Caitlin O'Malley Cherokee High School 2001 - 2004 |
| These are the best of the best...the athletes who have had a huge impact in developing me into the coach I am today. My hope is that future athletes will aspire to be mentioned along side these athletes by either their athletic feats, or personal traits. This is not to disparage any other athletes, it is only to truly honor those who have achieved the greatest accomplishments. I hope it can be a motivation for others to try to achieve. |
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| Lauren Anders Shawnee High School 1998 |
Melissa Razo Cherokee High School 2000 |
Melissa exemplifies courage. Prior to coaching Melissa she was an average athlete who had the desire to reach her potential. All she was looking for was someone to believe in her and work with her. Once I showed I was willing to do just that...nothing stopped her. Melissa's chronic Achilles issues, that had her in buckets of ice water and limping between most workouts and races, did not stop her. The tragic death of her cousin in the Pier Crash in Philadelphia, two weeks prior to Outdoor Sectionals, did not stop her. Through all of that Melissa was honored by the South Jersey coaches as 2000's Most Courages Athlete during the Spring, Qualified for Meet of Champions all three seasons her Senior year, and graduated with PR's of 5:15, 11:31, 2:23, 19:49 at a hilly Mill Creek. Park. |
| Michelle Bilicki Cherokee High School 2000 - 2001 |
Malia Lyles Cherokee High School 2001 - 2003 |
Malia Lyles was an athlete of mine who was a late bloomer. She played soccer during the fall her first two years of high school, and was a sprinter during the winter and spring during those years. At the end of her sophomore year of Spring Track I convinced Malia...and the head coach...to run a 800. The result was she took 2nd in our novice meet in like low 2:30's. From there I was able to convince Malia to come out for cross country. It was a slow process, however she began to take to it. Malia's first XC race...7th place in a dual meet in 21:48. Malia;s last XC race... 13th Place at New Jersey Meet of Champions. Malia was one of three Cross Country All State Selections to run for me. In between those two races Malia accomplished a lot on the cross country courses and at 3200 meters on the tracks of New Jersey. Malia's senior season she won the Olympic Conference Championship and The Burlington County Championship at 3200 meters. Her time of 11:18.48 at the County Meet, at the time ran, was 3rd on my All Time List. Malia accomplished all of this while enduring a strenuous home life. Malia comes from a single parent family. Her mothered worked day and night, and Malia had to take care of herself and her younger sister. Malia realized that financially her college options may be limited. Her success her senior year can be attributed to her realization that running could help. She continued her running career at Division 1 Monmouth University in New Jersey. |
Jenna Viggiano Cherokee High School 2000 - 2003 |
Jenna Viggiano is the only athlete who I coached all three seasons all four years of high school. During that time she was a varsity runner for me every single season. During those four years Jenna had ups and downs. Her share of success and her share of disappointment. Through it all she never lost focus or gave up. Each and everyday she showed up with a passion to reach her potential and carry on the tradition that came to be expected of a Tarello athlete. While she did not accomplish what the others on this page did, Jenna still earned her place in Tarello's Track of Fame. At her best Jenna recorded a PR of 2:22.52 at the Burlington Country Championships. Earlier that season she is credited with playing a major role in Cherokee's upset of State Power Eastern. Jenna pulled one of the biggest upsets of the meet by winning the 800, in a kick, in 2:27.6 |
Grace Pelerin Cherokee High School 2001 - 2004 |
Caitlin O'Malley is the greatest success story of all the athletes I have ever coached, and that is saying a lot after reading the stories of athletes listed on this page. Her freshmen season Caitlin O'Malley ran a PR of 25:55 for 5K. She was a back of the pack athlete who finished her freshen cross country season sick of watching her fellow freshmen contribute to the varsity program. The outcome of that sickness was 2 and 1/2 years of consistent and persistent hard training. She obtained the strongest desire to make herself a high level athlete. Due to lack of natural talent it was not a quick process, however she believed if she listened to me and believed in me and was patient, her time would come. That time did come...and will continue to come as she continues to show those qualities that developed her into the athlete she is today. As of the fall her senior year Caitlin O'Malley has developed from a 25:55 5k runner into a 19:13 5k runner and 11:52 for 3200 on the track. Caitlin more importantly is an inspiration for those who do not see immediate success in the sport of distance running, however have a deep desire, determination, and the patience to achieve the highest levels. |
