As the winter track season comes to a close, the greatest distance runner in school history, Aidan Carroll has a lot to look forward to in the coming months and years. Many hours of hard work and dedication from Carroll have led to his current status as the greatest distance runner in school history and a commitment to Stony Brook University, a Division I school. Because he doesn’t live in Glen Rock, and many of his seasons were impacted by COVID-19, his journey to a Division I school has been a bit unconventional, however he stayed focused and made his dream a reality. Each aspect of his training has been carefully planned and executed with the goal of improving his times and running competitively beyond high school. Results on his race days are occasionally disappointing for him but his persistence and dedication has allowed him to become the greatest distance runner in school history nonetheless.
The future Stony Brook Seawolf has an impressive resume as a runner. He is the current school record holder for the 5K including the school record at the Darlington course as well as the infamous Garret Mountain. He’s also the school record holder for the 3200 meter run (2 miles) with a personal best time of 9:37 which he set his junior year. His personal record of 16:13 is the fastest 5K ever recorded by a student at Glen Rock High School and his consistent success earned him much respect and recognition from those in the high school running community. For cross country alone, he was named First team all State Group twice, First team all North Jersey twice, First team all County twice, First team all Conference this past season (first time it’s been awarded), as well as First team all League every year for the past three seasons. He’s a two-time state sectional champion and has been the league champion for two out of his three seasons here. For track he made 3rd team all county for the 3200 and first team all league for the same event.
Carroll joined GRHS as a sophomore, despite living in Emerson. He transferred from Emerson High School to Glen Rock because his mom works in the school district and his family felt it would be best for him. Throughout his time in high school, those around him are quick to notice his success. However, those who are close with him, including boys’ cross country coach, Anthony Judilla, and sophomore teammate, Neil Sahu, have noted that in addition to his results, his level of dedication is also admirable.
“The kid is always putting his time into improvement, whether it be training, diet, sleep, technique, or recovery,” Judilla stated. “He wants everything he does to somehow help, and works hard to set and achieve goals.”
“He has a great work ethic, he knows how to face the pressure, and the people he runs against. He knows what to expect and plans ahead before his races,” observed Sahu.
It’s Carroll’s obsession with perfection and never-ending grind that allows him to be as prepared as possible going into his races. But despite all the preparation that goes into it, he has had some roadblocks. He suffered double stress fractures in his legs as a sophomore – his first year at GRHS, but he has proven himself to be capable of overcoming obstacles like this one.
Judilla noted how impressive his ability to bounce back is: “And if coming back from that [injury] to be a two-time all-county and state sectional champion doesn’t speak to responding to adversity, I don’t know what else to say.”
Even members of opposing teams have a certain level of respect for Carroll that only comes with sustained dominance. Evan Morrow, the star of the Hasbrouck Heights cross country and track team, has known Carroll through competition since junior year and he had high praise for the young athlete.
“It’s insanely fun running against Aidan,” Morrow said. “He’s a tough opponent and hates losing more than he loves winning. I know every race with him in it is going to be fast and he never holds back and I love that. He’s someone I love to beat and hate to lose to but I have an insane amount of respect for him and everything he’s accomplished.”
Apart from his accomplishments in races, Carroll’s commitment to the sport makes an impression on those close to him, including Chris Alepa, a freshman and member of the cross country team at Ramapo College, who has known Carroll for roughly a year. Carroll made a name for himself his junior year and Alepa took note.
“I can tell you he’s one of the kids that is not only talented, but he works hard,” Alepa said. “He ran exceptionally well last year, but he’s training at a new level now and when the big meets come around in the spring he’s going to be deadly, not only in Bergen County but in New Jersey.”
“He’s so insanely dedicated to the sport. He eats, sleeps, and breathes running,” Morrow mentioned. “He’s always looking for a way to get better no matter how marginal the difference is. Aidan and I talk almost everyday about our workouts or just running in general and different things we do to get better and train harder. We both love to pick each other’s brain on our running knowledge and just keep trying to find ways to improve ourselves. Aidan’s one of the most hard working runners I’ve ever met and I know that his heart is in it 24/7/365.”
Carroll’s humility is reflected in his attitude towards his records.
“It’s nice and all holding the cross country and 2-mile school records, but of course that doesn’t mean they are there to stay. I’m excited to see who it will be to follow my path and break my records.”