Elkaim Ends LHS Career At National Race

Jeramy Elkaim's legendary career at Livingston ended where his next career will begin.

Running on the home of his future home track at venerable Hayward Field on the campus of the University of Oregon on Saturday at the USA Track and Field Junior National Championships (19-and-under), Elkaim reflected on his remarkable high school days after he placed a very solid 18th in 14:54.85 in the field of 36 in the 5,000-meter run.

“It's been an amazing career,'' said Elkaim, whose Oregon time nearly matched his time of 14:54.62 that he ran to take third in the 5-K last week at the New Balance Nationals in Greensboro, N.C.

“I couldn't have asked for more. I got a Meet of Champions title in one of the best 3,200 in state history. I got a national title. I went to the Penn Relays and nationals as an individual and on a DM team. The list goes on and on. I can't think of one thing I didn't get.''

Elkaim, the greatest runner in Livingston history, began his rise to distance running stardom as a sophomore in May of 2009 when he won a dramatic duel with Taro Shigenobu of Ridgewood to capture the first of three straight state Group 4 3,200 titles. He followed that up with a third-place finish in the 3,200 at the Meet of Champions in 9:07.06.

After that third-place showing, big things were expected of Elkaim heading into his junior season.

He lived up to all the hype.

After winning the two-mile at the National Scholastic Championships during the winter of 2010, Elkaim's greatest moment came last spring in a classic clash with legendary Joe Rosa of West Windsor-Plainsboro North in the M of C 3,200.

Rosa, who sent shockwaves across the country when he blasted a course record 14:56 to win the M of C cross-country title in the fall of 2009, was favored to add the 3,200 title that spring. But Elkaim used a blazing last 400 to score the upset and take down the meet record with a winning time of 8:46.08, No. 3 in state history.

“That win means a lot to me as well as the time because I beat probably the best distance runner in state history,'' said Elkaim.

For an encore, Elkaim ran 15:28.6 at the Meet of Champions at Holmdel Park to finish third, No. 7 in course history, and earned a berth in the Nike Nationals during the cross-country season this past fall.

Indoors this past winter, Elkaim was third in the prestigious Millrose Games Mile. Then this past spring he led Livingston to its first berth in the distance medley relay at the Penn Relays, and earned All-American honors with his third-place finish last week at the New Balance Nationals.

Elkaim will go down as one of New Jersey's best distance runners of all-time.
How would Elkaim like to be remembered?

“I can't' think of one way I'd want to be remembered, '' said Elkaim. ”I guess just being remembered is good enough.''

After putting his high school career in perspective, Elkaim began to look ahead a little bit. 

“There is no place like Hayward Field,'' said Elkaim. “It's like no other experience. It's the best atmosphere I've ever run in. I can't wait to have more races there.''