Brodeur an asset to Duke, despite illnesses and injuries

BRICK TOWNSHIP — Andrew Brodeur, one of the greatest cross country runners that Brick Memorial High School ever had before he graduated two years ago, helped Duke University's cross country team to qualify for the NCAA championships for the first time since 2001.

But he wasn't slated to compete with Duke in the finals on Nov. 23 on a course at Indiana State University.

Instead, he was entered in the IC4A championships on Nov. 21 at Van Cortland Park in the Bronx, N.Y., where he finished in sixth place last year.

"I had a strep throat," said Brodeur, a sophomore on the team that was one of 13 to get an at-large bid for the field of 31 teams. It is Duke's 10th appearance in the NCAA championships, and it was sealed with a fourth-place finish in the Southeast Region on Nov. 14, finishing ahead of No. 19 nationally ranked Virginia.

"It's the second time I had it [strep throat] this season, and it was pretty bad," Brodeur said. "I'm better now, but I had to scratch out when they were entering the meet, and wasn't going unless someone else couldn't make it. It's been frustrating for me with injuries. Last year I was the No. 5 runner, but this fall I'm seventh."

Brodeur did manage to have some bright moments this fall, including 26th place in the Atlantic Coast Conference championships out of 109 finishers. He covered the 8,000-meter course at North Carolina State University's campus.

After that, he got the flu and then strep throat, reminiscent of his junior year at Brick Memorial, when an illness sidelined him late in the cross country season. Nevertheless, he had the unique distinction of qualifying for the Meet of Champions nine times in cross country and indoor and outdoor track.

Earlier this season, Brodeur was 55th in the Panorama Farms Invitational at the University of Virginia's 8,000-meter course in 25:11.99 on Oct. 16. In September he was ninth in the James Madison Invitational with a 24:59.1 time over the 7,900- meter course. Brodeur also was 33rd in the Roy Griak Invitational at the University of Minnesota in 25:33 over 8,000 meters.

In a few weeks, he'll take his talents indoors, where he will compete primarily in the 5K. Last season in the IC4A championships at Boston University, Brodeur was 14th out of 28 runners in the 5K with a 14:35 time. A year earlier, Brodeur finished third in the 3,200 at the NJSIAA indoor track and field Meet of Champions for Brick Memorial.

He said he was fatigued for outdoor season this spring and underestimated the demands of NCAA Division I competition and the rigorous training that goes with it.

And then there is the matter of balancing his time with academics. After all, it is Duke, one of the leading academic schools in the nation.

"I had it tough, but it's worth it," said Brodeur, who is studying evolutionary anthropology.

Certainly, nothing comes Brodeur's way easily.