Ryan Urie Setting His Sights Higher ….One Place Higher
BY CHRIS RUFF
San Diego, CA — One, can best describe Ryan Urie’s 2009-10 cross country and track seasons as seasons of “runner-up” finishes. Despite what it may look like on paper, Urie’s seasons were anything but disappointing. Urie finished second to his teammate, Kellen Blumberg, in the Division II San Diego CIF Cross Country Championships last harrier season, in route to Patrick Henry’s second team CIF title in as many years (The Patriots won the DI Title in 2008). Blumberg, one of Ryan’s best friends, has since matriculated to Harvard to pursue both his Cross Country and Track aspirations at the next level, leaving his compatriot to take his rightful place at the head of the Patrick Henry hierarchy. Many in the local track scene in San Diego can’t quite think of one of the “twins” without the other. Frankly most can’t tell them apart at all…you see, for the last two years, when viewing San Diego track or cross country meets, you’ll usually see two boys with very red hair, running very quickly at the front of the pack. With Blumberg now at Harvard, perhaps things will be less confusing. The current makeup of the Patriots team has led some of Urie’s teammates to ponder the possibilities with statements such as “Hopefully we can get a new red head this year…we can win the State Meet!”
The track season held much of the same for Urie as he finished 2nd in the San Diego CIF Track Meet, in a personal record of 4:12.86 (Chris Brewer, RBV 1st in 4:11.29). In that race Urie settled, way back from the leaders much of the race, and finishing with a furious kick. You can imagine then how much Ryan must have been salivating when just one week later the field in the boys’ final of the California State Meet 1600 meters proceeded to run a 70 second opening lap. “When the pace slowed down I was thinking, what happened? Did someone fall?” said Urie when asked to describe his thoughts during that race. “I had talked to my coaches(Andrew Myette and Tom Sweet) and Hunt (Thom Hunt, one of Urie’s teachers, and current San Diego Mesa JC Head Cross Country Coach) prior to the race about race tactics if the pace slowed down, so I knew pretty much how I was going to run it.” Obviously Urie got some good advice, as he outsprinted everyone but Elias Gedyon, from Loyola, the pre race favorite (Gedyon is currently 5th in the Milesplit.com National Cross Country Rankings). When questioned about his “come from behind” style, Ryan turned briefly pensive before simply explaining “Every race was just racing maturity on my part. I really didn’t learn how to race until State Prelims, that’s when it finally fell into place. Saturday I almost let those guys go, but I just said to myself “I can’t let those guys go!”” Urie’s reference to “Saturday” was his early season showdown with local San Diego talents Darren Fahy of LaCosta Canyon, and Matt Carpowich of Torrey Pines, at the Rancho Bernardo Bronco Meet. Urie won that race for the second year in a row while lowering his own meet record to 9:31 for the 2 mile course. No small feat considering Fahy and Carpowich were 1st and 2nd respectfully in last years DI San Diego Cross Country Championships.
Ryan Urie - Photo by Andrew McClanahan
Attributing much of his success and fearless race tactics to his athletic background in soccer and other mainstream sports, Urie has the rare combination of speed and endurance combined with ability to stay relatively injury free, enabling him to excel in his running. Urie has split a 51.2 relay split in a dual meet and run very close to that in open races, giving him a distinct advantage in closing speed over most of his high school competition. “I was always a very competitive club soccer player before high school. Because of my experience in soccer at such a high level, I’ve never really feared anyone or any situation…they’re just another team, or another guy. I feel like I can be competitive with anyone.” When asked about his introduction to running he explained “I used to run in Jr. Olympic and Turkey Trots for kids. A friend and I decided to join cross country to gain endurance for soccer. I made CIF on the team for cross country as a freshman.” Shortly after that freshman cross country campaign Urie made a permanent transition to running and chose not to play soccer in high school.
From that precocious freshman who started cross country as a cardio builder for soccer, Ryan Urie has progressed into an elite distance runner who now runs approximately ninety miles a week during his base phase preparations for cross country and track. He has a refreshing outlook on both his capabilities and his accomplishments. “I don’t really know any of my stats really,” he responded when reminded of some of his best performances and times in both cross country and track. In a day when information is so readily available through a vast array of media, Urie seems to take it one race at a time. “I really don’t know any runners…maybe Wheating(Oregon’s Double NCAA Champion 800/1600) and Ryan Hall(Former Big Bear High School CA State Champion and 2008 Marathon Olympian).”
Asked about his goals for his final high school track and cross country seasons, Ryan quickly quipped without hesitation, “I want to win.” Missing was any clarification of specifically what races Ryan was referring to. It was readily apparent that he meant he wanted to “win” any race in which he was entered. After a string of high profile 2nd place finishes, perhaps a goal of winning is the only appropriate goal to have.
Athlete Profile:
Track PR’s: 800(1:57.47) 1600(4:12.86) 3200(9:32.44)
Accomplishments: 2nd-2009 SDCIF DII Cross Country, 2nd 2010 SDCIF 1600, 2nd 2010 CA State Meet 1600.