by Randy Mayes

If you are running in a local road race and see someone in a matching green spider man singlet and shorts at the starting line, chances are you have just spotted the winner and are competing for second place. Don’t feel bad if you lose sight of them after the first mile, and no, it’s not a Halloween costume. Forty-four Olympic track hopefuls, mainly east coast college graduates, work and train in the Washington, DC area and occasionally test their fitness at local road races. Reebok supplies the flashy uniforms for this classy group known as The Enclave.

Inspired by the vision of coach and father figure Frank Gagliano, the Reebok Enclave is a track club that cares as much about the community in which it is based as the world class performances of its roster of athletes. Unlike most elite track clubs whose members are scattered all over the country and have a common logo, most members live several miles from the Georgetown campus, and in a typical week they work out together three times. The development of Olympians is the ultimate goal. Combined with a philosophy of helping the community, the homeless, the poor, and elementary school kids, the result is a group of athletes running at the elite level and performing community service while maintaining part-time jobs or working in their careers. This unique training opportunity provides a transition from college to long-term running goals. A mixture of an Olympic Gold Medalist/former World Record Holder, Olympians, Olympic qualifiers, a two-time World Championship Bronze Medalist, sub-four-minute milers, NCAA champions, recent college graduates, Track and Field News World and American top ten runners routinely work out together despite the weather conditions. On the track, interval training, tempo runs, striders, plyometrics, and form drills twice a week as well as long runs and weight training off the track comprise the formal training. A monthly meeting to discuss past and future racing and community projects is followed by a social outing allowing the team members to stay focused and celebrate their achievements.

Washington, DC may seem like an unlikely place for elite runners to train. In 1991, former Georgetown students Peter Sherry, John Trautmann, Steve Holman, and Rich Kenah wanted to prepare for the 1992 Olympic Trials. Frustrated by the lack of organized support for post-collegiate track athletes, Gagliano agreed to coach and provide training facilities. Soon, other athletes around the country like Bob Lesko, David Strang, Billy Burke, and Jimmy Gibson wanted to join the group. As the head track coach at Georgetown University, Gagliano has acquired numerous IC4A and Big East titles and the utmost respect of his athletes. His vast office is literally covered with All-American certificates and is open to his athletes to talk about grades or personal problems. His style of coaching extends off the track with a sincere concern for them as people.

After playing football at the University of Richmond and in the Canadian Football League, Gagliano took a teaching job hoping to coach football; however, a track coach was needed. Later, moving on to assistant coach at Manhattan College and as head coach at Rutgers, he had serendipitously found his calling.

At the 1992 Olympic Trials, Steve Holman made the team in the 1500 meters and John Trautmann in the 5000 meters. Rich Kenah and Bob Lesko both made the semi-finals of the 800m. Jimmy Gibson made the finals in the steeplechase, and Peter Sherry made the finals of both the 5000m and the 10000m.

This successful group remained nameless. One night over a few beers at The Tombs in Georgetown, Bob Lesko suggested the name "Enclave," which he borrowed from Frank Shorter. In the late 1960’s, Shorter sought out Jack Batchelor who was the best distance runner at the time and in graduate school at the University of Florida. Jeff Galloway, Marty Liquori, and John Parker later joined the enclave known as The Florida Track Club.

According to Shorter, "I observed that the British and New Zealand running and cross-country clubs were successful in having runners push each other to faster times."

In 1993 Cheri Goddard, Juli Henner, Kelly Rabush, and Keri Bertrand formed the initial women’s group. Assistant Georgetown Track Coach Ron Helmer, who had a distinguished career as a Virginia High School Coach, oversees their training. He noted that "working with these athletes who are here because they want to be and are willing to work together makes the job less complicated. It cannot be assumed that everyone is going to adapt well to group training. The selection process for athletes has equally high standards for character and attitude."

Juli Henner (James Madison) made the 1996 Olympic Team in the 1500m. Cheri Goddard-Kenah (Villanova) has a remarkable range on the track and also competes in cross-country and road races. The 1998 USATF rankings place her tenth in the 1500m, second in the 3000m and fifth in the 5000m. In 1996 she was fourth at the cross-country nationals, and at the 1997 Peachtree 10K ran 32:17. She says she loves to run the mile, but will focus on 3000m for international competition.

Meredith Rainey-Valmon (Harvard) was ranked third in the U.S. and sixth in the world in 1998 for 800m. Marty Shue (USNA) is a former winner of the Washington, DC Race For The Cure in 16:47 and placed nineteenth at the 1999 Winter 8K National Cross Country Championships. In 1998 she placed sixth in the 10000m National Outdoor Championships. Miesha Marzell (Georgetown), the 1996 NCAA 1500m champion, Samantha Bates (All American at James Madison), Tanya Baker (Princeton), and Karen Goetze (Harvard) are promising in the 800m and 1500m.

