MAKING STRIDES: Princeton High distance runner Kevin Ivanov heads to the finish line in a cross country race last fall. This spring, senior star Ivanov has been excelling in the mile as he looks to end his PHS career with a bang. Last Saturday, Ivanov did well at the Mercer Twilight Invitational at Robbinsville, taking fifth in the 1,600 with a time of 4:33.19. Ivanov and the Little Tigers are next in action on May 12 when they compete in the Mercer County Championships at Steinert. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

While many athletes are influenced to get into sports by a parent, sibling, or friend, Princeton High senior track star Kevin Ivanov took a different path.

“When I was six years old, I used to run my dog around the block,” recalled Ivanov.

“I wouldn’t walk her, she would walk me and always pull me along. From that, I just loved running.”

Ivanov unleashed his running talents in middle school. “I actually started running competitively in eighth grade,” said Ivanov.

“I ran a 5:12 mile. I bought a set of spikes then and I have the same spikes five years later.”

Last Wednesday, he put those spikes to good use as PHS hosted Nottingham. He won the 2-mile in 10:07 and then helped the PHS 4×400 to a victory.

“It was my first 2-mile in over a year,” said Ivanov. “I was trying to get a sub-10 but I ran a 5:07 in the first mile and then a 4:59 something in the second mile.”

For Ivanov, the mile remains his favorite event. “It is the perfect combo,” said Ivanov, who did well last saturday in the Mercer Twilight Invitational at Robbinsville, taking fifth in the 1,600 with a time of  4:33.19.

“In the beginning, it is just testing out whether you have the willpower to go through all four laps. In the last lap and a half, you have to give everything you have got. I generally kick with around 250-300 meters to go and go all out at the 200 meter mark.”

PHS head coach John Woodside appreciated the will his squad showed against Nottingham even as it lost the meet.

“We had some of our distance runners going in alternate events and they did a nice job,” said Woodside, noting that his team was shorthanded as a number of athletes were sidelined due to breaking team rules.

“Ian McIsaac got second in the 400 against some really good runners. Bruce Robertson was right there; he was just out of the running. It was nice to see those guys competing.”

Woodside likes the way Ivanov is competing. “Kevin was great today,” said Woodside.

“He ran all by himself in the two-mile; that was a tremendous race. He looked really good on the relay. He is ready to go.”

PHS has gotten good work from his distance crew which includes Conor Donahue in addition to Robertson, Ivanov, and McIsaac.

“Bruce is excellent,” said Woodside. “In the meet last week against Hightstown, Kevin won the mile but Ian was right there with him. Conor did well in the 800 today. These guys have stepped up, the distance guys have been doing it all season. It is not just the top kids, it is all of them.”

PHS is seeing some young kids step up in the sprints. “The sprinters are young; that’s mostly what I am looking at,” added Woodside.

“Dave Flatscher is a sophomore and Brandon Yao is a freshman; those are guys who are running well. I think that is what we are banking on; we don’t have a lot of veterans. One of the seniors, Tim Miranda, is doing a nice job. He has really come along, especially in the 200.”

With the county meet slated for May 12 at Steinert and the sectional coming up later in the month, Woodside is hoping his athletes can come along quickly.

“We are looking at developing the guys and do the best with what we have got,” said Woodside.

Ivanov, for his part, will be giving his best effort as he wraps up his PHS career.

“I have just a few weeks left, I am trying to go out with a bang like a lot of our seniors,” said Ivanov. “Most of us are still competing hard and going for the gold.”