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Lynch's Odyssey From Paris Lands Her at Head of PHS Pack
By Bill Alden
Meaghan Lynch was more than a little apprehensive when she joined the Princeton High girls' cross country team last fall. After spending the previous five years running in a relatively low-key program at the American School of Paris, Lynch wasn't quite sure what to expect once she started competing with the Little Tigers.
"I was really petrified," said Lynch with a grin. "I knew it would be bigger and I was concerned about the idea of practicing everyday. We had only run three days a week in Paris."
It didn't take long, however, for Lynch to fit in with her new mates. "We met as a team before school started and that really helped a lot," recalled Lynch.
"These girls are great, I always know that they're there for me. Then in the first meet, I'd never gone under 20 minutes before [at 5k] and I did it by 20 seconds. I knew I could do it after that."
Lynch, a junior last year, quickly emerged as the number two runner on a squad that put together one of the best seasons in the history of the program as it took second in both the Mercer County Championship and the Central Jersey Group III meet and then placed fifth in the prestigious Meet of Champions.
This fall, Lynch brought a much different mindset to her preseason training knowing that she'd be at the front of the PHS pack in the wake of the graduation of last season's top runner, Dilshanie Perera.
"I was pretty determined this summer," said the softspoken but competitive Lynch. "It's my last season in high school and I'm determined to do everything I can. Running is a huge passion of mine. I want to be good, I want to work really hard."
With Lynch leading the way, the Little Tigers have picked up where they left off last year. The team is undefeated at 7-0 and recently toppled powerful Hopewell Valley, handing the Bulldogs their first defeat in a CVC meet in five years.
"We definitely want to try and improve on last year's achievements," acknowledged Lynch, who is typically joined up front at meets by teammates Eleanora Spinazzi, Carolyn Sholl, and Susanne Hansen. "We really try and work as a group. We know that every girl counts and we know everybody's capabilities."
PHS head coach Andre Bridgett knows that Lynch brings a lot to the table. "Meaghan has progressed very, very well," said Bridgett, whose team has a dual meet with Notre Dame and Hightstown on October 21 at Veteran's Park in Hamilton before competing at the Mercer County Championship on October 31.
"She's definitely enthusiastic about running. She's willing to do the work to take herself to the next level."
In Bridgett's view, Lynch has mental qualities that set her apart from her competitors. "She's tough, very tough," added Bridgett, noting that he has held Lynch back slightly so far in an effort to increase the team's collective pace.
"I think when some athletes surge ahead of the others it's due to more than working hard. They all work hard but some can focus at such a high level that they maximize their talent and are able to execute better than other people."
Lynch, for her part, is dedicated to reaching the most of her potential. "I want to run hard enough so that I'm completely satisfied with the outcome," said Lynch, who scratched the surface by running a personal record of 18:50 in the win over Hopewell and plans to continue competing in college.
"I just want to know that I've given it my best. What it comes down to is having no regrets. You know that when you cross the line."
Lynch certainly has no regrets on how her running has progressed in her journey from Paris to Princeton.