In addition to the extra coaching responsibilities and being a father of four, Gagliano also was President of the IC4A Coaches Association and The NCAA Track and Field Coaches Association in 1993. So, Matt Centrowitz was recruited to coach the men’s 5000m, 10000m, marathon, and cross-country athletes. Gagliano had coached Centrowitz for one year at Manhattan College before he transferred to Oregon. His credentials include making the 1976 and 1980 Olympic Teams and setting the American record for 5000m in 1982. His 13:12.91 is currently fourth on the all-time American list. As the top high school miler his senior year (4:02), he understands the lifestyle, sacrifices, mental mind set, and time needed to develop strength to become a top middle-distance runner. Centrowitz is also a cross-country coach at American University.

In addition to original member Peter Sherry, who just returned from injury status, the middle distance group includes Andre Williams (NC), Ray Pugsley (Dartmouth), Chris Caton (Portland State), Bryan Spoonire (Seton Hall), and Chris Fogarazo and Chris Graff (St. John’s). As a group, they won the Association (team) cross-country championships, Army Ten Miler, and placed five runners in the top twenty-one spots at the 1999 National (12K) Cross-Country Championships in the last year. A typical week includes interval training on Tuesday, 65 second quarters, Thursday, five miles at 4:40 pace, Saturday, ten miles at 5:30 pace, Sunday, long run at 6:00-6:15 pace. The other days include recovery runs for 80-100 mile weeks as they prepare for the National Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon on June 25, 1999. National road races provide an opportunity to make extra money when not conflicting with training for USATF, world championships, invitationals, and Olympic related meets, which are given priority.

Terrance Mahon (Villanova) lives in Haverford, PA and trains with the middle-distance runners once a week. He was a 10000m finalist at the 1996 Olympic Trials and placed 3^rd at the 1995 Cross- Country Nationals. With a 2:13:02 marathon, he will focus on making the Olympic Marathon Team.

As the enclave grew, so did the expenses. Gagliano contacted two of his former runners from Rutgers, Frankie Argano and Andy Muldoon, who had become very successful Wall Street businessmen. They agreed to pay expenses for one year. Next, Gagliano wrote to all the shoe companies, and it was Reebok who came through. At that point the group became known as The Reebok Enclave.

Recently Andre Valmon, a former Enclave member, became an assistant track coach at Georgetown and works with the Enclave sprinters. He was a member of the 1988 and 1992 Olympic Gold Medal 4x400 relay teams. As a former world record holder, he is well qualified to instruct the proper sprinting posture and how to run in oxygen debt.

Bryan Woodward (Georgetown), a former NCAA champion at 800m, recently placed third in the National Indoor Championships. He is a training partner to Rich Kenah (Georgetown), also a former NCAA champion, Indoor and Outdoor World Championship Bronze Medalist, and second place finisher at the National Indoor Championships. Just returning to competition after missing the 1998 season due to injuries, Kenah at a young age is very knowledgeable on training and how to race well. His racing tactics and ability to peak have made him one of the few Americans to obtain results at the international level.

Acknowledged for his work, Gagliano was chosen as a long distance coach at the 1997 World Outdoor Championships. As the enclave coach for the 1500m, mile, and 3000m, he has four sub-4:00 milers and several on the cusp. Steve Holman, returning recently from injuries, placed second at the National Indoor Championships in the 3000m. In 1998, he was ranked the number two U.S. miler. Scott Anderson (Princeton) is the record holder for the Pennsylvania Avenue Mile in 4:04.2. Matt Holthaus (James Madison) won the mile at the National Indoor Championships and is a graduate assistant to track coach Centrowitz at American University. Mark Sivieri (Georgetown) is a Georgetown medical student. Steve Myers (Providence) has improved his 4:06 college best to 4:01. Kevin Jermyn (Georgetown) has a 3:43 1500m best and is considering moving up to middle distances.

The short-term goals for the group are to be totally focused for the National Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon (June 25-27, 1999). The top finishers that have qualifying times will make the team to represent the U.S. at the IAAF World Outdoor Championships in Seville, Spain beginning on August 21, 1999. Selected American athletes will be eligible to compete on the European Grand Prix Circuit. The long-term goals are the Olympic Trials and 2000 Olympics in Sydney, Australia.

In 1996, Juli Henner and Meredith Rainey-Valmon made the Olympic Team. Nine others made the finals. John Trautmann has retired from running and is a financial consultant in New York. Billy Burke is an attorney in Washington, DC, Kelly Rabush is the head track coach at the University of South Florida. Keri Bertrand is a physician in New York.

It is very important to Gagliano that his athletes serve the community. They have collected shoes for the poor, and at Thanksgiving they have collected turkeys for homeless families. Other examples of community involvement include conducting clinics, staffing finish lines, and making appearances at grammar school track meets.