Marissa DeTata anxious to prove she’s recovered

Brick native overcoming iron deficiency
to return to form

BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

Brick native overcoming iron deficiency
to return to form
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

PISCAWATAY — Marissa DeTata has "ironed out" her difficulties after a quiet freshman year at Rutgers University and is ready to consistently contribute to the cross country program this fall, as well as the indoor and outdoor track team.

"It’s good. I’m doing a running program of up to 60 miles a week. I feel I’m going to be prepared. I’m working hard and doing hills a lot. I didn’t do that last summer. And I’m in good health," Marissa said.

And that’s the most important thing for the former three-sport star at Brick Township High.

An iron deficiency eventually diagnosed by her doctor left Marissa feeling extremely tired, not only in her athletic endeavors, but in the classroom and in her lifestyle. At first, she thought it was just the rigors of cross country, and then realized it was more involved than that and decided to see her doctor.

"After cross country, I wanted to stop [running] because I felt so weak," she said. "I wasn’t getting good times but I finished.

"It was pretty much what I thought it would be," she said. "During the year, I was running but not competing. I was not prepared. If I was really contributing, it would have been different. And I was nervous."

It wasn’t until the indoor season when DeTata felt she was starting to contribute to her team and began to take medication to supplement her iron deficiency. At midseason, she was second on her team in the 5 kilometers in a meet at Princeton University that, she said, "boosted my confidence."

By the time DeTata got to the outdoor season, she began to get back in stride — literally and figuratively. She got her times down to 18:35 in the 5 kilometer and 39:10 in the 10K, just shy of qualifying 38:00 time for the Big East conference championships.

"I want to make that [Big East championships] for the upcoming track season. I want to improve on it," Marissa said.

"I feel pretty good for my team right now. I want to try to get points for them. A lot graduated but there are a lot of new girls that are pretty dedicated. I think I worked hard on my summer program and pushed myself."

And Marissa says she’ll be better prepared mentally as well as physically.

"I think I want to go out faster and keep a good pace," said Marissa of her race strategy. "Sometimes I push myself at the start, and then not push myself as much [later in the race] because I think I’ll have something at the end. I don’t want to do that but I want to have contact with the good people [throughout the race]."

If she keeps true to her strategy, Marissa DeTata can be a regular in the rotation and, perhaps, a solid contributor to the team this season.