Maine Milesplit Q&A with Kelton Cullenberg (Conducted 8/31).jpg)
Kelton Cullenberg (Jr. Mt. Blue) is one of the top distance runners in the state maine. As a sophomore Cullenberg placed 6th in the Class A state championship. He started off 2008 with a bang as he won the season opening Scott Laliberte XC meet, running 16:33 over the 3 mile course to defeat a quality field, in the process he set a new course record by over 30 seconds.
You just started your season with an impressive victory at the 9th annual Scott Laliberte Invitational at Cony HS on 8/29, what was your race plan going in and were you surprised that you won?
I knew I was one of the top returners from last year, so I just wanted to stay with the lead pack as long as I could. I was a little surprised that I won, but I thought that I would be right with the front pack, and usually anyone in the front pack has a chance at winning.
The KVAC is filled with some of the states top distance runners, more specifically the junior class. With all the talent around you, does it motivate you to train harder?
Yeah, it definately does. We had a team made up of sophomores from the KVAC region last year that placed 2nd at USATF Nationals. I'm looking forward to it this year, and hopefully we can come back with a win.
Speaking of training, you must have logged some miles this summer to run as well as you did at the Laliberte meet. How many miles did you run a week this summer? What was your longest run? Did you go to any camps? And what is your favorite workout to run in season?
This summer I felt a lot stronger and did more miles than my past two summers. Going into my freshman year I was injured, and last year I wanted to take it easy and make sure the injury did not come back. After a few weeks rest from the track season I gradually built up my miles, and I am currently still doing so. Prior to this summer the longest run I ever did was around 5 miles. It's really nice to finally be able to go farther on my long runs, and I think that they are helping me a lot. I love racing, so I would have to say that my favorite workout is any type of repeats. They make me feel like a stronger runner and best simulate an actual race. I have gone to Nike Green Mountain Running Camp in Vermont the past three summers, and I have learned a lot.
With the season started, and you off to a great start. What races are you looking ahead too? What are your goals for the end of the season?
I'm really excited for Festival of Champions at Belfast. It will be a good chance to see where I'm at before the championship meets. I'm also looking forward to the Mt. Blue Relays, which are always fun, and obviously the championship meets. I would like our team (boys & girls) to do well at States. Our team goal last year was to make New Englands, but we didn't end up qualifying as a team. I was lucky enough to go as an individual, but I really want to go there as a part of our team this year. I look forward to placing better than I did last year at the State meet. I also would like to participate in the Foot Locker Northeast Regional meet, just to see how I compare with the top High School runners in our region of the country.
Your team Mt. Blue had a strong showing at the Laliberte meet and has had one of the top programs in the state for a long time now, what are you looking to do as a team this year?
We would really like to make it to New Englands.
I have to ask, what’s it like to have you mother as your coach?
I actually enjoy it. It's helpful having her to run with on longer runs (when we don't have practice). We get along well and we're always talking about new things to try to make our team better.
Final Question … Gold Medal or World Record, which would you rather have?
Assuming you meant a Gold Medal from the Olympics, I would have to say a Gold Medal. World Records are always being broken, and will always be broken. Once someone else broke my record, I would likely be forgotten. Winning a Gold Medal would never be forgotten. But really, either would be amazing.