Lisa Burkholder Cherokee High School 2002 - 2003 |
What can I say about Lisa Burkholder? If the statistics in these pages don't tell you the story then I'm not sure what to say other then she simply one of the best of the best. Lisa Burkholder is one of those athletes you can only hope to coach more then once in a career. On top of that, when I stopped coaching Lisa she was only a junior with two more (four total) track seasons and the ability to achieve what others can only dream. During Lisa's first two years of High School she reached the heights of Three Time County Champion, Three Time Olympic Conference Champion, Two Time Sectional Champion, runner up during the indoor season at Meet of Champions in the 1600, and Adidas Freshmen Mile National Champion. I left coaching Lisa Burkholder with PR's of 2:15.4, 5:00.14 and 4:58 recorded split, and 10:54.16. Lisa Burkholder has the potential to be one of those athletes that you hear about beyond high school and possibly beyond college. Unfortunatly I did not have the opportunity to coach Lisa through her high school career and help achieve her potential. VIETNAMESE SAYING - "When you eat fruit, think of the person who planted the tree" |
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Lauren Anders is an example of not only athletic talent, but trust and perseverance. When I began coaching Lauren she had been purely an 800 meter runner since her freshmen year. We had many talks tossing around the idea of moving her up to the mile. She had shown she had the strength from cross country, and obviously had speed as shown in her 800's. So during her last season of Track and Field at Shawnee High School Lauren agreed to the plan. The result was a season to end all seasons. 3 major championships, 1st Team All County, 1st Team All South Jersey, and a Personal Record of 5:07.8 for a full mile. |
| Jenna Darcy Shawnee High School 1998 - 1999 |
Being able to work with Jenna Darcy was without question one of the most memorable and positive experiencesI have had in Coaching. Jenna won every Major Championship leading up to Meet of Champions in 1999, and on top of that lead her team to the first, and only, State Championship Shawnee High School has won in Girls Spring Track and Field. My only regret was not having been able to coach Jenna during her senior season due to the teaching and coaching position I was offered at Cherokee. Jenna handled that situation with great maturity. I have never coached a more mentally tough athlete. All Jenna's positive traits can be seen in her career as a Division 1 Cross Country and Track and Field Athlete at LaSalle University and as she pursues her post collegiate running and career goals. |
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In 1992 Reuben Frank wrote an article titled "Getting Back on Track ...Shawnee's Tarello Trying to Return to Form After Injuries". The first paragraph read "his coaches didn't know if Chris Tarello would ever be back. His teammates didn't know if Tarello would ever be back. Even Tarello had his doubts." I know, first hand, what it is like to battle injuries my whole career. I battled them in High School. I battled them in College. Grace Pelerin will always be held in the highest regard because she is me. Grace has battled the same stress fracture problems that I battled. However like I stated in the article, "I love the sport too much to ever think of giving in. I love the competition, I love my teammates. Thats why I have fought through the injuries, and will continue to." Grace Pelerin started her High School running career with promise to be one of the best ever. Her freshmen season she appeared in my All Time Cross Country list running 20:59 at Holmdel. Since then she has missed either part of or all of 6 seasons out fo 9. However in those 3 seasons she did compete Grace has managed to become part of the All Time Holmdel List, contribute a key leg to the All Time Indoor Distance Med that ran 12:26 and competed in the Nike Indoor Nationals and won Woodbury Relays Outdoors, competed in the Championship of America at Penn Relays, and High Jumped 5 foot 11 times. I know, from personal experience, that Grace Pelerin could have pursued various other things in her life and not dealt with these disappointments, however over the past four years she has displayed the utmost passion and love for the sport to battle through her injuries and compete at the highest levels. Grace Pelerin is part of this Track of Fame due to that and is an inspiration to anyone that has to fight through the battles that we both have. |
