Despite the stereotype, catchers can run.
By Lea Kahn, Staff Writer
Despite the stereotype, catchers can run.
Mike Davis, a former high school and college catcher, won the inaugural Princeton Half Marathon in one hour, 21 minutes, 23 seconds Sunday.
”I’m trying to break that stigma,” laughed Davis, who averaged 6:12 per mile.
Davis will run the Philadelphia Marathon in two weeks, and the Princeton Half Marathon was the perfect tune-up for him, and a big confidence boost. He had run about the same time seven weeks ago at a flatter faster Philadelphia Rock ‘n Roll Marathon, and his improved fitness paid off.
”This is my first first-place finish so it was awesome,” Davis said. “I was joking around with my wife — she’s running it as well — and I said, I’d like to place in my age group. Halfway through, I thought I might place first. So I just tried to hold on for as long as I could and finish up strong.”
The 32-year-old from Scotch Plains trailed Princeton University lightweight men’s crew coach Marty Crotty through the first six miles of the course before Davis caught him going up Washington Rd.
”I caught him in the middle of the hill, and I turned to him and he said, ‘Gravity’s taking me down,’” Davis recalled. “He said, ‘All I wanted to do was be in first place to see my kids.’ I said, ‘Did you see them?’ He said, ‘I did. Go ahead.’
”From there, I took off and the weather was great and I felt good. It was a great run. I was happy with it.”
Crotty would finish fourth in 1:26:24. Davis is a relative newcomer to the running scene, but with a Boston Marathon qualifying time and a regular training and racing schedule, he is hooked on his new passion.
”I just started running three years ago,” Davis said. “I played baseball and basketball through high school, then I played college baseball. Then my wife and I were looking to do some competitive stuff and I picked up running three years ago, and it’s kind of taken off.
”I was a catcher. I was 40 pounds heavier in college. One knee surgery, and now it’s part of my life. I (run) every single day.”
Albert Lee, a West Windsor-Plainsboro High South graduate who is now a sophomore at Princeton University, finished second in 1:22:20.
”I could always see (Davis) ahead, but I just concentrated on running a good race,” Lee said. “The course was really beautiful, and it was really fun. There were people cheering you on every mile. It was just a great race and I really enjoyed it.”
Lee is part of the Princeton University running club that had a strong presence in the race. Another Princeton University running club member, Jacob Miller, came in third in 1:24:52. David Kimmel rounded out the top five in 1:26:55.
Denise Peterson led start to finish to win the women’s division in 1:31:17, ahead of Christen Rillo, who closed the gap toward the end of the race but never caught Peterson, who celebrated her win then planned to return to New York City to watch the New York City Marathon with more hardware than she ever expected.
”I don’t win races,” said the 42-year-old Peterson, who was 15th overall. “I’m over the moon thrilled. Once I eat some pancakes, I’m going to be over-the-moon giddy. It’s exciting.”
Peterson is training for the California International Marathon in a month. She was using the Princeton Half Marathon as a chance to prepare for the marathon.
”It was great,” Peterson said. “It was perfect because the hills came at a time when you’re tired, so it’s a perfect get-ready race. It’s like Boston with the hills at the end. It’s a great race to practice hills when you’re tired.”
Peterson saw a few women three miles into the course when it bends back on itself, but didn’t see her top competition. She knew right from the start that she had the women’s lead.
”It’s a lot of pressure,” she said. “You keep hearing: ‘First woman, first woman.’ It’s hard to be chased. It’s a different mindset.”
But one she wouldn’t mind being in again. She is hoping she can come back next year from New York to defend her title.
”It was easy with the train,” Peterson said. “It’s perfect. I’ll tell everyone to come.”
Rillo, a 32-year-old from Howell, was just 14 seconds behind Peterson in 16th place overall. She made up ground toward the end of the race. She finished with a 6:59 per mile pace to Peterson’s 6:58. Kavita Panke was third among women in 1:32:21.
”I hit a 6:28 mile and I couldn’t get her,” Rillo said of Peterson. “I didn’t even come close when I ran that and then Mile 12-13, she kept going and I couldn’t close the gap any more.”
Like many of the runners, Rillo was raving about the course after it. It was challenging with the hills, but it was a cool, crisp day — perfect for running.
”The course was awesome,” Rillo said. “I liked when you went into the trails, that was a really nice aspect to it. Not a lot of half marathons have that. It was hilly, but it had a lot of nice down hills too. It made up for it — kind of.”
There were plenty of fans on hand to support their friends and family. They lined the streets, and were concentrated heaviest where the course crossed Nassau Street on Washington Road and at the finish area.
”It’s a really beautiful course,” Lee said. “I really enjoyed running through it. There were people every not even 800 meters cheering you on. It was a great experience. I really enjoyed it.”West Windsor resident Jack Dehne was there with his four younger siblings and his father to root on his mother, Tanuja. She had registered for the race last year when it was canceled due to Superstorm Sandy, and has been training every day through the fall for the challenging course.
”She’s run on parts of it,” said Jack, 11. “Not all of it at once.”
That challenge came Sunday along with 1,120 race participants. As she peaked the top of the Washington Rd. climb, her family was there to cheer for her on her way to a 2:07:38 finish.
”She looked pretty good,” Jack said. “She was happy. . . She wasn’t mad at all.”
Another 11-year-old old, Harry Carter, didn’t have to come far either to cheer on his father, Percy Carter, a Princeton resident who placed eighth in 1:29:46.
”He is awesome,” Harry said. “I saw him pass by once at the Battlefield.”
Carter was the top masters male, while Macey Marko was the top female masters in 1:33:21.

