Bishop Shanahan’s Steven Todd is Daily Local News 2024 Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year

Bishop Shanahan senior Steven Todd, the Daily Local News 2024 Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year, knows how to put on a closing spurt when the chips are down.

At the Ches-Mont Cross Country Championships, Todd put on a great closing kick to post a winning time of 15:28.3, which also was a PR. Last week, the Bishop Shanahan senior said the Ches-Mont meet was his best race of the fall season.

“Coming out of the woods with about 800 (meters) to go, I moved into the lead,” said Todd. “Winning this race was unreal. The key was trusting my training, trusting my coaches, and God, of course. Another key was my mindset and confidence — really telling myself that I was the best one in the field.”

Bishop Shanahan cross country coach Mark Schmidt said, “Steven’s plan was to really hammer the last 800, and he knew he’d have company (smiles). But he was prepared for it, he was honing his speed over the last couple of weeks for what we knew would be a real horse race coming down the last 300 meters. There were some fast guys chasing him.

“Steven has a great ability to remain calm under pressure.  He is competitive and wants to win as much as anybody out there, but his pre-race demeanor makes it seem like just another day at the office for him.”

Todd, who was named the Ches-Mont Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year this fall, went on to finish first at the District 1 2A Championships, then placed third at the PIAA 2A state meet with a time of 16:14, trailing champion Jonathan Hess of Lewisburg (15:57) and Michael Braun of Freeport (16:05).

“My favorite memory of states has to be the moment I crossed the finish line, knowing all my hard work and training had finally paid off,” said Todd.

“Steven ran a really smart race,” said Schmidt. “He stayed patient early, going through 1K in 12th place and the (first) mile in ninth. By the two mile mark, he rolled up to the lead pack and into fourth place, with the confidence of a runner who had put it all the work to give himself a shot at the state title. Hess and Braun ran an awesome last mile.”

Todd certainly has paid the price for his success this fall, as Schmidt can attest to.

“Summer training for cross country starts in mid-June,” said Schmidt. “It’s a grind as mileage builds through the summer and the racing season lasts into November.  It’s hard to not let your commitment wane at some point, but Steven was ‘all in’ 100 percent of the time.

“Steven’s complete commitment to the training program has been a key to his success.  I don’t recall a practice where he cut a run short by even a minute or missed his time targets.”

Todd’s older brother Jameson was a fine runner for Bishop Shanahan too, finishing fourth in the 800 meter run at the 2023 PIAA 3A Track & Field Championships in his senior year.

“Jameson was always someone I looked up to, especially during the years I would run with him,” said Todd. “If it weren’t for him and also my former coach, Coach (Peter) Uhlman, I potentially would not have ever run cross country and wouldn’t be in the position I am in today. Jameson taught me that failure is not a setback, but rather a setup for a comeback. He taught me that there’s something to learn from every race, something to grow from and work on.”

Schmidt noted Todd’s marked improvement in both strength and endurance the past 18 months.

“Steven did not run cross country his freshman year and he is young for his grade, so we were careful not to build up his training regimen too quickly and risk injury,” said Schmidt. “This season, he has been able to handle an increased workload and his strength in the last mile of a race is where it shows.”

The Bishop Shanahan coach also noted Todd’s value as a teammate and leader.

“Steven is a great role model for other members of the team,” said Schmidt. “It starts with how he treats others.  He is polite and respectful to his coaches, teammates, and parents.  After each practice, he thanks the coaches and shakes their hands or gives a fist bump.  He also leads by example with his training.  His teammates see the effort he puts in and know what they need to do to get better.”

When asked who his most valuable cross country mentors were, Todd mentioned a long list of people.

“Definitely the many coaches I’ve had, each of them unlocking a new part of potential in me and teaching me how to excel given my circumstances. Specifically, Coach Schmidt, who really had no problem adapting my training when he became my coach during my junior year. Jameson, who brought me into the sport and has always been there for me, helping me to never quit even at my lowest. My training partner Owen Whitaker, who constantly pushed me on every run, and Katie, who was always there offering encouragement and support.

“Also, my parents, who came to every single race, made sure I had everything I needed, and supported me not only on my best days, but also on my worst. And lastly, but most importantly, God, who is the reason for the many blessings I often take for granted, is one of the many reasons I continue to push every day. He gave me this talent, which I now use to reach new heights I never knew I could, all with Him by my side.”

Off the running trails at Bishop Shanahan, Todd’s favorite academic subject is calculus. He’d like to major in Finance in college and is thinking of eventually becoming a real estate agent. He’d also like to run for a college program, although he hasn’t chosen one yet.

Schmidt said, “Despite Steven’s incredible success this year, his development as a runner is still in its early stages. He has a huge upside as he moves forward with this sport.”