Del Piano in Track for the Long Run

While most of the athletes at South Brunswick High are busy training for the spring season, Cayla Del Piano has the week off.

She deserves it.

Del Piano finished off a very successful Winter track season at the New Balance Indoor Nationals, held this past weekend at the New York Armory. Del Piano won the Emerging Mile in a time of 5:01.59. She also joined teammates Rachel Johnson, Janae Baker and Alicia Osley in placing fourth in the sprint medley (4:07.95), which earned the quartet All-American status.

"I didn't think that meet was nerve-wracking at all," Del Piano said. "It was fun. There were a lot of athletes and teams there from all over. It didn't really matter what place you got. We've all been working hard all year just to get there."

Of course, winning the Emerging Mile was nice.

"I wasn't sure how well I would do," Del Piano said. "I was just going to give it my best. I started to pull away a little on the seventh lap. It was a close race."

Del Piano was also at her best in the sprint medley, turning in a personal best of 2:16 in the 800 to cap off the school record and All-American performance.

Del Piano, Baker, Spriggs and Osley also set the Middlesex County indoor record in the 4x400 (3:56.73).

According to Del Piano, running as an individual and a team are both enjoyable. There is one definite advantage in the relay, though.

"When you run with teammates, you get to celebrate more," Del Piano noted. "It's nice when you all work hard and achieve a goal together."

According to Del Piano, she has been running as long as she can remember. And while she will take an occasional rest -- like she is doing this week -- she has no intentions of stopping anytime soon.

"I started  running when I was young," she noted. "I just always liked the distance events better than the sprints. It involves strength, endurance and speed.

"I wasn't good when I started. I was okay, but a lot of people beat me. I just got better and better."

Del Piano had success as a freshman and a sophomore, but her junior season certainly has been her best. She earned individual and relay medals in the Nationals, Eastern States and the Meet of Champions. She is the reigning Greater Middlesex County champion in the 1600 and 3200.

"This has definitely been my best year so far," Del Piano noted. "It's been great."

Of course, the great thing about being a distance runner in high school is the opportunities to compete just keep coming. Del Piano ran cross country in the fall, indoor track in the winter and now she's recharging herself for the upcoming outdoor track season. Then, of course, there is her entire senior season to come.

So it's only fitting Del Piano rests a while now. She's getting ready to cover a lot of ground.