Interview: Tommy Brocato
As many athletes continued their outdoor campaigns this past weekend, a small group from Hammond, Louisiana prepared to join them, but not before making one last stop in New York City and the National Scholastic Indoor Championships. These traveling runners, numbering few in bodies, but numerous in titles, honors, and various other distinctions included the likes of: Malia Cali - arguably one of the fastest, if not “the” fastest female distance runner Louisiana has ever seen, Carmen Brothers - St. Thomas Aquinas junior, fresh off an indoor title at 3200 meters, Kraemer “the Shades” Jackson, and finally Tommy Brocato.
Some of these names may be familiar to you by now, but it’s my guess the later names probably - are not. There may be reasons as both Kraemer and Tommy are just now making preparations for their introduction to the high school ranks. Kraemer is in the 8th grade at St. Pauls (Covington) and Tommy, 8th at Holy Ghost (Hammond). These two runners and good friends have commanded the elementary races, dominated the middle school’s, and played with the junior high’s. The question is as they make the next step, will they continue to do what they have always done? If you have not been paying attention yet, it may be time to take an invested interest.
Fast Forward: The time is 5:45PM, it is Friday night and I am rushing for the track at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. I am making a thirty-five minute drive for a junior high meet, more specifically a single event at a junior high meet.. I arrive at the track with a few seconds to spare as I see the runner I have specifically sought. Just a short week ago this runner which I am now watching won his 4th national title at the National Scholastic Indoor Championships in New York City. He seems calm as he makes a few last minute preparations and heads for the line. Although he is a mere 13 years old, he has the calm of a veteran runner as the gun sounds and he bolts from the line. I watch as he breaks from the runners immediately making them look like little kids, I laugh in my head at the reference as to be honest despite his “cool” and splits which he is now knocking off, so that also is he (a kid). He rumbles through the mile at 5:05, a time many varsity runners in our state may not be able to handle. His stride is one of the more efficient I have seen, as he continues to plug and eventually crosses the line. I realize that it will be quite some time before second place joins him, as “that guy” was not only lapped but following - gapped. Tommy finishes the race and very calmly walks to continue his cool down and post race rituals. In a way it is eerie, to watch the future here in the present....
Catching up with 13 year old Tommy.....
Tommy Brocato Accolades:
- 9yr old 2005 AAU National Champion 1500
- 11 year old 2007 AAU Cross Country National Chammpion 3000m
- 13 year old 2009 Disney Club National Champion 1500
- 13 year old 2010 NSIC National Champion 1 mile
PRS:
800m 2:10 (2010)
1500m 4:34 (summer 2009)
2 mile 10:30 (2009)
1 mile 4:48 (2010)
3000m 9:57 (summer 2009)
LouisianaRunning.com: When did you start running?
Tommy Brocato: I started running at 4 years old doing 1 mile fun runs at the Holy Ghost Fair. First grade, I attended a running camp at St. Thomas Aquinas. There I Kept up with the middle school kids. This is when I came associated with AAU Southeast La. Roadrunners.
LouisianaRunning.com: Who are you coached by? Are you looking forward to training officially under St. Thomas Aquinas next year?
Tommy Brocato: Currently running for Holy Ghost School in Hammond. Coach Miguel and Coach Rosendo are my AAU coaches with Southeast La. Roadrunners. Holy Ghost has part time track/cross country coaches, but I get pushed t excel in regional and national competition by Coaches Miguel and Rosendo with AAU. Next year, I will be a St. Thomas Falcon Runner. I will be able to run with the STA Track team rather than just watching them compete.
LouisianaRunning.com: Tell us a little about the trip to New York?
Tommy Brocato: The weekend of March 13th, I ran in the National Scholastic Indoor Championship at the Armory in NYC. I traveled with my dad, Mr. Kirk Jackson and my AAU running partner and friend Kraemer Jackson, who runs for St. Paul's. Coach Miguel and Rosendo went along with Malia Calia and Carmon Brothers who run for STA. The Armory is a awesome place. We went to Time Square, Chinatown, and Little Italy. It was a fast weekend. Our plans were to do our pre-meet in Central Park, but the weather did not permit it.
LouisianaRunning.com: Tell us a little about Uncle Pete. Is this a tradition? How did it start? What words of wisdom did he offer?
Tommy Brocato: This was my second trip trip to NSIC. I ran there last year as a 7th grader. Our pre meet meal was at an Italian restaurant call Uncle Peter's. Uncle Peter owns the place and offered Kraemer and I some words of wisdom which can't be repeated in public..
LouisianaRunning.com: How does it feel to be a national champion?
Tommy Brocato: It feels good to be a national champion. I have won National Championships in cross country and track before. Winning the NSIC was special because it was against different people and the challenge of running indoors. I went there to win that race.
LouisianaRunning.com: Tell us about the race...
Tommy Brocato: I went out fast and was surprised when the other runners did not. I wanted my 400 split at 70 and it was 68. I settled in and pushed the pace. My 200 splits were an average around 36. I 'm glad they were consistent. I never gave up the lead. I was not intimidated, because I have run in many national meets, both in track and cross country. I was not worried about running out front the whole way, but really thought they would come at the end. I felt strong the whole race.
LouisianaRunning.com: What was the atmosphere like at the meet?
Tommy Brocato: The atmosphere was great because of the records on the walls and the list of famous runners who have run there. It would lift anyone to do good there.
LouisianaRunning.com: What other big meets are you going to run this year in Louisiana/outside?
Tommy Brocato: I will run in AAU qualifing this summer, then at Disney for the Club National and AAU Jr. Olympics. Then in the fall, I will run cross country for STA.
LouisianaRunning.com: You will be attending St. Thomas next year, was this a hard decision to make? I heard you went back and forth between St. Paul’s (your father’s alma mater in which he ran) and St. Thomas.... What was the final straw that pushed you to your decsion.
Tommy Brocato: Yes, my dad went to St. Paul's and ran track there along with my mom's cousins. I wanted to stay at Holy Ghost through the 8th grade. I also wanted to stay in Hammond. My sister went to STA and I want to be part of the running tradition at STA. St. Pauls's has a lot of tradition and is a great school and I have friends there, even my best running friend Kraemer Jackson. I just feel that STA is a good fit for me and I look forward to doing my best there.
LouisianaRunning.com: What are your goals for this year? What event are you going to try to specialize in if any?
Tommy Brocato: I want to finish strong at Holy Ghost and pre plan for high school. I will run the 1 mile and 2 mile in track. In the fall I will run the 3 mile.in cross country.
LouisianaRunning.com: Does a 2:05 800 have any special significance to you?
Tommy Brocato: Yeah, I would like to do 2:05 soon to beat my dad's PR. He did that in an 880 on the cinder track at St. Paul"s
LouisianaRunning.com: Any running role models?
Tommy Brocato: Of course Steve Pre and the Kenyans, but around here there is Kinsey Dinnel, Joesph Tenni, Whitney Currey and the current STA girls and boys track team
LouisianaRunning.com: What do you like to do when you are not running?
Tommy Brocato: Work out with Jeff Day at Spoga, play basketball, and hang out with my friends.
LouisianaRunning.com: Long Term Goals?
Tommy Brocato: I would like to get a scholarship to run in college and add to the legacy at STA with a team state championship. I would like to compete on the international level one day, but that is down the road.
Articles or interviews you would like to see done? Please send suggestions as well as reasons to pat@louisianarunning.com or jennifer@louisianarunning.com
