Girls cross country: In the Long run, she may be one of Barringtons' best

No moment seemed too big for Barrington's Jocelyn Long last season.

Long finished fifth in Class 3A state meet, followed it up with a seventh-place finish at the Nike Midwest Regional qualifying and ended her season at the Nike Cross Nationals in Portland in December.

It was quite a ride for Long.

"It was so cool to meet all the other athletes, just being there on the national stage," said Long of her extended postseason run. "It kind of put everything in perspective."

Long did not qualify for the Class 3A state cross country meet her freshman year, but seemed to turn the corner her freshman track season when she finished fourth in the 3,200 in Class 3A at the state track meet.

That momentum carried the Fillies' standout to new heights in her sophomore year, when she also finished third in the Mid-Suburban League and third at the Schaumburg sectional. She finished no lower than third place at any invitational during the regular season.

"It was kind of the tipping point for me," said Long of her breakout season. "I went through freshman cross country and track and I did well, but I don't know if I performed up to my full potential.

"The state track meet my freshman year gave me a lot of confidence going into my sophomore year. That was why I was able to have such success."

It also left quite an impression on her coach Deb Revolta, who has mentored many talented runners during her 26 years at Barrington.

"She handled it very well," said Revolta. "Jocelyn is able to put things in perspective. She focuses on the right things - she doesn't worry about things she can't control. I thought she did phenomenal."

One of things that has fueled Long's rapid rise has been her competitive fire. The Barrington junior has not backed away from competition.

It powered her to a victory in the at St. Charles Invitational in early September, it helped push her down the home stretch to a second-place finish at the First to the Finish Invitational, and it kept her nipping at the heels of Prospect's Brooke Wolfe and Palatine's Kelly O'Brien at the MSL meet.

"Definitely for me it's about getting excited about the races," said Long. "I'm excited to race, I'm excited to go up against everyone and see what I can do. It really helps me to focus on the excitement."

But excitement can only take you so far, and the Fillies junior also has a quiet confidence in her ability and superior work ethic that has propelled her to become one of the top distance runners in Illinois.

"The biggest edge you have to have is a belief in yourself," added Revolta. "If you can go to the line confident in the work you have done and in your ability, and yourself, then really you can accomplish a lot."

And Long has certainly done that in her first two years, accumulating three state medals in cross country and track, qualifying for Nike Cross Nationals, and also securing a school record in the 3,200 and setting a home course record at Barrington Beese Park. To boot, Long has earned the highest finish for a Barrington runner at the state cross country meet.

Long took a moment on the bleachers by an empty baseball field to reflect on all that she achieved during her sophomore season - and to take a peak at what's ahead.

Sure, a return to trip to the Class 3A state meet is on the list. A top-five finish at state was also mentioned, as well qualifying for Nike Cross Nationals and Footlocker Nationals.

But the main thing she is focusing on is something rather simple.

"What I have to hope for each day is not a certain place or certain time," said Long, "but I'm always happy with what I did with my effort and the results will be there."

Now the question is, where she will go from here? Long has put her name right alongside some of the top Barrington distance runners.

That elite group includes Christina Fiduccia, who earned a combined 7 state medals in track and cross country, with a state title in the 1,600 in 2004 and pair of state titles in the 3,200 relay. Rebecca Tracey is another Fillies runner who earned 5 state track medals, along with a state title in the 1,600 and a pair of state titles in 3,200 relay; she also qualified this year for the Olympic Trials in the 1,500.

"I put her name right up there with them," said Revolta, who coached the two former standout Fillies. "And she is only a junior; there is no telling what she can do. Definitely one of the best - and getting better."