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| TRACK OF FAME |
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Michelle will always be known for her knowledge and love for the sport of cross country and track. That love drove her to excel beyond her physical abilities and compete at a very high level during her years running for me at Cherokee. It is not the major Championships she won under my coaching that puts Michelle in this prestigious company, but her consistency. When inducted, prior to the onslaught of the Lincoln Sudbury athletes, Michelle held the number three position in both the 800 and 1600 outdoors, the number two position in the 1600 indoors, and the 10th 13th 14th and 16th positions in cross county. In addition to her individual achievements Michelle lead her relays to hold at one point the top spot in 4 of the 5 relays listed. That is a total of 11 spots she held on my All Time List...the most held by any of my athletes to date. |
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| Tim Callinan Sacred Heart High School 1997 into 1998 |
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| Coaching distance runners has been pure joy...but being a middle distance runner myself...there is just something special about being able to coach a high level athlete of the same gender and event area. We were able to relate on so many levels, experience many of the same situations, dreams, and stresses. Our two seasons together were truly experienced together. Andrew sacrificed, and I sacrificed right along with him, as we spent many late evenings at the indoor facility at Harvard University putting Andrew through the same workouts that I had experienced. We connected as he lay in pain after one of those lactic acid workouts...Andrew knowing full well that only a few years ago I was laying in the same position. Every workout was all out, which enabled him to approach every race in the same manner. We experienced the anxiety of those workouts, the pain of those workouts, and the fear of the races making all those workouts worth while. In the end Andrew was best he could be after only two seasons of working together, but more importantly he enabled himself to continue his running career at the next level...and enabled himself to progress at the next level having gone through and experiencing the moments of our two seasons together. |
| Andrew Smith Lincoln Sudbury High School 2005 into 2006 |
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| COACHTARELLO.com "A COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE" |
| Upon graduating Rider University in 1997 I received my first coaching position at Sacred Heart High School, it was there that I came upon my first standout athlete...Tim Callinan. Tim was easy to coach as he had already been developed as an athlete from freshmen year through junior year by his brother and former Sacred Heart coach Chris Callinan. Tim already possessed unparalleled work ethic, desire, and focus...all of which were self created. Tim and me came together that year and worked as a team trying to take his running to another level. I affectionatly called him "Timmy", and he reciprocated with "Coach". Timmy carried his goals in his wallet and worked each and every day with a focus and drive to improve. Timmy's senior indoor track season culminated with a State Championship at two miles for which he mounted his medal on a plaque which reads "I'm in heaven here...and my runners are my angles". I received a position at Shawnee High School that spring and our working together every day ended, but we kept in touch and were able to work one last time together at the Adidas Outdoor National Championships where Timmy raced the 2000 meter steeple chase. Our coach/athlete relationship may have directly ended that winter in 1997, but I am proud to be able to call Timmy a good friend to this day. His talent and personal characteristics still exist as he excels as a post graduate athlete for the Philadelphia Track Club. In addition to being proud of what Timmy accomplished in those two season, I am proud of his current success. |
