By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Erica Oake knows exactly what Charlotte Gilmore is going through this year.
Oake, a sophomore on the Princeton High girls’ cross-country team, had a successful freshman season that was as much about learning the sport as it was lowering her times.
Gilmore, a freshman for the Little Tigers this year, is enjoying success on the course, but also learning about cross-country as she goes through her first varsity season.
“I am happy with what I am learning and how I am racing,” said Oake, who helped the Little Tigers to a fourth-place team finish at the Bowdoin Classic in Wappingers Falls, N.Y., on Sept. 23. “When I was a freshman I didn’t know how to race the course. I had not run three miles and I didn’t know how to pace myself.
“Now I am figuring out how to have just enough for a kick at the end but not be totally dead at the finish and get everything I can out on the course. I am training harder and the varsity workouts have helped me improve.”
Oake enjoyed a successful freshman season for Princeton that included a 26th-place finish at the Mercer County Championship meet. She’s off to an impressive start this season, as she finished 29th in the highly competitive race in Wappingers Falls. At that meet, Princeton was led by Chloe Taylor, who finished seventh. Gilmore, running in her first big invitational meet, placed 15th.
“It is a lot different from middle school cross country,” Gilmore said of racing at the varsity level. “Everything is a lot more intense. But I like it a lot more. The team aspect is really something I like a lot. Without my teammates, I i would not have done anything. They help me in races and help me train and push me to do more.
“Going into that meet, our older teammates warned Erica and I that it was a horrible course and it was very painful. I think them telling us that helped us. It was like the opposite of psyching us out. It was a lot different from dual meets. There were so many more teams lining up on starting line. It was intimidating because there were so many more runners than I was used to.”
Oake and Gilmore are a pair of young runners who joined Taylor, a senior, as well as senior Lauren Cleary and junior Siena Moran in the top five at the Bowdoin Classic. Taylor finished in 20:38, while Gilmore’s 21:07 wasn’t far behind. Oake finished in 22:17, while Cleary was 30th and Moran 36th in the race.
Both Oake and Gilmore are hoping to help contribute to a successful season for the Little Tigers.
“I ran varsity last year, which was fun,” said Oake, who posted a time of 20:57 at last year’s Mercer County Championship meet. “The girls were awesome. But I had a little bit of hip injury toward the end of the season and couldn’t finish off the way I would have liked to.
“It was definitely a confidence booster breaking 21 minutes (at the Mercer County meet last year). It isn’t common for a freshman and new runners. I was being told it was uncommon by older runners so it was cool to be recognized by the older runners.”
Gilmore will get a chance to run in another big meet atmosphere this weekend when she and the Little Tigers head to the Shore Coaches Invitational at Holmdel Park. The freshman came into the season ready to learn from her coaches and older runners and so far she has learned those lessons well.
“I was not around a lot of the summer so I ran a lot on my own,” Gilmore said. “When I was around I went to some of the training things, which helped because I got introduced to team and got to know the other girls.
“I really like the team aspect on the high school team. Everyone is so close and supportive of each. I have surprised myself with how I have done this year. I am glad I was able to do it and grateful for the help I have gotten. I am hoping next year when I know a little more I can be even better.”
The strong performance at Wappingers Falls should give the Little Tigers confidence as they head into the championship meet portion of the schedule.
“That was a good race for us,” Oake said. “Chloe ran well. I was sick that day so I had some complications on the course. I was happy how I ran technically, but my pace and speed could have been faster. I am excited for our new runners. Charlotte is a new freshman who is learning. She is phenomenal. I also am excited for Siena, who is new junior who moved in.”
Oake is feeling much better on the course with a year of experience under her belt. She came into the season more prepared and it has shown in her results. And Gilmore seems to be taking a similar path. The two young runners are doing their part to make this a special season for the Princeton girls.
