East's Houlihan to challenge Dowling duo
By Jerry Giesejgiese@siouxcityjournal.com | Posted: Saturday, November 01, 2008
A reserved and soft-spoken Shelby Houlihan has turned in a number of emphatic performances in her cross country and track career so far.
Today, the East High sophomore will try to top her third-place finish of a year ago when she makes her second straight appearance at the Class 4A state cross country meet held at Kennedy Park just north of Fort Dodge.
It won't be easy. Houlihan, who placed second in the 1,500 (4:39.46) and the 800 (2:15.34) at last year's Drake Relays, then added a third in the 1,500 (4:38.07) and a fifth in the 800 (2:12.60) three weeks later at the 4A state track meet, will be hard-pressed to beat Dowling Catholic juniors Katie Flood and Ashlie Decker.
A year ago, Flood, Decker and Houlihan each topped the former state record of 14:05 set in 2003 by Sarah Fassbinder of Dubuque Wahlert. Flood shattered the mark with a blistering 13:27 for the 4A state team champions, while Decker was second (14:00) and Houlihan third (14:02).
"We must have been running really fast," said Houlihan. "Katie went out so fast, it was hard to catch up with her. She has lots of speed, lots of endurance and that's what counts.
"I hope I can go out as fast as Ashlie and then, I'll see if I can stay with her. It'll take lots of speed, but I'm pretty sure I can do it. I can start out good, but the hard part is in the middle because I have to control my breathing. I don't run very well in the cold."
Houlihan has had consistent freshman and sophomore cross country seasons, winning nine meets each year. Still, in 2007, she was relatively unknown and entered the state meet ranked 14th in 4A by Iowa Association of Track Coaches.
The daughter of Bob and Connie Houlihan has garnered more respect this season and is tabbed third. Decker is ranked first, thanks to a 14:30 while winning last Thursday's regional at Indianola, four seconds ahead of Flood, who has won the last two 3,000-meter events at the 4A state track meet, highlighted by a state-record 9:42.17 in 2007.
"Flood and Decker, from what I've seen at state, are tough," said East Coach Nick Gaul. "They're physically tough, mentally tough and have a lot of experience under their belt. If Shelby can push herself, she can do it. She has had a great season and if she runs that last quarter-mile under 60 seconds, which is what Flood is capable of, too, hopefully she can end up on the winning side."
"The most important part of the race is the start," said Houlihan. "If I can catch up with them in the start, I'll be able to stay with them the whole race."
The majority of Houlihan's wins this season were by an average of 30 seconds. She had a season-best 13:52 at the Doug Hendershot Invitational hosted by West High in September at the Adams Nature Preserve.
Houlihan also defended her title at the Marcia Koebernick Invitational at South Sioux City with a 14:35.84, where she topped Megan Hilson of Yankton, last Saturday's South Dakota Class AA state champion, by nine seconds. She also defeated No. 7-ranked (Class 3A) Maddie Theisen of Le Mars, the winner of six meets this season, by 32 seconds at the West Sioux Invitational.
"The Le Mars girl is tough, but the second half of that race, Shelby started pulling away and some girls can't keep up that pace," said Gaul. "Shelby just doesn't like to lose and is so tough, mentally. That's a very important skill to have as a distance runner, someone who will get after it and never likes to be behind."
Houlihan admitted she didn't train much before the cross country season started. She felt she has gained more endurance by running harder workouts this season, sometimes with runners from East's boys cross country team.
"I think I've improved a lot from last year, mostly in speed," she said. "I'll do my best (at state). I think I'll be all right."
Today, the East High sophomore will try to top her third-place finish of a year ago when she makes her second straight appearance at the Class 4A state cross country meet held at Kennedy Park just north of Fort Dodge.
It won't be easy. Houlihan, who placed second in the 1,500 (4:39.46) and the 800 (2:15.34) at last year's Drake Relays, then added a third in the 1,500 (4:38.07) and a fifth in the 800 (2:12.60) three weeks later at the 4A state track meet, will be hard-pressed to beat Dowling Catholic juniors Katie Flood and Ashlie Decker.
A year ago, Flood, Decker and Houlihan each topped the former state record of 14:05 set in 2003 by Sarah Fassbinder of Dubuque Wahlert. Flood shattered the mark with a blistering 13:27 for the 4A state team champions, while Decker was second (14:00) and Houlihan third (14:02).
"We must have been running really fast," said Houlihan. "Katie went out so fast, it was hard to catch up with her. She has lots of speed, lots of endurance and that's what counts.
"I hope I can go out as fast as Ashlie and then, I'll see if I can stay with her. It'll take lots of speed, but I'm pretty sure I can do it. I can start out good, but the hard part is in the middle because I have to control my breathing. I don't run very well in the cold."
Houlihan has had consistent freshman and sophomore cross country seasons, winning nine meets each year. Still, in 2007, she was relatively unknown and entered the state meet ranked 14th in 4A by Iowa Association of Track Coaches.
The daughter of Bob and Connie Houlihan has garnered more respect this season and is tabbed third. Decker is ranked first, thanks to a 14:30 while winning last Thursday's regional at Indianola, four seconds ahead of Flood, who has won the last two 3,000-meter events at the 4A state track meet, highlighted by a state-record 9:42.17 in 2007.
"Flood and Decker, from what I've seen at state, are tough," said East Coach Nick Gaul. "They're physically tough, mentally tough and have a lot of experience under their belt. If Shelby can push herself, she can do it. She has had a great season and if she runs that last quarter-mile under 60 seconds, which is what Flood is capable of, too, hopefully she can end up on the winning side."
"The most important part of the race is the start," said Houlihan. "If I can catch up with them in the start, I'll be able to stay with them the whole race."
The majority of Houlihan's wins this season were by an average of 30 seconds. She had a season-best 13:52 at the Doug Hendershot Invitational hosted by West High in September at the Adams Nature Preserve.
Houlihan also defended her title at the Marcia Koebernick Invitational at South Sioux City with a 14:35.84, where she topped Megan Hilson of Yankton, last Saturday's South Dakota Class AA state champion, by nine seconds. She also defeated No. 7-ranked (Class 3A) Maddie Theisen of Le Mars, the winner of six meets this season, by 32 seconds at the West Sioux Invitational.
"The Le Mars girl is tough, but the second half of that race, Shelby started pulling away and some girls can't keep up that pace," said Gaul. "Shelby just doesn't like to lose and is so tough, mentally. That's a very important skill to have as a distance runner, someone who will get after it and never likes to be behind."
Houlihan admitted she didn't train much before the cross country season started. She felt she has gained more endurance by running harder workouts this season, sometimes with runners from East's boys cross country team.
"I think I've improved a lot from last year, mostly in speed," she said. "I'll do my best (at state). I think I'll be all right."
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