Sophomore Ronak Rami Scores 5,000m PR at Widener

May 13, 2025 - Chester, Pa.

 

The Widener Final Qualifier meet in May has become a mainstay on the CCBC Catonsville T&F outdoor track schedule. Since Head Coach Mark Pryor added this meet, his athletes have been traveling to Chester Pa and returning home with new Personal Records. The track is the same distance as all the others, but the stadium is surrounded by big green trees that offer plenty of breathable air and no wind. Running at night makes the condition cool and still. It is a haven for running.

 

Fresh off his 1500m PR at College Park MD, sophomore Ronak Rami was full of confidence and excitement. The workouts leading up to Monday's race were crisps and quick. Coach Pryor kept his young distance runner on the grass to make sure his legs were fresh and only ran one track workout to give him the rhythm he needed for the event. So all signs were in the direction of Ronak running well. His Physics final was scheduled for that day, so departure was scheduled for 3:00pm since the Men's 5,000m event was scheduled for 9:30pm. The 2-hour ride to Widener University was without traffic so Ronak's mind was fresh and centered.

 

The night started off with the Men's 800m races which produced a 1:48.30 winning time and 5 athletes dipping under 1:50. The 1500m races were also top notch where the winning time was 3:42. The 1^st heat of the 5,000m run was a perfect example of rhythm and pace with every lap being clocked in at :68 seconds. As Ronak lined up for his start of the 5,000 meters, Coach Pryor reminded him of his race plan.  Ronak was instructed to run the first mile in 5:00 and then fight thru the pain of the 2^nd mile with a target goal of 10:10. The 3^rd mile would be a testament of how much heart and grit Ronak could exhibit in the final 4 laps.

 

As the 12.5 lap race unfolded, Ronak's execution was right on pace. His first mile contained laps of :75 - :76 secs producing a 5:05 split. The 2-miles was clocked at 10:19 which means Ronak's split was 5:14. He was now 4:50 secs away from achieving the NJCAA Outdoor Championship qualifying standard. It is at this junction of the race that presents the hardest challenge to both a runner's legs and lungs. The 3^rd mile of a 5,000m race is similar to the last miles of a marathon.

 

Unlike Ronak's previous races this season, he did not allow the pain to dictate his thoughts and actions. Ronak fought hard and with each lap stayed on a consistent pace of :83 seconds. His last 200 meters saw Ronak sprint with new life and as he crossed the line, the big display clock steadily listed each finishing time. Coach Pryor and Cardinal middle distance runner Angel Ross stood still waiting for Ronak's time to be shown. In 11^th place out of 27 total runners in his race, Ronak Rami ran 16:27.36. His previous best time for 5,000 meters was 17:15.58.......which means Ronak improved a whooping :48 secs. 

 

Coach Pryor congratulated his athlete and reminded him that there is a lot more room for improvement within those last 4 laps of the race. Ronak agreed but was thankful he had run hard the first 2 miles to allow him the opportunity to get close to that 15:00 mark. As this race ended the meet as the last event, it was a fitting end to this outdoor track season for CCBC Catonsville.

 

Coach Pryor spoke with excitement regarding the 10 high school seniors who have committed to attending CCBC and running for his program. Five of the 10 recruits are distance runners who can boost the cross-country team and his goal of performing well in Region XX and beyond. Ronak still has eligibility for a cross-country season so the team's fastest distance runner will return in the Fall to lead the newcomers.  That is reason to be excited.