Top high-schooler runs with a Gopher

Former Gophers star Antonio Vega is an assistant at Burnsville, primarily to train with senior Rob Finnerty.

By Ben Goessling, Star Tribune

Last update: September 25, 2007 - 10:31 AM

The pair emerges from the woods almost in lockstep, their strides wasting little energy as they glide by. One has won races at a level the other only hopes to reach, but during this routine Tuesday workout, they look like they've been running together for years.

That, precisely, is the point of Burnsville cross-country coach Jeff Webber's plan.

Webber entered the fall with an unusual problem. He had senior Rob Finnerty, the state's top-ranked runner, and he had no one to push him in practice.

The solution? He just stopped treating Finnerty like a high-schooler.

Burnsville hired former University of Minnesota All-American Antonio Vega as an assistant coach, primarily to work with Finnerty.

Vega, who is paid with money from fundraisers, shows up two to three times a week to train with Finnerty, also helping the Blaze captain with everything from workout planning to college preparations.

"He's such a top national athlete," Webber said. "We've got to supplement with some different things to get him where he needs to be."

Both Webber and Finnerty knew at the end of track season the senior would need some help. Finnerty's first suggestion was Vega, but getting him to Burnsville took some luck.

Vega was planning to go to graduate school in Duluth and turned down Webber initially. But he joined Team USA Minnesota instead, with the goal of making the 2008 Olympic Trials at 10,000 meters. That's when he knew he needed a job.

"I was e-mailing other potential candidates when I got a phone call," Webber said. "He said, 'I can do it now,' and I'm like, 'Sweet.'"

Most of the pair's work so far has been on longer maintenance runs, typically between eight and 14 miles at anywhere from six-and-a-half to seven minutes per mile.

Their runs will get more intense in the next several weeks as Finnerty eyes his first state cross-country title and -- perhaps more importantly -- the Foot Locker Cross Country National Championships in San Diego in December.

Finnerty is receiving attention from Division I programs like Minnesota, Wisconsin and Oregon, and could boost his profile with a strong showing at nationals.

"As he gets closer to the national meet, I'll step in and play a bigger role," Vega said. "It's just to give him some competition."

It's also been to give him some advice.

Finnerty's intense workouts have backfired over the years, with a stress fracture keeping him out of the 2005 state meet and a variety of injuries slowing him late last season.

Webber has told him from time to time to back off on the miles, but it means a little more coming from Vega.

"From somebody who's been at that level, it's huge," Webber said. "It's never been a problem of motivating the kid."

The mentorship aspect of Vega's role should grow in the coming months as Finnerty starts to tour colleges.

"I've asked him a few things," Finnerty said. "It's nice to get his perspective about the process."

He was scheduled to visit Wisconsin last weekend, and while Vega said Gophers coach Steve Plasencia was "pretty happy" to hear he was working with Finnerty, Vega and Webber agreed to keep the maroon-and-gold pitch to a minimum.

Besides, Finnerty said, "I already know three or four guys on the team. If I'm being pushed (there), it's happening already."

Vega has only watched his protege race once so far, at the Lakeville Apple Jack Invitational on Sept. 14.

Finnerty led from start to finish, establishing a 5,000 meters personal best of 15:06 in the process.

It's a good bet he hasn't seen Finnerty's last win.

"I said, 'Let's see where this kid's at,'" Vega said. "He dominated that race from the start. I'd give him a point here and there if there was anything that needed to be corrected. But there really wasn't."

Ben Goessling • 612-673-7252

Ben Goessling • bgoessling@startribune.com

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