GUILDERLAND — Guilderland High School junior Brian Rhodes-Devey has realized a dream.

The Dutchman has been one of the top runners in Section II for the past couple of years, but now he will be able to show off in front of the nation.

Rhodes-Devey ran a time of 15:35 on the five-kilometer course at Van Corlandt Park in New York City in the Foot Locker Northeast Meet on Saturday. Although he came in sixth, his time qualifies him to run in the national meet in San Diego on Dec. 10.
"I was really pumped," Rhodes-Devey said. "I felt like I didn’t run my best. I did not feel strong. I was beat by two kids from New York that I’ve beaten in the past. I’m happy to be heading out west. It was a goal of mine to qualify and I’m just preparing for two weeks from now."

Rhodes-Devey was in third place for most of the race, he said. But he was passed.
"With a little more than a mile left," Rhodes-Devey said, "I was passed by two kids. I was keeping track of where I was in my head, and now I was in fifth and I thought, ‘I can try and hold on.’ Then I got passed and I was back in sixth. Then with about 500 meters left, where I usually get my final kick, I just settled back. I was trying to hold on rather than going for a real good finish."

Rhodes-Devey won the state championship in Queensbury on Nov. 12 and the Federation title in Wappingers Falls the following Saturday.
"I couldn’t be any happier," Rhodes-Devey said on Tuesday. "It’s going to be a great experience. My coach is going with me and that’s awesome. It’s really exciting."

Guilderland varsity Coach Bob Oates will accompany Rhodes-Devey to California.
"Running with the big boys"

The last month has been a busy one for Rhodes-Devey. He had a disappointing Section II meet, but came back to win the next two big races.
"It has been real stressful," he said. "I’ve run as fast as I can for the past few weeks. I was really looking forward to the Foot Locker Qualifier. I really buckled down and worked hard to be where I had to be."

Rhodes-Devey has been practicing hard this week and will ease up next week before he leaves for San Diego on Thursday. He visited the Grand Canyon in Arizona when we was younger but has never been to California.
"I’m really excited," he said. "It’s going to be 75 and sunny. It’s a nice change from the way it’s been around here."

In 2004, Rhodes-Devey, as a freshmen, competed in a national track event in North Carolina and had the fastest time in the mile.

The race will be a learning experience for Rhodes-Devey.
"It’s a new experience," he said. "I want to learn from running in it this year. I want to do my best, but I think I can learn a lot by running with the big boys. Next year, I want to go and show them what’s up."

Rhodes-Devey said that he is ready for a break. He has been involved in a race every weekend since September but his enjoyment of the sport keeps him going.
"It’s what I love to do," Rhodes-Devey said. "I can’t explain what it is about it. But I could use the time off.
Asked what keeps him at a grueling sport, Rhodes-Devey said, "I don’t know, I haven’t thought about it. I enjoy doing it. I don’t have much hand-eye coordination. I couldn’t do many other sports."

His success has helped him keep at the sport, but there’s more to running for Rhodes-Devey than winning.
"The success is nice," he said. "It’s something I would enjoy doing even if I was in the back of the pack and running a 20-minutes 5K; I’m still going to do it. I enjoy it so much, I’d do it even if I wasn’t successful."