Copyright 2001
The Student Life
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Runners Go Runnin’
By Conor O'Rourke
Sports Associate
As a former runner myself, I want to begin this article by saying the toughest thing I’ve ever done physically or mentally in my life was run cross-country in high school. The last mile or so of a race would be dominated by the voice of Bill Cosby ranting about the insalubrity of hip-hop music, the benefits of Kodak Gold film, and how my legs reminded him of the Jell-O Jigglers that the kids were eating these days. Yes, for me cross-country was a tribute to the advertising career of Mr. Cosby. Obviously, that was enough to test even the strongest man’s will.
This past weekend saw Pomona Pitzer’s men’s and women’s cross-country teams at the Stanford Invitational. The race was run over the University Golf Course, a somewhat challenging course with a hill on the tenth fairway that must be negotiated, but luckily no sand traps or water hazards.
Nate DeFelice ’04 running only his second 8k race of his life finished 71 st with a very respectable time of 27:13. DeFelice was unable to run last year due to nagging injuries from his high school years. He is back with passion now, and setting the tone for Sagehens running in the post-Adam Boardman era.
"The field went out faster than I expected, but I was able to stay relaxed and run my race," said DeFelice. Said CCoach Pat Mulcahy, the team is in a rebuilding year, but DeFelice believes they can place second in SCIAC to stalwart champions CMC. "We’re a lot better than what we showed [at Stanford], but it’s going to take some work. We’re young and we need some time, but the future looks good."
Following the Sacramento Kid, DeFelice, were his teammates: hardknocker Paul Snape ’02 (29:26), Mudd-Blaisedell intramural representative Braden Boice ’05 (29:38), former mayoral candidate and current ASPC president Jake Oken-Berg ’02 (30:09), and the subtle, yet potent freshman from down south, David Marshall (30:17). Taking first overall was, of course, the running powerhouse Stanford, followed by the Mormons from Utah State and the nymphomaniacs from UC Santa Barbara. P-P was 21 st out of 28 teams; however, they were first among all Division III schools competing. Their next meet is October 12 at La Mirada Park and will kick off the SCIAC season. On the women’s side, Laura Bishop put up a strong showing, placing 34th amongst a field of many of the top Division I and II runners in the country. The course was a 6k, 1000m longer than the standard women’s race. The added distance didn’t seem to affect the Sagehen women as they place second amongst Division III schools, 21st overall. Bishop’s teammates ran well as a pack and the next four, Stephanie McDougal ’04, Heather Callahan ’04, Erin Wagner ’02, and Susie Roley ’05, all finished within a minute and a half of each other respectively.
Watching cross-country may not seem exciting to the average spectator, or those that haven’t seen Chariots of Fire and don’t have the Vangelis soundtrack symphonizing the spectacle in one’s mind. But let this not deter us from supporting and respecting our running friends and neighbors. We all were runners once, or have moved our legs quickly and strenouously at one point in our lives. It is our nature, from the days of running from the terror of of the velociraptor, to the terror of the CPD, we have been running. Let us all indulge now in a Jell-O pudding pack and with each sweet bite, remember those weary brave legs of the Sagehen cross country athlete.
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