It was exciting to just be a part of it, it’s a prestigious meet. I have never run a 5k before on a track so my goal was to beat my best time from cross country and I reached that goal.”
Melrose track fans can still get more of his racing. Wheelock wraps up his high school track career this spring for the MHS outdoor spring track squad. That includes racing with the school’s talented distance medley relay team. He says, “My goal is to make it to nationals with the distance medley relay team.”
Is there anyone in Melrose who doubts that could happen? Wheelock, and the spring track team, will start their laps around the track as soon as the snow melts. Stay tuned.
