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June 27, 2004Central Lake's Shay runs to awardByRecord-Eagle staff writer TRAVERSE CITY - School's still in session for Stephan Shay. The recent Central Lake graduate is spending the summer living with his brother Ryan in the ski resort town of Mammoth Lakes, Calif., - located high in the Sierra Nevada Mountains - training and learning from Olympic runners. "Every day I get up and run," Shay said. One day it might be with Meb Keflezighi. The next it might be with Deena Kastor. Both have qualified for the U.S. Olympic marathon team. "For me," Shay said, "that's exciting." Shay is coming off a dominating senior year in high school. In the fall, he won the Division 4 state cross-country title by 15 seconds. In the winter, he captured the National Scholastic Indoor 5K track championship in New York. In the spring, he claimed the Division 4 3200-meter state title in track by 16 seconds. "I couldn't have asked for much more," Shay said. "It went as planned." For his accomplishments, Shay has been named the Record-Eagle's Male Athlete of the Year. "I'm honored," the 18-year-old said. Shay, who has accepted a full-ride scholarship to Michigan State, followed in the footsteps of his brothers - Casey, Ryan, Nathan and Elliott - at Central Lake. In fact, when Stephan won the 3200-meter title in 2003, he became the fourth member of his family to do so. According to Michigan High School Athletic Association records, no other family in state history has had four family members win the same race at a state meet. His brother Ryan became the first runner in state history to win four consecutive state titles in cross country. He later became an NCAA champion at Notre Dame and recently defended his national title in the half-marathon. Ryan Shay ran in the Olympic Marathon Trials in the winter and will be in the 10,000-meter trials next month. Ryan owned all the long distance records at Central Lake until Stephan came along. Stephan broke three of Ryan's track records this spring. "I'd better keep quiet about that," Stephan quipped during a phone interview last week. "He's (Ryan's) in the room." Shay set marks in the 400 (51.6), 800 (1:56.9) and 3200 (9:22.07) He shattered the 3200 record in the state finals earlier this month. "That's what I was shooting for," he said. "And I was relieved when I did it." Ryan set a state record in 1997 when he won the 3200 in 9:25.68. Shay, who did not run the 1600 at the state meet, made a bid for Ryan's mark in that event at the Honor Roll meet on June 1. He was on pace at 800 meters, running a 2:08, but faded to 4:19.29. Ryan's record was 4:17.04. "I went out too fast," Stephan said. "But I was still happy with my time." Shay's ability impressed opponents. "When you break Ryan's times, the times of an NCAA champion and Olympic hopeful, that says something," Suttons Bay coach and athletic director Cody Inglis said. "His dedication to training has never waned. I've always been impressed was his sheer determination and strength." Joe Shay, his father and coach, said he sees similarities in Stephan's style. "He has the speed of Casey and the endurance of Ryan," he said. "He has the best of both worlds." Joe Shay said Stephan really opened some eyes when he won the national indoor meet in New York, despite not training outdoors in preparation. "He spent his winter running on the treadmill," Joe Shay said. "He never went outside. He didn't get any speed work in. "I didn't know what to expect in New York. Some of the best runners in the nation were invited. When he won it that woke me up. I always knew he had ability, but that proved to me what a special athlete he is. His potential is absolutely amazing." Shay had little competition his senior year, as evidenced by his winning margins at the state meet. He led Central Lake to the Ski Valley title in the spring, winning three individual events and anchoring a relay. ctually, his toughest race might have been after the state meet. When the meet ended late that afternoon in Grand Rapids, Shay had to rush back to Central Lake for graduation. "I was about a half hour late, but I made it," he said. Shay said he is focusing on building his stamina this summer. "I'm training for distance," he said. "I want to build a good base and get ready for the 10Ks and 8Ks instead of the 5Ks (the distance of high school races). I want to be ready. I want to contribute right away (at Michigan State)." Shay is currently without a coach, though. Jim Stintzi, who recruited Shay, recently left MSU to take the Wisconsin job. Shay, a 3.79 student, plans to major in kinesiology.
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