PENNINGTON SCHOOL TRACK: Wood excited to get there

Pennington runner looking forward to move to Texas

By Steve Sherman
Sports Editor

Pennington School junior Philip Wood began his high school career at LaSalle College High School. For those of you not familiar with the school, it’s a private Catholic School located on the edge of North Philadelphia.

Wood didn’t like the commute so he transferred to Pennington deciding instead to board at the New Jersey school before the start of his junior year.

But when Wood set down to select a college campus, he didn’t let distance stand in his way. The cross country and track standout for the Red Raiders selected the University of Texas. He’ll also compete in both sports for the Longhorns.

Though Wood will be a couple thousand miles away from his hometown in Yardley, he won’t feel like he’s so far away. That’s because Wood has grandparents and some family friends who live on the outskirts of Austin, home town of the Longhorns.

“This is huge,” stated Wood. “Ever since I was a little kid, it’s always been my dream to run at a D-I school - especially Texas.

“Even though I’m going far away, it’s almost like a second home to me.”

In the past two years since transferring to Raiders Coach Rick Ritter’s squad, Wood has become a seasoned distance runner, excelling in anything distancing a mile or more.

Late last year, Wood finished in fifth place in the Foot Locker Cross Country Championships (FLCC) Northeast Regional held Nov. 29 at Van Cortlandt Park in the Bronx.

Wood's time of 15:42 was only 21 seconds behind winner Solomon Haile, of Silver Spring, Md.

Earlier that month, Phil took second place in the N.J. Independent Schools Prep B cross country championship meet run at Blair Academy. Wood’s longtime nemesis Doug Smith of Gill/St. Bernard’s won the race in 15:29.55, two seconds in front of Wood’s 15:31.7.

And on Oct. 31, Wood also placed second in the Mercer County Meet, finishing just behind Joe Rosa of West Windsor North.

Last May as a high school junior, Wood came on in the final 200 meters to win the 3,200 at the Mercer County Track & Field Championships held that time at Steinert.

Wood posted a record time of 9:18.76 in the distance event, erasing a 23-year old meet mark of 9:22.9 that Trenton's Keith Williams ran in 1985.

Wood became Pennington's first Mercer Meet champ since Peter Rulon-Miller won the 1,600 in 2002 at 4:27.7.

A month ago at the Armory, Wood recorded a 4:16.96 in the mile at the annual Hispanic Games.
After his good showing in the Northeast Regionals, however, Wood fell ill after the race and wasn’t able to train the way he would have liked.

At Nationals held in December in San Diego, the Southern California weather turned chilly - about 55 degrees - by race time.

Wood wound up finishing 30th in a field of 40 runners.

Still, in some ways just getting there was enough, he said.

“Nationals was a great experience but I didn’t run as well as I would have liked,” said Phil. “While I wasn’t really happy with the results, I was thrilled that I made it.”

And Wood is more than elated to be a future member of the Texas Longhorns.

“It’s been a great ride,” said Wood. “Right now, I’m just trying to get through the winter season. And, I’m really excited to go to Texas."