Allamuchy runner Scott Chamberlin hits his stride at Blair Academy

Monday, June 21, 2010, 10:01 AM
Warren Reporter
By Tony Iannitelli

Scott Chamberlin enjoyed a typical sporting childhood while growing up in Allamuchy Township.

He played all the usual sports, starting with tee-ball and then baseball, recreation basketball and soccer.

“But it wasn’t until eighth grade that he found his gift and passion,” said his mother, Suzanne Chamberlin. “That’s when his eyes opened to the joys of running.”

Chamberlin started running when he was in eighth grade.

“Actually, I wasn’t interested in soccer anymore and I wanted to do something to stay in shape for basketball,” said Chamberlin. “I took up cross country in the fall and won my first race. I was pretty excited about running after that.”

After eighth grade, Chamberlin enrolled at Blair Academy in Blairstown.

“He’s always been a really good student,” said his mom. “We want to prepare Scott for college. Scott’s gotten a good education but has also found a good place to develop his running.”

Chamberlin ran cross country and spring track in his freshman year, focusing on the 1600 meters during the spring season.

“Scott is a very talented young man,” said Blair track coach Dr. Martin Miller. “He trains diligently and is extremely focused on his workouts. He’s also a terrific racer. He has good endurance and speed. His speed translates well in the mile (1600).”

As Chamberlin developed as a runner, he became more devoted to it.

“I played basketball my freshman year but wanted to run competitively in the winter so I gave it up for winter track,” he said.

This past season, as a junior, Chamberlin began to blossom as a runner for all seasons.
In the fall he won the New Jersey Prep School cross country championship and also finished in the top 30 at the Foot Locker regionals. The Foot Locker competition is the closest thing to a cross country national championship.

In track during the winter indoors season Chamberlin won the New Jersey Prep championship in the 1600-meter race in 4:28 and then followed that up by taking the outdoors spring crown in 4:23 at the Lawrenceville School May 12.

This summer Chamberlin is training with Miller and the Blair team once a week, and the squad is also going to Villanova University’s Running Works camp, which is directed by former 1500-meter record-holder Marcus O’Sullivan. Chamberlin is also attending a running camp at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville later in the summer.
Chamberlin is spending the beginning of the summer in Kenya with some Blair classmates on a humanitarian mission trip.

The students will be involved in teaching, playing sports with and in general, interacting with children in impoverished areas of Kenya. They will also be involved in building classrooms and distributing humanitarian supplies and clothing.

While in Kenya, Scott hopes to visit Eldoret, the training facility of Kenya’s famed long-distance runners. The Kenyans have been established as the premier distance runners in the world for at least the past 20 years.

Miller is trying to arrange a visit with some of his contacts he’s established during the past 40 years in the running community.

After a busy summer Chamberlin will be ready for another cross country season at Blair. His goals are to defend his prep championship and to advance to the Foot Locker National Championships in December in San Diego.

“The top 10 in each region advance to the nationals,” said Miller. “There were eight juniors ahead of Scott in this year’s regional. With continued hard work and focus, Scott has a good chance to get to San Diego.”

As for the track season, Chamberlin’s goals are again to defend his titles. Additionally, he’s focused on the school record of 4:16 for the 1600 meters.

“Scott can run in the 4:15-4:18 range, or better,” said Miller. “The prep season is short. It ends in mid-May, where the public schools run into June. This is why you see times in the 4:12-4:13 range for champions in the public schools. We hope to extend the season next year and Scott’s times should progress.”

Adding to Chamberlin’s work load in his senior year will be the search for a college.

“I’ve started the process,” he said. “I’ve looked at Georgetown, UVA (Virginia) and Villanova. I haven’t really decided yet. I want to run in college so that will be part of the equation. UVA and Villanova have good running programs. We’ll see how everything falls.”

posted 6/28/10

Return to Main News Page

return to top