August 5
August 5, 2008
Sarah Maria Domangue
August 7, 2008
Vandebilt Catholic senior Ross Mullooly started his half-marathon race in an unconventional place: Behind a computer.
“I was finally able to find one,” said the 17-year-old Terrier track, cross country and swim standout. He eventually came across the first-annual Renaissance Colony Park Half Marathon in Ridgeland, Miss., in late June.
The 13.1-mile race drew over 830 runners from 15 states to the rural Mississippi town to compete in the various age groups.
After enduring over an hour of Ridgeland’s hilly terrain, Mullooly crossed the finish line at 1:36:19 on the cloudy, cool day. It was then that he found out he had finished 22nd overall and first in the 19-and-under age group.
“It was very relieving,” he said of the finish. “Miles nine and 10 were the toughest because there was a large incline that really came out of the blue. I was able to get through it; but I never would have expected to finish where I did.”
In fact, Mullooly finished the race nearly 13 minutes faster than the next competitor in his age group.
The 12-mile daily training run and marathon were simply precursors to this, Mullooly’s senior year. At Vandebilt, he is an All-District, All-Parish and All-State cross-country runner and an All-Parish and All-District track racer.
Last season, Mullooly competed in the one- and two-mile run.
And he is also a state champion swimmer. In fact, it was swimming as a child that jumpstarted Mullooly’s interest in running in the first place.
“I have been swimming since I was little and took running as a cross-training method,” he explained. “I decided to stick with (running) when I got to high school and, before I knew it, I was doing well.”
As for marathons, Mullooly said after his senior season, he’ll look for other half- and full marathons to compete in at his leisure.