| PR's: 1500m: 4:05.23, Seamus McElligott Invitational, Haverford, PA, 2003 3000m: 8:45.43, Keogh Invite, Haverford, PA, 2005 5000m: 14:48.96, Widener Invitational, Chester, PA, 2003 8000m: 26:15, BAA Mayor's Cup, Boston, MA, 2004 10,000m: 30:44.11, 4th, Penn Relays, Philadelphia, PA, 2005 5 Miles: 25:38.2, Belmar 5 Mile Run 2004, Belmar, NJ, 2004 10 Miles: 49:50, Blue Cross Broad Street Run, Philadelphia, PA 2006 20k: 1:05:03, Stratton Foxon New Haven 20k (USATF Champs), New Haven, CN 2007 Half Marathon: 1:09.53, Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run, Philadelphia, PA, 2004 Marathon: 2:37:24, LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon, Chicago, IL, 2006 Individual Results: 2007 Houston Half-Marathon, 44th 1:10:03 Frostbite 5 Miler, 3rd, 26:49 Shut Up and Run 5k, 3rd, 15:52 Media 5 Miler, 6th, 26:03 Stratton Foxon New Haven 20k (USATF Champs), 24th, 1:05:03 *PR* 2006 LaSalle Banks Chicago Marathon, 2:37:24, 227th place Philadelphia Distance Run, 1:09:59, 53rd place Sea Isle City 10 Miler, 53:46, 8th place Green Turtle West 5k, 16:18, 1st place Tuppeny Twighlight, 5k, 15:06.18, 6th Blue Cross Broad Street Run 10 Miler, 5/6/06, 49:50, 9th The Penn Relays, 10k, 4/27/06, 31:15.11, 11th Papa John's 10 Miler, 4/15/06, 53:11, 22nd Sam Howell Invite, 5k, 4/7/06, 15:13.51, 36th Adrenaline 5k, 3/18/06, 15:30, 14th 2005 New Haven 20k, 9/5/05, 1:07:38, 40th Stone Harbor Lions Club 10k, 8/28/05, 33:07, 3rd Sea Isle City 10 Miler, 8/6/05, 56:05, 5th Belmar 5 Miler, 7/9/05, 25:48, 11th Stone Harbor Lions Club 10k, 8/28/05, 33:07, 3rd Sea Isle City 10 Miler, 8/6/05, 56:05, 5th Belmar 5 Miler, 7/9/05, 25:48, 11th Media 5 Miler, 6/17/05, 26:34, 5th Villanova Tuppeny Twilight Meet, 5/16/05, 5k, 15:12.44, 14th Penn Relays O.D. 10,000m, 4/28/05, 30:44.11, 4th Sam Howell Invitational, 4/8/05, 5k, 15:02.34, 35th Raleigh Relays, 3/25/05, 10k 31:11.34 Keogh Invite, 2/20/05, 3000m, 8:45.43 2004 Mayor's Cup, 10/24/04, 26:15, 85th Battle Royale II 2004 - 4 Miles, 22:17 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run 2004– Half Marathon, 1:09.53 *PR* Belmar 5 Mile Run 2004 - 25:38.2 Media 5 Miler 2004 - 26:55 Blue Cross Broad Street Run 2004 - 10 miles, 52:45 Widener Invitational 2004 - 5k, 15:07.2 Sam Howell Memorial 2004 - 10k, 31:20.31 Adidas Raleigh Relays 2004 - 5k, 15:05.17 Fighting Irish 5k 2004 - 16:01 Mercedes Half Marathon 2004 - 1:10.06 Haverford Invitational 2004 - 3k, 8:56 NYRRC Thursday at the Races, Januray 15, 2004 - 2 Miles, 9:33 2003 Jefferson Hospital Philadelphia Distance Run 2003 – Half Marathon, 1:10.00 Sea Isle City Beach Patrol 10 Miler 2003 – 54:55 Media 5 Miler 2003 – 26:17 McEllighott Invitational 2003 – 1500m, 4:05 Widener Invitational 2003 – 5000m, 14:48.96 Sam Howell Memorial 2003 – 10,000m, 31:57.21 St. Patty’s Day Running of the Green 2003 – 5k, 15:44 Haverford Quad Meet 2003 – 1500m, 4:11 Haverford Invitational 2003 – 1500m, 4:08.3 2002 Camden Street Run 5k 2002 – 16:22 Haddonfield Road Race 2002 – 16:08 GVH Cross Country Invitational 2002 – 8k, 26:54 Tony's Run 2002 - 5k, 16:08 |
| Dana Jamieson Lincoln Sudbury High School 2006 - 2008 |
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Dana arguably had the most raw talent of anybody I have ever coached possessing the blazing speed of a top sprinter and the natural strength of a long distance runner. Once these gifts became evident to everyone involved Dana Jamieson switched from soccer to cross country and from sprinting to my middle distance / distance group. That switch was proven to be the right move as seen through her accomplishments, PR's, and scholarship to compete at SEC powerhouse University of Kentucky (however only remained at UK for one semester). Things were never easy for Dana Jamieson being a Metco Student (bussed from inner city Boston to the suburbs of Mass). Dana had to endure earlier mornings then most, and later evenings. The trick was an attempt at a routine that made it as easy as possible on Dana while still not sacrificing what was need to reach the heights of a National caliber athlete. Though the trips from the train station, providing Dana with essentials for her success, and teammates and their families chipping in where ever possible took a toll on many I can't help but look back at her career with a certain amount of pride. While the PR's and accomplishments were great, the real source of pride comes from being able to help move an athlete along to the collegiate level with the opportunity to achieve more and create an amazing future. What more could one ask? |
