Andy Condon came up through the John Jay youth system playing lacrosse and arrived on the freshman team with the realization that he wasn’t enjoying the sport.
“On the first day of practice,” he said, “I went up to the coach and told him I wasn’t going to play. Then I walked over to the track coach and I told him, I’m running this year.”
Maybe kind of abrupt, but the results speak for themselves.
His Class B Championship in the two-mile likely helped him go the distance, but so did a spurt that began after his freshman year. Going from 5’8” to 6’4” he assured, “It definitely helped.”
The tall drink of water didn’t just reach the heights on his goods looks, though.
“I really decided I wanted to give the sport everything,” said the Wolf.
After freshman year, he enlisted a training company based in Kentucky and private training took him through that summer. Then the runner went local.
“Coach Dey does everything. He’s brought me from a mediocre runner who didn’t know what to do to a two time state champ,” said Condon.
His resume also includes a 2024 second place Cross Country Class B finish and the indoor 3200 meter state championship in 2025. Even so, first place at Middletown was actually third place overall.
With two Class A runners finishing ahead of him, he kept his eye on the prize nonetheless. “I made a move about 600 meters out and took the lead. But I just wasn’t able to finish as well as the other kids,” the senior lamented.
Only two hundredths of a second separating, the sport never gives rise to hurt feelings. “It’s a lot less like other sports where there’s these huge rivalries, and you kind of hate each other,” Condon said. “It’s a much bigger friendship and camaraderie thing.”
No surprise, the runners stayed in character afterwards. “We stepped off. We talked to each other, so it’s nice to be friends with your competitors,” he assured.
Of course, the race isn’t over yet. “I’m talking to my coach at Richmond College later today,” the graduate said.
A lot of similarly accomplished runners besides him, Condon doesn’t view the college try in a competitive manner. “I’m super excited to have people to train with that will really push me,” said Condon.
The opposite will certainly be true, and hopefully, his influence will extend to the classroom for teammates. “Track really gives me something to work for,” he clarified. “I have been able to take the ways I’ve trained to really help myself as a student.”
Still, the runner has earned a respite, and he’s not running away from it.
“I’m just taking the time to hang out with friends, relax and let my body recover,” Condon concluded.
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