Former Ellsworth star Luchini enjoys competition

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Two weeks ago, Louie Luchini’s running credentials were already impressive. He’d just finished fifth in the NCAA championships (at 10,000 meters). That made the Stanford University junior an All-American (again).

And then, on June 22, the former Ellsworth High School star did something that surprised even him.

Perhaps you saw the result: Luchini ran a sizzling 5,000 meters in the U.S. Outdoor Track and Field Championships, finishing fifth in 13 minutes, 34.18 seconds.

That’s part of the story. How he did it, and what it means? Well, that’s another story altogether.

First, you ought to realize that though Luchini had been running very fast at Stanford, the U.S. Championships 5,000 marked an eight-second improvement on his personal best.

His brother, former UMaine standout Joey Luchini, said the race meant more after he heard Louie describe it.

“When he came home, he told me stories about bumping elbows with four Olympians,” Joey Luchini said. “Four Olympians in the race and he’s up there competing with them. It’s amazing. It’s awesome.”

That helps explain what Louie Luchini’s fifth-place effort means: He belongs. He’s national-class. One of the best. And world-class? That’s not far away, either.

Louie Luchini said he started conservatively, according to coach Vin Lanana’s plan, then surged late in the race.

“My coach wanted me to stay back in around eighth place at the start, and I was back around 10th or 11th, actually,” he said.

To put Luchini’s race in perspective, you might have to dissect it a bit. Track folks love numbers, and his run produced some head-spinning digits.

Like these: 4:25, 4:19, 4:15.

Those are his mile splits. The 4:15, by the way, is a mile personal best for Luchini. So is the 8:34 two mile he turned in from the one-mile mark to the three-mile mark.

Louie Luchini said the atmosphere – the meet was held at Stanford’s home stadium – was electric.

“I got really pumped up beforehand, having it on our home track,” he said. “We had like 8,000 people watching and they were definitely cheering for the hometown kids.”

Luchini gave them something to cheer about when he made a move up to second with a bit less than two laps to go.

“I sat back until about six laps to go, about a mile and a half,” he said. “I was just having fun anyway, and I said, ‘I’m gonna go run with the leaders, just for the fun of it.’ And then I just stayed with them. I kind of surprised myself.”

Louie Luchini said he ran many of the early laps with a grin pasted on his face (check the race photos on the Internet, and you’ll see he’s telling the truth), but as the race progressed, he became more serious. And more optimistic.

“I moved into second from two laps to one lap to go,” he said. “I thought I was gonna win the race, actually. I really thought I had a good chance to win.

“I kind of got cut off a little bit with about 500 meters to go and then they closed extremely fast and smoked me,” he said.

Want some more numbers: Luchini ran each of the final two laps in 60 seconds, compiling a solid, speedy 2:00 final 800 meters. The winner ran about 1:54 for the same distance.

“I really couldn’t compete with that at this stage,” Louie Luchini said. “Those guys are rolling.”

Luchini is back in Maine until August, when he’ll likely run in the Beach to Beacon 10K, then hit the road with brother Joey to drive to California.

He and Joey will conduct a running camp for children at the Ellsworth YMCA later this month, and he plans to do a bit of golfing.

Then he’ll be back at Stanford … looking to get even faster.

Still, he realizes how far he’s come thus far.

“I’m just a better runner than I’ve ever been right now, I think,” he said. “Especially after that race. I’m much more confident, too.”

The other Mainer

While Luchini is the local-boy-done-good, another Mainer also continued his speedy running in that U.S. Championships 5,000.

Matt Lane of Yarmouth, a William & Mary grad, finished third in 13:30.58.

Finishing kick: Many runners hit the roads during Thursday’s holiday races, but those who haven’t had enough racing this week still have some options.

On Saturday, northern Maine runners can head to Caribou High School for the Musterd Mile. The starting time is 6 p.m.

Down on Mount Desert Island, also on Saturday, Camp Beech Cliff is holding 15K and 5K trail runs beginning at 9 a.m.

And on Sunday, the KBIA ‘A Day at the Beach’ 5K will be held at Kennebunk Beach.

John Holyoke can be reached at 990-8214, 1-800-310-8600 or by e-mail at jholyoke@bangordailynews.net