Outdoor Track and Field on Flotrack 2013Jul 4, 2013 by Mitch Kastoff
A true freshman just ran 3:38? Everyone, meet Tulsa's Adam Palamar
A true freshman just ran 3:38? Everyone, meet Tulsa's Adam Palamar
If you haven't watched any of the 2013 National Track League live on Flotrack, you're missing out. There's been a world record attempt, some standard chasing, and a Tulsa freshman who's been quietly making a name for himself. Adam Palamar may have opened his season with a 3:50.87 win at the Arkansas Team Invitational, but he just broke Kevin Sullivan's 20-year-old Canadian junior 1500m record (3:39.11) at the Harry Jerome International. Who is this guy?
We've watched you run two 1500m races on Flotrack and both times, we've been stunned. What's going on this summer up in Canada?
After coming home from Tulsa, I've been hitting solid workouts as well catching up with friends and hanging out with my brother. Coach Gulley and I have been communicating every couple days by phone or e-mail, talking about the workouts for the week and/or upcoming races.
I was lucky enough to get into Toronto; somebody dropped, which opened up a spot. The goal coming in was really just to lower my pb of 3:45, but coming in to the last lap I felt really fresh and just went for it with 250 to go. I was pretty surprised when I saw the time (3:41) on the scoreboard. That gave me a lot of confidence coming into Nationals, as well as Harry Jerome.
At Harry Jerome, you broke Kevin Sullivan's longs-standing Canadian junior record of 3:39.11. Going into this season, did you ever set your sights on the mark? How did that race play out for you?
Coming into this year, the thought of breaking one of Kevin's records never even crossed my mind. Kevin is hands down the greatest Canadian middle-distance runner and I have tremendous respect for all that he's accomplished over the years.
I've just been focusing on the next big race. But after the 3:41 at Toronto and a third-place finish at Nationals, I thought I might have a fighting chance. As for the race, I heard that the pacers planned on going to through 800 in 1:53, so I went straight to the back of the pack and stayed there for the first two laps. Coming into the third lap, the pace lagged a bit and I managed to pick off a couple of people. 400m to go was when I really started to work. When I saw 2:55 on the clock through 1200m, I just tried to relax and bring it home.
"Palamar moving really well. He could be the future here."
How was your freshman year at Tulsa? Did you and coach plan to have this extended racing schedule?
My freshman year was great. Coach Gulley's plan was for me to build a solid base, which I really didn't have in high school. The first two months, I just did easy runs, building up my mileage to 55-60 miles a week. After that, I started working out with the team.
We have a really solid training group; lots of quick guys and we're all very supportive of one another, so I have to attribute alot of my success to my teammates. Racing into the summer was definitely something Coach and I disussed early on. He understands that Canadian and European athletes tend to race into the summer, and he accomodates all of us very well. That's one of the main reasons we have alot of quick international guys at Tulsa.
What did you takeaway from the NCAA West Regional 1500m?
The West Regional 1500m was definitely a learning experience. Toeing the line with guys like Austin Mudd, Zach Perkins, and Kyle Merber, I'd never been in a race of that calibre before. After coming 6th and not making the final, I knew that I would have to work harder in order to compete with guys like that.
Right now, you're seventh in the world on the IAAF junior list. Your canadian junior record would rank #4 on the U.S. list behind Jim Ryun, Alan Webb, and Tom Byers. That's some pretty good company. What's next (goal or racing-wise)?
Next up are Junior Nationals, which take place from July 12th to 14th in St. Therese. I'll run the 1500m and maybe the 800m as well. After that, I'll cap the season off and rest up before preparing for cross-country at Tulsa. Coach Gulley and I discussed running Pan-Am Juniors, but we agreed that because they are so late in the season (August 23-25) they would interfere with cross prep.
Some people have been trying to warn us about you. We've been told that you won OFSAA as a sophomore and last year, you won junior nationals. In one season, you've gone from 3:51, to 3:41, and now 3:38.92. What's been the key to your success this year (staying healthy, training, maturity, etc.)?
My Junior and Senior years of High School were absolutely injury ridden. That being said, I think that I came to Tulsa with a better understanding of my body, which has allowed me to stay healthy, apart from that fluke injury in the winter. Also, I have a lot of trust in Coach Gulley and his program. His main goal is to get usaerobically fit, and I think that his workouts are the main reason that I've improved so much in the past year.
