The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Faltay already a leader
Keystone freshman Stephen Faltay earned a fifth-place finish in his first varsity race at the Keystone Icebreaker, his home course
Keystone freshman Stephen Faltay couldn’t ask for a better start to the young cross country season.
At the Keystone Icebreaker to open the season, Faltay had the highest local individual finish, placing fifth (17:26.3). He shined on his home course, where he said he practices two to three times a week — and the advantage paid off.
He followed that up at the Avon Lake Earlybird Invitational, placing 13th (17:45.3). Then at the Tiffin Carnival, Faltay took 30th out of 304 runners in the Division II-A race (17:14.2) for a PR.
His goal for the season is to drop to around 16:45.
“I always stay positive,” Faltay said. “Working with Coach (Tom) Habenicht, he always tells us to keep our head up and push it through to the finish.”
Going into the Icebreaker, no one knew who Faltay was. Earning a fifth-place finish in his first varsity race opened up many eyes. And it was a memorable moment.
“I always stay positive. Working with Coach (Tom) Habenicht, he always tells us to keep our head up and push it through to the finish.”
— Stephen Faltay, Keystone freshman
“I’ll remember this when I’m 75 years old,” Faltay said after the meet.
In his first varsity season, Faltay is already feeling pressure to lead the young Wildcats. Keystone mostly has freshmen and sophomores with no seniors. The rest of the lineup:
• Dawson Maiden, sophomore • Zach Pojman, junior • John Wargo, freshman
• Kevin Koepp, sophomore
• Tyler Beglin, sophomore
• Tristan Magel, freshman
Maiden is often neckand-neck with Faltay and took 26th at Tiffin (17:11.9).
“Dawson and I go back and forth,” he said. “During middle school, he was ahead of me most of the time. We kind of have evened out now that we’re in high school, working more like a team. “We’re good friends.” Faltay’s father John was a swimmer, and there aren’t any runners in his family. He’s been running cross country for three years, and recalled a time his mother made him run from the apple tree in the middle of his yard and back to see how fast he could be.
She only asked him once, but he continued to do it, and that’s gotten him to this point.
“I loved doing that,” he added. “I always loved running fast.”
If the early season start is any indication, Faltay will be running fast plenty more.