Quaglia has memorable experience at USA meet

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For most high school cross country athletes, their summer training program doesn’t start until maybe two or three weeks after the spring track season has concluded.

For Casey Quaglia, his summer training started after the state outdoor championships, and led him all the way to Baltimore.

No, he didn’t run there if that’s what you’re thinking.

The 17-year old Bangor High School senior-to-be gave the USA Track and Field Junior Olympic program a try this summer, and his running trail, if you will, led him from the Region 1 qualifying meet in Augusta to the Region 1 finals in Kingston, N.Y. and eventually to Baltimore, where he competed in the 12-man national final in the 1,500 meters last Sunday.

“It was crazy, 22 kids were seeded under 4 [minutes] 10 [seconds],” Quaglia said. “Somehow I ended up coming in fifth in my [qualifying] heat.”

Quaglia, who said there is a “80 to 90 percent chance” he will run cross country for the Rams this fall, placed 11th in the finals in 4:14.56, after finishing fifth in his preliminary heat with a 4:08.92 clocking.

Quaglia had nothing to lose in the final, as he was seeded 12th.

“I had no expectations to do anything which was good, and I was the underdog which I kind of liked,” he said.

The trip was a family affair for Quaglia and his family, as his mother, Elena Perrello, and younger sister Chelsea (16) all made the 12-hour drive from Bangor to Baltimore, as well as family friends Kathy and Tim McLeod

“I want to really commend my mom for getting us down there,” Quaglia said, adding that his older sister Lauren, 21, had just returned from a semester abroad in Rome, Italy. “My mom took time off from work and re-arranged her whole schedule to get us down there, my younger sister took some time off of work too. They were very supportive.”

Quaglia said the cost of the trip, which included a rental car and three nights lodging was “a little over $1,000.”

He added that the Junior Olympic meets and the training he did over the summer will pay dividends during his senior year.

“Last summer I didn’t really train at all, and I came into indoor in bad shape,” he said. “If anything [I hope] cross country season will get me in shape for indoor.”

And the experience will be valuable as well.

“Everyone there is the best of the best, just to compete against them was an unreal experience,” Quaglia said.

Among the off-the-track activities Quaglia and the family did while in Maryland were attend a Baltimore Orioles game at Camden Yards and a day at Six Flags.

“Camden Yards is beautiful,” he said.

And what about those famous Six Flags roller coasters, many of which go upside down?

“I’m scared of roller coasters,” Quaglia said laughing, “so I just chilled at the waterpark the whole time.”

Quaglia has one more summer race on his list before cross country practices start on August 14th: this weekend’s Beach to Beacon 10K.

“I’ve never done a race over two miles, so we’ll see how it works. I think it’ll be fun,” said Quaglia, who added that Brendan Carr, a former Brewer High standout who is taking his talents to UMaine, may run the race with him.

Quaglia added that he and Carr have been working out together this summer.

“We were working out every day of the week, he’s a huge help,” he said.

Quaglia has narrowed his college interests down to three: Bentley College in Massachusetts, UConn and North Carolina.

Final preparations

On a hot, steamy Wednesday in Cape Elizabeth, there was plenty of action at both ends of the TD Banknorth Beach to Beacon 10K course.

While many folks headed to Crescent Beach, near where the 6.2-mile race will start Saturday for a dip in the ocean, about 15 to 20 workers were setting up tents among other things at the finish line at Fort Williams.

The setup, which will continue today, is among many other pre-race activities that will take place over the next few days, including a spaghetti dinner at Cape Elizabeth High School on Friday from 5-8 p.m. Cost of the dinner is $8 per person.

A note to runners: The time and location for packet pickup has changed. Runners can pick up their bib number, T-shirt and Champion Chip timing device at Cape Elizabeth High from 4-8 p.m. today and 2:30-8 p.m. Friday. In past years, the number pickup has been located at the middle school.