@Flotrack I hope the fact that a true freshman out of Tulsa running 3:38 doesn't get overlooked. Best time during the regular season-3:45
— Kyle Merber (@TheRealMerb) July 1, 2013
We've watched you run two 1500m races on Flotrack and both times, we've been stunned. What's going on this summer up in Canada?
After coming home from Tulsa, I've been hitting solid workouts as well catching up with friends and hanging out with my brother. Coach Gulley and I have been communicating every couple days by phone or e-mail, talking about the workouts for the week and/or upcoming races.
I was lucky enough to get into Toronto; somebody dropped, which opened up a spot. The goal coming in was really just to lower my pb of 3:45, but coming in to the last lap I felt really fresh and just went for it with 250 to go. I was pretty surprised when I saw the time (3:41) on the scoreboard. That gave me a lot of confidence coming into Nationals, as well as Harry Jerome.
At Harry Jerome, you broke Kevin Sullivan's longs-standing Canadian junior record of 3:39.11. Going into this season, did you ever set your sights on the mark? How did that race play out for you?
Coming into this year, the thought of breaking one of Kevin's records never even crossed my mind. Kevin is hands down the greatest Canadian middle-distance runner and I have tremendous respect for all that he's accomplished over the years.
I've just been focusing on the next big race. But after the 3:41 at Toronto and a third-place finish at Nationals, I thought I might have a fighting chance. As for the race, I heard that the pacers planned on going to through 800 in 1:53, so I went straight to the back of the pack and stayed there for the first two laps. Coming into the third lap, the pace lagged a bit and I managed to pick off a couple of people. 400m to go was when I really started to work. When I saw 2:55 on the clock through 1200m, I just tried to relax and bring it home.
"Palamar moving really well. He could be the future here."
How was your freshman year at Tulsa? Did you and coach plan to have this extended racing schedule?
My freshman year was great. Coach Gulley's plan was for me to build a solid base, which I really didn't have in high school. The first two months, I just did easy runs, building up my mileage to 55-60 miles a week. After that, I started working out with the team.
We have a really solid training group; lots of quick guys and we're all very supportive of one another, so I have to attribute alot of my success to my teammates. Racing into the summer was definitely something Coach and I disussed early on. He understands that Canadian and European athletes tend to race into the summer, and he accomodates all of us very well. That's one of the main reasons we have alot of quick international guys at Tulsa.
What did you takeaway from the NCAA West Regional 1500m?
The West Regional 1500m was definitely a learning experience. Toeing the line with guys like Austin Mudd, Zach Perkins, and Kyle Merber, I'd never been in a race of that calibre before. After coming 6th and not making the final, I knew that I would have to work harder in order to compete with guys like that.
Right now, you're seventh in the world on the IAAF junior list. Your canadian junior record would rank #4 on the U.S. list behind Jim Ryun, Alan Webb, and Tom Byers. That's some pretty good company. What's next (goal or racing-wise)?
Next up are Junior Nationals, which take place from July 12th to 14th in St. Therese. I'll run the 1500m and maybe the 800m as well. After that, I'll cap the season off and rest up before preparing for cross-country at Tulsa. Coach Gulley and I discussed running Pan-Am Juniors, but we agreed that because they are so late in the season (August 23-25) they would interfere with cross prep.
Some people have been trying to warn us about you. We've been told that you won OFSAA as a sophomore and last year, you won junior nationals. In one season, you've gone from 3:51, to 3:41, and now 3:38.92. What's been the key to your success this year (staying healthy, training, maturity, etc.)?
My Junior and Senior years of High School were absolutely injury ridden. That being said, I think that I came to Tulsa with a better understanding of my body, which has allowed me to stay healthy, apart from that fluke injury in the winter. Also, I have a lot of trust in Coach Gulley and his program. His main goal is to get usaerobically fit, and I think that his workouts are the main reason that I've improved so much in the past year.
Related Content
Replay: LHSAA Outdoor Champs | May 2 @ 2 PMMay 3, 2024
Replay: UIL State Championships | May 2 @ 5 PMMay 3, 2024
Replay: GSC Outdoor Track & Field Championship | May 2 @ 5 PMMay 3, 2024
High School Boys' 4x400m Relay 4A, Finals 1May 3, 2024
High School Girls' 4x400m Relay 4A, Finals 1May 3, 2024
High School Boys' 4x400m Relay 3A, Finals 1May 3, 2024
High School Girls' 4x400m Relay 3A, Finals 1May 3, 2024
High School Boys' 1600m 4A, Finals 1May 3, 2024
High School Girls' 1600m 4A, Finals 1May 3, 2024