Chelsea Delaney is a competitor and that is why the St. John Vianney High School, Holmdel, runner loves racing.
“I feel better in races,” said Delaney, a St. John Vianney senior who lives in Freehold Township. “It helps push me.”
At the Jan. 29 Shore Conference Indoor Track and Field Championships in Toms River, Delaney won 1,600-meter championship to claim her first big individual victory at St. John Vianney. Her winning time was 5:15.97.
Delaney had plenty of people pushing her in the 1,600, including Southern Regional High School’s Corrie Gethard (the Ocean County and Shore Conference 3,200- meter champion), and Freehold High School’s Freehold Regional High School District champion Mackenzie Roche.
Delaney ran with the leaders at the front of the pack throughout the 1,600, covering all of their moves. With the pace far from taxing, it played into her hands, or rather, her finishing speed.
“On the last lap I just kicked it in,” she said. “I like to use my kick in races.”
There is a good reason for that. Delaney is a member of the Lancers’ talented 4×400- meter relay team (which was sixth at the Shore Conference meet, winning their heat in 4:17.76). The raw sprinter’s speed it takes to run the 400 comes in handy at the end of a 1,600-meter race.
The Shore Conference victory has Delaney eager for the remainder of the 2009- 10 indoor season.
“I am looking forward to the races coming up,” she said. “I’m excited.”
First up is the NJSIAA State Group Championships in Toms River. The Non- Public A Championships will be held Feb. 12. Delaney said she would like to win the Groups meet, which would take her to the Feb. 20 NJSIAA Meet of Champions in Toms River.
It has already been a big indoor season for Delaney. Last month at the NJSIAA State Group Relays, Delaney ran the 800- meter leg on the St. John Vianney sprint medley relay team that won the NJSIAA Non-Public A championship. Victoria Freeman ran the opening 400-meter leg, Jessica Barnes and Megan Chang ran the 200-meter legs, and Delaney brought it home with her 800-meter anchor.
The Lancers’ winning time of 4:20.38 broke the meet record of 4:20.71 that a St. John Vianney squad set in 2009. Delaney anchored both state championship teams.
At the Monmouth County Championships on Jan. 22, Delaney was second in the 1,600 (5:10.47). That had her “aiming to bump up” a place at the Shore Conference Championships, which she did with her victory.
The Lancers’ 4×400 relay team placed second at the county meet, with Delaney anchoring. The Lancers’ 4×400 relay team has a local flavor. Barnes is a resident of in Manalapan, and Freeman and Maggie O’Brien are from Freehold.
Delaney owns an indoor personal best time of 5:05 for the 1,600 and an outdoor person best time of 5:03. Her goal is to break 5:00 this year. If the conditions are right, she believes that she can get under 5:00 this winter.
For a distance runner (she ran 19:25 for 5,000 meters in cross country), Delaney has great range. Not many runners can claim to be effective from 400 up to 3,200 meters, but Delaney is, with a personal best time of 11:07.57 for 3,200 meters and the ability to run a quick 400.
One goal that Delaney has all ready achieved is college. She will be attending the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, in September.