Photo and Article By Justin Gaymon

New York, March 6, 2015 - As a youth during the mid-70s, Bob Pagano fantasized about running the high school mile at the Millrose Games. He watched his peers compete for glory, but was never fast enough to join them on the then wooden Madison Square Garden oval.

He still watches the Games, but now for his daughter, Catherine Pagano, who won this season’s New Balance High School Mile at the NYRR Millrose Games in a spectacular time of 4:50.66.

“It was always a dream of mine to be able to run at the Millrose Games,” said Bob. “So to have seen her run at the Games was just a dream come true. It was unbelievable. “

It was a dream for Catherine as well, who is in her senior year of competing for Northern Highlands Regional High School and is Stanford-bound.

“I was pretty tired, so it was hard to focus on what was going on while it was happening,” said Catherine. “But looking back it was an amazing opportunity and it was really nice to represent and put a positive light on my school.”

The fact that Catherine had run 2:11.29 to win the 800m at the NJSIAA Indoor Group Championships the day before the NYRR Millrose Games surely contributed to her tiredness.

“All throughout high school I’ve doubled, so I think practice makes perfect,” said Catherine when asked how she was able to run so well on back-to-back days. “The more I’ve done it, the more comfortable I’ve become with embracing pain and being able to handle when it gets really hard.”

Catherine is no stranger to handling difficult situations. During her sophomore year, after having to sit out the required 30 days after transferring from Ridgewood High School, Catherine experienced a stress reaction in her left tibia that required her to miss much of the season.

She came back strong her junior year to end the season with an impressive third place finish in the 800m at the NJSIAA Meet of Champions in 2:08.75 and fifth place finish in the mile at New Balance Nationals Outdoor in 4:48.82. 

In addition to her success at this year’s NJSIAA Indoor Group Championships and NYRR Millrose Games, Catherine recorded one of the top times in the nation with her 2:09.80 in the 800m at February’s Varsity Classic and most recently won the 800m at the NJSIAA Indoor Meet of Champions in 2:11.89.

After showing so much promise in the 800m and mile this year, Catherine is still deciding which of the two events she’ll compete in at New Balance Nationals Indoor.

“My current goal for nationals, in whichever event I run, is to PR and become an All-American,” said Catherine. “But overall in running I’m always striving to better my place and better my times and just have fun.”