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Cross country: Dom-a-nic: Hebron runner completes impressive cross country season
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
A busy and successful cross country year came to a close Saturday for Hebron's Robert Domanic, as the Class 5A State Champion capped off his superb season by earning All-American status at the 2012 Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships at Balboa Park in San Diego, Calif.
Domanic crossed the line in 15th (15:40) and was the top boys performer from Texas. Ed Cheserek (14:59) of St. Benedict's (N.J.) won the national title.
It was the second consecutive season Domanic has competed at Foot Locker after placing 20th last year on the same course (15:42). He earned the right to compete after placing in the top 20 at a qualifier in Charlotte, N.C. earlier this year.
"I felt pretty good about the race," Domanic said. "I thought I ran pretty well, but it was tough. I was in sixth after about two miles and just died like crazy. The portion with the hills just killed me."
Domanic was in the midst of a busy stretch as just a week prior he competed on a mud-filled terrain at the Nike Nationals in Portland, Ore. and took fifth.
"It was weird because it actually threw off my sleep schedule a little bit," he said. "I thought I had a better chance to do well in San Diego just because I had been there before and knew the course. I thought I ran well in both races. The mud in Portland was annoying, but I think I run pretty well in it. But I was more pleased with my run in San Diego because I got the last All-American spot."
While the fall season has concluded, Domanic still has plenty of work to do before the Ole Miss commit graduates in the spring.
"Right now, I'm going to take it easy for a week," Domanic said. "I'll take a couple of days of then run a mile or two a day for the rest of the week. Then I'll start ramping back up my training because the USA Junior Cross Country Championships are coming up in February."
Should Domanic place in the top five, he would qualify for the USA Junior Team and advance to the World Championships in Poland. Last year, Domanic finished 13th, while Hebron's Kevyn Hoyos took 11th.
Domanic crossed the line in 15th (15:40) and was the top boys performer from Texas. Ed Cheserek (14:59) of St. Benedict's (N.J.) won the national title.
It was the second consecutive season Domanic has competed at Foot Locker after placing 20th last year on the same course (15:42). He earned the right to compete after placing in the top 20 at a qualifier in Charlotte, N.C. earlier this year.
"I felt pretty good about the race," Domanic said. "I thought I ran pretty well, but it was tough. I was in sixth after about two miles and just died like crazy. The portion with the hills just killed me."
Domanic was in the midst of a busy stretch as just a week prior he competed on a mud-filled terrain at the Nike Nationals in Portland, Ore. and took fifth.
"It was weird because it actually threw off my sleep schedule a little bit," he said. "I thought I had a better chance to do well in San Diego just because I had been there before and knew the course. I thought I ran well in both races. The mud in Portland was annoying, but I think I run pretty well in it. But I was more pleased with my run in San Diego because I got the last All-American spot."
While the fall season has concluded, Domanic still has plenty of work to do before the Ole Miss commit graduates in the spring.
"Right now, I'm going to take it easy for a week," Domanic said. "I'll take a couple of days of then run a mile or two a day for the rest of the week. Then I'll start ramping back up my training because the USA Junior Cross Country Championships are coming up in February."
Should Domanic place in the top five, he would qualify for the USA Junior Team and advance to the World Championships in Poland. Last year, Domanic finished 13th, while Hebron's Kevyn Hoyos took 11th.
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