Medford Runner Wins NY Race
Galebach Holds Own in Biggest Cross-Country Race in Northeast
– Allison Goldsberry
Medford High School senior and cross-country star Phil Galebach came home a winner after competing against thousands of talented runners in the biggest cross-country race in the northeast this weekend.
Galebach won his race in the 2008 Reebok Manhattan XC Invite, covering the 2.5 mile course at the Bronx’s Van Cortlandt Park in 12:29. His time was the eighth fastest of the day and he was the top Massachusetts finisher in the race.
Galebach came into the race after taking the previous week easy due to a sore knee. Fortunately his knee did not bother him at all during the race and he was able to pass the race leader, Mike Hickey of Pearl River, NY, on the final hill and he ended up beating Hickey by six seconds.
In a post-race interview Galebach said he stayed behind Hickey for most of the race before surging past him near the finish. Galebach, who favors longer distances, pressed the pace on the hills in an effort to tire out his competition. He said the stiff competition motivated him to run his best.
“It’s a lot more fun to have good competition to race against because it helps you to drive harder and really put in that 100%,” said Galebach.
Galebach was a Greater Boston League All-Star for cross-country, indoor track, and outdoor track last year and was also selected as a Boston Globe All-Scholastic last fall. He finished 4th in last year’s cross-country state meet and hopes to better that performance this year.
To prepare for the state meet this year, Galebach said he is putting in as many miles as possible and is running about 110 miles per week.
Galebach also works hard in the classroom, earning A’s in Advanced Placement classes. He is considering Harvard, Stanford, and the University of Virginia for college next year.
Galebach is coached in cross-country by Head Coach Lou Ruggiero, who traveled with him to NY for the race, and Assistant Coach Tom Lynch.
Below, Galebach talks about winning his NY race this past weekend:
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