Katelyn Tuohy Completes Busy Weekend with 9:58 2-Mile Victory

By Mary Albl of DyeStat

NEW YORK -- Katelyn Tuohy dedicated herself to helping her North Rockland NY teammates for a couple of days before taking after a personal goal in Sunday's 2-mile final at New Balance Nationals Indoor.  

“I hadn’t had a chance to run on some super-fast relays,” the sophomore said. “It was pretty awesome. To come and win the DMR (distance medley relay) with my team, (then) it was a little bittersweet coming runner-up in the SMR (sprint medley relay) … but just gives us motivation for what’s to come.” 

North Rockland won the DMR title Friday in 11:44.38 as Tuohy split 4:38.7 for 1,600 meters, and Saturday she ran an 800-meter anchor on the SMR (4:01.95) in about 2:10.

She capped off the three-day meet with a 2-mile victory on Sunday in 9:58.89. Tuohy wasn't the only one who shined. Kelsey Chmiel of Saratoga Springs NY, a junior, ran a big personal best in 10:02.36. Those two went No. 5 and 7 all-time. 

“Kelsey is a fantastic runner,” Tuohy said. “(We were) teammates at NXN two years ago… I’m super happy she’s been doing so well this season.”

While Tuohy established a big lead from the pack, Chmiel was within 10-20 meters of her for a majority of the two miles. 

“I just tried to make sure the gap didn’t get any bigger,” said Chmiel, who also brought home a second-place finish in the DMR. 

For third-place finisher Jackie Gaughan of Exeter NH (10:16.13), the experience of running with high-caliber runners Tuohy and Chmiel was something she doesn't get to do very often.  

“I was just excited to compete,” Gaughan said. “I don’t get in races where there’s so many fast girls a lot.”

Gaughan, who won the 5,000-meter title easily Friday, was alone for most of the second half of the race, chasing Chmiel and Tuohy. 

“I really look up to them,” she said. “They are amazing runners.”

Heading into the outdoor season, the two New Yorkers should be providing many more highlights.

“This season was a little bittersweet,” Tuohy said. “I got sick in the middle, so that wasn’t too fun, but the beginning of my season and end of my season were pretty fantastic.”