May 23, 2007
From time to time in athletics, competitors run into some type of adversity, which leads to a decision to either meet the challenge or fall by the wayside.
For Penn State sophomore John Mahoney, that hardship came in high school. Mahoney's senior year started with a bang when he ran a 15:14 in the 5K and finishing sixth at the Pennsylvania State Championships during the cross country season. During his indoor track season Mahoney and his teammates were victorious in the mile relay at the Nike Indoor Nationals. However, the success came at the cost respiratory problems.
"I went to an ear-nose-and-throat doctor and found out that I had a deviated septum and enlarged adenoids, said Mahoney, who is from Council Rock High School. "My lymph nodes were also enlarged and my doctor thought I might have had Hodgkin's disease."
Despite the serious medical issue, Mahoney continued on his journey, hoping to move on to compete at the college level. In the meantime, a biopsy showed that he did not have Hodgkin's disease, rather mononucleosis. Despite the medical hindrance, Mahoney raced his way to a 4:20 mile in the finals at the Outdoor State Championship.
Adding yet another obstacle to Mahoney's senior season was his college decision.
"My choices were down to Penn State, Maryland and Syracuse, said Mahoney. "Some of the coaches were wondering why I wasn't having as good of an indoor and outdoor track season as I did in cross country. I had to explain my health situation, and they were not sure if I was going to be able to compete at the high level that NCAA Division I demands."
The situation became a little clearer when Syracuse became the only school to offer Mahoney a scholarship. Naturally, he chose to spend four seasons in Syracuse, N.Y.
Just before the Penn Relays near the end of his senior year, Mahoney got a call from Syracuse, who had just hired a new athletics director. The coaching staff informed him that because of a new budget his scholarship would be omitted.
Mahoney then turned to Penn State where he contacted former track and cross country head coach Harry Groves. Groves embraced the opportunity of having a student-athlete of Mahoney's nature in the Penn State program.
"He was very patient with me and believed in my abilities, said Mahoney, who is now majoring in secondary education and mathematics. "If it wasn't for coach Groves, I don't know where I would be today. He gave me the opportunity to come to Penn State after my scholarship was taken away at Syracuse."
Once he was accepted into the Penn State family, Mahoney had surgery to remove his adenoids and fix his deviated septum, which led to the battle of getting into to proper competition shape. Just as he had done throughout his life, Mahoney took the impediment by the horns and worked his way into racing form.
Maintaining a positive mentality when obstacles arise is a gift. Mahoney faced countless bumps along the road to Happy Valley, but his confidence level remained static.
With the help of current track head coach Beth Alford-Sullivan, Mahoney developed into a prime competitor for the Nittany Lions this season. The countless hours of industrious training has granted Mahoney the opportunity to excel on the track.
He has competed in the 1,500-meters, 3,000-meters, 5,000-meters, steeplechase and mile this year. Mahoney clocked a 9:22 in the steeplechase this spring in his first season competing in the event. At the Penn Relays, Mahoney stopped the clock at 14:26 in the 5,000-meters, which was 43 seconds better than his quickest time in the event.
"This year has been a blast, said Mahoney. "I have bonded with my teammates and I am now running better than I ever have before. I am truly enjoying the sport of running. My 5,000-meters race at the Penn Relays was a night that I will never forget. I got to run close to home in front of my family, friends and old coaches. I was especially glad that my grandfather got to see my run for the first time in a Penn State uniform at Franklin Field."
Mahoney will continue to strive for excellence with the character that allowed him to not only confront adversity, but prevail.
"My goals for the future start this upcoming weekend at the Outdoor Track & Field Big Ten Championships, said Mahoney. "For next year's cross country team, my goal, as well as my teammate's goal, is to surprise a lot of people and qualify for the NCAA Championship."