| Molly Binder Lincoln Sudbury High School 2005 - 2008 |
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| Molly came to me at the end of her freshmen year and stated, "I want to qualify for Footlocker Nationals" to which I replied (having not yet begun my coaching at LS, and not knowing Molly's background) "what have you run in cross country?" After telling me she had run 22:00 I needed her to understand what such a feat would entail. She needed a lifestyle change, patience, and a lot of hard work. At the time I didn't know just how serious she was taking me, however 4 years later all can see she took my words very serious, and that she was sincere about leaving mediocrity behind and striving for greatness. That greatness did come, however it wasn't in the cross country world where Molly achieved greatness, it was on the tracks of Massachusetts, in North Carolina, the New York Armory, and at The University of Pennsylvania. It was at those places where she achieved the accomplishments of 2x All State Indiv Champion, 2x All American, Championship of America Races, and a PR of 2:11.88 for 800m, and also earned a free college education at Wake Forest University. As if all that isn't enough, had it not been for interrupted training and racing, due to injuries and illness, Molly would have achieved even more and given Emily Mepham a run as the most decorated athlete under my tutelage. The amazing thing about Molly was, when she was ON she could beat you regardless of how the race turned out. If it went out fast, she was never hesitant to go with it. She had a combination of speed and strength that enabled her to go out as fast as the leaders went and not drop off. Then come the end she had the will to win, she created amazing torque and had very strong arms. So on that last straight the combination of all that would bring her a win. Should the race be slow you could just see the comfort and ease, it just didn't effect her, so she would make a move going into 200m and just pull away. Molly was with me every year and every season during my time at Lincoln Sudbury, and as I leave high school coaching and move into collegiate coaching I am thankful to have had Molly by my side during those final years. I couldn't imagine a better individual to have shared all the accomplishments. |
While everyone in the Massachusetts XC and track world kept a eye on what Dana Jamieson would be able to accomplish as a mid-distance runner, watched Molly Binder come out of nowhere to win two All State titles, and watched Lincoln Sudbury shatter state relay records and win team titles, Emily Mepham was flying under the radar, collecting relay and team titles, and biding her time until the winter & spring seasons of 2008 where she would take center stage and come out of the shadows of her teammates. In the winter of 2008 Emily collected her first individual All State title at 1000m with a time of 2:53.09, and set an 800m PR of 2:12.97 just missing individual All American status. She followed that up with a spring season that saw her win her second Division 1 State Championship at 800m (2:13.78) and just miss, during a very tumultuous time, a second All State Title. Mepham graduated Lincoln Sudbury and moved onto Brown University leaving behind a legacy that could very well be unrivaled. 15 conference titles, 11 Division 1 State titles, 10 All State Titles, a two time All American, two Championship of America 4x800m races, a NTN Northeast XC team title, and a appearance at Nike Team Nationals. These are stats that move her to the top of my coaching list as the most successful athlete I have had the pleasure of coaching. In addition Emily left LS as one of the most decorated track and field athletes ever in the state of MA, and one to the most herald athletes to ever grace LS. On a flight home from Penn Relays we passed the time by assigning animals to each athlete. Mepham was a grizzly bear. Fast, strong, fierce, protective, an animal who will fight till the bitter end. These are the attributes that Emily posses that afforded her the opportunity to achieve on the national level in high school and will help her to continue to achieve at the division one collegiate level. It is fitting that as I move on to collegiate coaching that Emily Mepham would be the last high school athlete I coached. She anchored the 4x800m relay at the Massachusetts All State Championships bringing both of us our last All State Title in our last high school race. It was a great way to end. Thank You. |
| Emily Mepham Lincoln Sudbury High School 2006 - 2008 |
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