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Every runner at Lowell is a cog in the machine. But that’s not said in a negative way. Rather, every runner in the Lowell program is an integral part of the running powerhouse that seems to top the state rankings year after year. The cogs work in unison, and when firing on all cylinders, they execute race tactics with machine like efficiency.
But what happens when a cog is broken? Does the machine cease to function? Not at Lowell. The team has had their fair share of injuries and setbacks this season, but when one part of the program struggles, the others pick-up the workload and the production continues.
There may be no better example of this than Johnny Abraham. The talented sophomore entered the summer with aspirations of helping his team to a state championship, but an unfortunate injury put him on the sidelines for a majority of the season. Abraham’s injury did not dilute the resolve of the program, and with his help, the team has learned to shift the workload.
Loyalty and unity are paramount in the Lowell program and Assistant Coach Scott Ouellet explains how even an injured athlete can remain a critical component.
“Johnny Abraham to me is one of our most important athletes. Obviously his talent is limitless, but it’s his character, charisma, and his ability to impact his peers that sets him apart from most kids. On the course we have certainly missed John's points this year, but his impact on the team has still been felt because of his presence. John is the complete package and he will no doubt have a great career for us. He has been at every practice and has just now started with some light jogging. Kids like John don’t come around too often, and when you get one in your program, you certainly try your best to build a team around the person and allow him to use his talent to make you look good.”
The Lowell machine continues to press on and fill the void; as evidenced by their small 1-5 gaps and shrinking point totals in recent weeks. The development of a supporting cast to accompany the front running prowess of Pat Coppinger and Alex Andujar has been a major point of emphasis this year, and their devotion to the pack running mentality appears to be paying off.
“We have dealt with so much adversity, so many injuries and have never really felt comfortable with where we are at.” Coach Ouellet adds, “I really admire the character and mentality that our kids have taken this year to overcome everything, including losing 3 of our top 5 to graduation, plus Johnny and Randy [Nong] to injury, and even after all that, still being in the discussion to win the state title. Without our depth and "pack attitude" we would have been cooked a long time ago.”
Lowell continues to be in the hunt for a state title, and the #2 ranked team in the state understands that any advantage they can gain on the Franklin Park course is a tool they should not turn down. The workout below takes place on the site of the 2011 Massachusetts State Championships, and if the numbers displayed are any indication, there is a showdown brewing in Division 1.
The Workout of the Week segment continues because of the generosity and involvement of the coaches and athletes. MileSplitMass would like to extend a sincere thank you to Coach Maia, Coach Ouellet, and the Lowell athletes for creating and filming our latest installment of Workout of the Week. In addition, we want to thank James Rooney for editing the raw footage into another fantastic video. Enjoy!
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