Pirates senior 21st at nationals
By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Nikhil Pulimood didn’t feel that energetic as he warmed up for the Nike Cross Nationals on Saturday, but he used all the energy he could summon once the 5-kilometer race began.
The West Windsor-Plainsboro High South senior finished 21st in the nation in 15 minutes, 47 seconds in the boys championship race on the Glendoveer Golf Course in Portland, Ore.
”I think I could have had a better race, but on that day and that time, I raced as well as I could,” Pulimood said. “I’m really proud of that. It’s been a great season. I don’t think I have any regrets. I’m really excited for the indoor season.”
Pulimood was representing the Pirate boys team and the Northeast region. He was the second individual finisher from the Northeast in the race behind Blaise Ferro of Christian Brothers Academy.
”It was a pretty flat course,” Pulimood said. “It was more geared toward southern athletes where they don’t have hills. Besides me and Blaise, and a couple Northeast kids, we were struggling because it was such a fast pace. They’re used to the hills. You just have to go out there and race.”
Pulimood averaged 5:05 per mile while picking up All-America honors. He is the second Pirate runner to earn such honors. Brian Leung was an All-America after finishing 15th at the Foot Locker Nationals in 2007.
”After I coached Brian Leung, I said, I’d never get another one,” said Pirates head coach Kurt Wayton. “As a twin, I could say, they’re about twins. They are the same type of kid. They have the same kind of determination. They’re a dream for a coach. I love Nikhil. He’s one of the highlights of my career.”
Pulimood wasn’t even a regular varsity runner until last year. He made another big improvement since then to put himself in position to compete at nationals. It was another step for him to believe that he could run with the top runners in the country.
”He was in the top 10 most of the race,” Wayton said. “He finished top 21 in the most competitive race in the country. He was mediocre in the beginning of his career. He didn’t do much his first two years. He could become one of the greatest runners to come out of this area.
”I wish I could take more credit. It’s him. He’s driven and determined. He did all he could to carve out what he could.”
Wayton could not fly out to the race, but Wayton’s twin brother, who works for Nike, was there to help pass along some advice to Pulimood. The race starts in a wide field but funnels into a path 10 meters wide. Shortly thereafter is a tight turn that could further pinch off a slow starter.
”All I had to think about was getting out and sticking with the top pack,” Pulimood said. “I didn’t feel that good. I wanted to make sure I was in that top group and see how long I could stick there.”
Said Wayton: “The fact that he was within 30 seconds of the winner, that speaks volumes of how great he’s run all year. He was a factor in each and every race he ran this year. How many runners can say that?”
Pulimood finished highly despite being detained slightly at the start line as a runner next to him grabbed him as he started to slip. Pulimood recovered to put himself in position by the bottleneck and was able to run with the best.
”I was happy how I did considering all that,” Pulimood said. “I just stuck in the top 10 the entire race. I knew if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to finish that high. I stuck in that as long as I could. It worked out pretty well.”
Pulimood enjoyed the experience. The nationals runners were able to meet Olympians Evan Jager and Galen Rupp and to be hosted like superstars.
”It was really cool that we were able to see all those people,” Pulimood said. “Nike’s campus was really amazing.”
The trip was a reward for all of Pulimood’s work. He developed into one of the best runners in the state and region and proved that he belongs among the best in the country now. He will take that confidence into the indoor track and field season.
”Running is running,” Wayton said. “We have to switch gears in how we have to train in terms of our mindset. He’s thinking about breaking 9:00 for two miles. If he’s going to be named with Brian Leung in the same sentence, he better run 8:56 like Brian did. He’ll have some lofty goals. If cross country is any indication, he’ll do everything he can to meet those goals.”