Lundy ends long wait for Fordham Prep at Foot Locker

By Doug Binder, DyeStat Editor

For the first time in its 174 years, Fordham Prep School in the Bronx has a Foot Locker Finalist.

Nobody has been waiting that long, of course, but for those who know the fabric of Fordham Prep and the CHSAA and its long and active history in the sports of track and field and cross country, Conor Lundy’s qualification to Saturday’s race in San Diego means something special.

The 37th Foot Locker Cross Country Finals at San Diego’s Balboa Park writes the last sentence of the 2015 season. And in for nearly four decades, the meet has touched many places across the United States.

But now it has someone from “Prep,” one of New York’s ancient members of the Catholic High School Athletic Association.

The last time a runner from the CHSAA made it to Foot Locker was in 2000 when Charlie Millioen qualified.

“It’s been a great experience so far,” Lundy said. “It’s the first time a Prep athlete has qualified for Foot Locker and everyone is excited for me, which is awesome.”

Lundy’s coach, George Febles, has ably carried the torch for track and cross country for 25 years. In the three decades before him, there was Joe Fox – one of the most influential coaches and personalities in high school track from the 1940s to the 1980s.

The track at Fordham Prep is named after Joe Fox and for good reason. The 1929 CHSAA half mile champion became one of the dominant figures in the sport on the prep level. He started the Eastern States Championships. He started the New York Relays. He was a figure out of central casting – wearing a fedora and trench coat and smoking a cigar. He was a bachelor, but also a father-figure for up to 100 boys at a time on his team.

Fox’s influence is still relevant. One of his pupils, Dr. Norb Sander, was so inspired by his former coach’s passing in 1990 that he began a personal mission to restore the 168th Street Armory from a dilapidated homeless shelter to an indoor track and field facility. Today, The Armory is the busiest indoor track in the world and serves thousands of high school athletes every week.

There are echoes of Joe Fox at The Armory. And Febles, who followed in his own father’s coaching footsteps, is part of the Fox coaching tree. And Lundy, who broke Fordham Prep’s 1979 school record when he ran 4:07.50 last spring in the 1,600 meters, is firmly rooted in the school’s tradition.

“My brother ran at Fordham Prep 11 years ago so that kind of set the stage for me going there,” Lundy said. “I would say the guys on the track team know more (about Joe Fox) than the rest of the student body. The Joe Fox Award is given to the top senior performer at the end of track season. Honestly, we should probably know more about him. We trace our roots (at Fordham Prep) back to Joe Fox.”

Lundy commutes to the all-boys school that shares a campus with Fordham University. The train from Crestwood station takes 20 minutes.

Although hopes have been high all fall that Lundy could make it to San Diego, there were moments of doubt. First, Lundy had a very strong track season. He ran 8:55.75 in the incredible 3,200 meters at the Loucks Games. His best 1,600 won the New York state title. And he was second in the 5,000 meters at New Balance Nationals Outdoor.

But the first half of his season was impacted by illness and missed training due to college visits (he's headed to Princeton). At his season debut at the Manhattan Invitational, he finished 36th.

“Things didn’t go according to plan,” Lundy said. “After that I fixed my priorities. I made sure about sleep and eating right.”

The next three races, including a third-place finish at the New York Federation meet, were encouraging.

“I didn’t know until I got to the big stage what was going to happen,” Lundy said.

The big stage, Van Cortlandt Park, is Fordham Prep’s home course. Lundy knows just about every piece of gravel on the Foot Locker Northeast route.

Lundy finished third behind New York Class B champion and Manhattan Invitational winner Noah Affolder and Pennsylvania AAA champion Jake Brophy.

Lundy goes to San Diego this week feeling good about representing his school and its alumni fanned out all over the country.

“I’m feeling very confident,” Lundy said. “Other kids may have had a longer season than I have, but I have had some good workouts that are a good tune up for this Saturday. I think I’ll be a little more rested and it should be a great race.”