By Justin Feil, Assistant Sports Editor
Lou Mialhe’s text message showed a much greater dedication to her running.
The Princeton High School senior sent the text early in the morning while she was vacationing in France.
“She was getting out early when it was a lot cooler,” said PHS head coach Jim Smirk. “She doesn’t like the heat a lot. She did the work and it shows.”
Mialhe also was diligent about her running while vacationing on an island in the Atlantic Ocean. She hasn’t always gotten herself out to run while traveling so much, but this summer she did.
“Coming off of nationals, I took a couple weeks off and I went right back into volume,” Mialhe said. “I was still traveling a lot, but I found more time to run than I did last year. Starting with running camp — Horse Farm Running Camp — it was such a big change from last year. I already had a base of volume going in. The hills were easier, the volume was easier. It allowed me to push forward more, earlier in the season.”
Mialhe took advantage of some beautiful vacation spots to get in her runs. This was no towpath or Bunn Dr.
“I spent a week in the Alps, so I did some altitude training,” Mialhe said. “I did some hiking. I did a lot of swimming. I also spent 12 days on an island in the Atlantic where there were a lot of trails and rocks and good ground to train on.
“I took advantage of being in France. My grandparents have a little vacation house in the Alps. It’s a little purifying. The air is thin. It’s beautiful. I’ll go out for a run and forget I’m running.”
Mialhe opened the cross country season officially on Tuesday in the front pack as the Little Tigers took second, third and fourth to key a 23-36 win over Robbinsville and 16-48 win over Hamilton West. Mialhe was the top overall female finisher at the Helene Cody Cranbury 5k on Saturday.
“I went out and raced it,” said Mialhe, who won in 19:29. “I didn’t go too hard, but I gave it some effort.
“It definitely felt great. Every time I’ve gone out to run the Helene Cody, it hasn’t turned out that well. It was either too hot or I got hurt before. It was good to have a road race to know where I am. I went in not fully ready, but it turned out really well. I’m happy.”
Mialhe is hoping there are plenty of happy days ahead for her and the Little Tigers, who have a new look to them. They graduated some staples of the program, and it’s up to Mialhe and her class to replace them.
“I do feel different,” she said. “We had four big seniors on varsity. Without them, it feels a little empty. There’s definitely a different atmosphere and ambience. There are some roles I need to take on as a senior.”
Mialhe can already fill one as a front-runner for the Little Tigers, who have moved up to Group IV this year, and also hope to be a contender for the Mercer County Championship.
“We’re definitely still keeping an eye on (West Windsor-Plainsboro) South,” Mialhe said. “We’d still like to get them. They probably have a few novice runners as well. I think we don’t see them for a little bit. Definitely the county title is in our eyes, but we’ll see. I don’t know where everyone is.”
Tuesday’s race gave them a better picture. It was an early season race from which to learn.
“Robbinsville is no slouch,” Smirk said. “They’re a good team. They made us make some mistakes. I’m glad we saw them early. You see a team like that early and it identifies what needs to happen. Now that we’re Group IV. You can’t have the mental mistakes in IV. There’s too much depth there.”
The Little Tigers could expect some growing pains. They are working to figure out who will be in their top seven from an assortment of classes and experience levels.
“We’re definitely a younger team,” Mialhe said. “There aren’t five seniors in the lead, or four like last year. We are younger and there are some kids that can have breakout races. There’s one girl we haven’t seen run the whole season last year because she’s been hurt. She looked great at camp.”
Mialhe ran in tandem with Chloe Taylor at the dual meet Tuesday. Taylor shows promise if she can remain healthy this year.
“Chloe opened up late in spring track,” Smirk said. “She ran in the mid-5:00s. She qualified for nationals in the 3200 but they only take 18 and it was too late. She ran strong and if she keeps progressing, she’ll be good.”
Emma Eikelberner is back as is Anne Fleur Hartmanshenn to help add to the returning experience. Mialhe is a four-year contributor who now has to elevate her leadership and influence.
“We’re a younger team so it’s a little scary for me,” Mialhe said. “I’m ready to take some risks. I definitely think we have the talent and potential on our team to take it as far as we did last year.”
Mialhe feels that she is much farther ahead of where she was last year. Her summer has helped spur on higher goals.
“Last year, at this point, I didn’t really know what to expect,” Mialhe said. “I just felt so weak over (last) summer. I didn’t run at all and I went to camp and realized how far behind I was. I was a little worried.
“Now I know a little bit,” she added. “I’d love to break 19:00 on Holmdel. I think that’s possible. I’m looking to do that at states. Otherwise, my more immediate goals are breaking 19:00 anywhere. I’ve run 19:03, 19:02, 19:05 at Vets Park. I think first meet out I should be able to do it.”
At the same time, she will be helping her teammates in their development. She can remember what it was like to be a freshman and sophomore coming up to be a scoring member of the team. She brings that experience as she prepares for what she anticipates will be her best season.
“I know there’s a few things I have to work on this year, like staying more focused mentally usually in the middle mile,” Mialhe said. “I always tend to let go a little bit. That, for me, is the hardest part of the race. That’s what I’m working on this year. Hopefully I’ll be able to solve that piece early on so I don’t have to worry about it.
“Otherwise, I learned that I like being an aggressive runner, I like to take risks, especially later on the races. In the last mile and a quarter, I like to attack and take risks that might turn out badly. I like taking risks and learning from them if I mess up.”
Risk taking is a must for this year’s team, which has the potential to be just as good if not better than last year though there are more question marks. PHS has different strengths in this year’s runners. In Mialhe, they have a fearless leader and a perfect example.
She helped to set the tone for Tuesday’s meet. She was out quickly and helped bring PHS along to a pair of wins. She knows she is in a position to lead as a senior and top returner, though she doesn’t feel any extra pressure this season.
“Surprisingly, I feel less pressure to do well,” she said. “I feel like it’s supposed to come more naturally to me. I feel less nervous and more ready to take more risks. I feel like all the experience has built up, and I feel like I have more control over what I can do. That helps me concentrate and control my nerves. I feel like I have less pressure and I like that.”
Lou Mialhe should have confidence entering this season. She was more diligent over the summer, something that already has its benefits.
“She made the commitment coming out of spring track,” Smirk said. “She knows what’s here for her. She knows she’s surrounded by a good team, and she showed her dedication.”
