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Setting: Milliken Research Park, Spartanburg, South Carolina
Occasion: The 2010 Atlantic Sun Conference Cross Country Championships
Notation: Upon thorough investigation, it has been discovered that the Milliken Research Corporation can be traced back to 1865, when it was a small woolen fabrics jobbing firm in Portland, Maine (founded by Seth Milliken and William Deering). It has grown to a company of 15,000 employees, with over $2 billion in assets. This cutting-edge business has received nearly 1300 patents since moving to South Carolina in the mid-20th century.
Past successes include single weave fabrics, and hydrophobic (oleophobic) polyester. To quote a company press release (taken completely out of context), “we were interested in radiation to determine how it would modify fiber by creating free radicals to which we could attach reactive chemicals.” These “experiments” were conducted in an “underground laboratory.” The short-term result was a radiation permanent press fabric, which led to a revolutionary fiber called Visa®. Further refinement resulted in VisaEndurance®, a silver-based antimicrobial which controls most odors (so, after the race, you won’t have to keep your distance from fans of the opposite sex), wicks moisture away from an athlete’s body (thereby having a substantial cooling effect), dries quickly (runs, but no drips), and releases stains in the wash (Mom will love it too). It was quickly embraced by an entire generation of runners.
Suspicions run deep that they are currently involved in extensive, cutting-edge research into the development of 21st century running gear. Although it cannot be verified if their latest research delves into the aerodynamic qualities of a tight-fitting, ultra-light, dry, comfortable fabric—code name Speedwear—and its effects on performance, but why not? Look what hi-tech, polyurethane body suits have done for swimmers! We can assume (conspiratorially speaking) that the Milliken R&D team was watching the proceedings from their offices, high above the race course. And was that a company representative--cleverly disguised as a coach, and caught on camera—collecting experimental uniforms after the Women’s race, and stuffing them into a plastic bag for further study?
The Womens’ Race
All fantasy aside, it seemed that something was in the air that morning. For the more southerly schools—the four Florida XC teams were still battling near-to-low 90 degree temperatures as of mid-week—it might have been the chill in the air. (Suddenly enamored by the 40 degree early morning temperatures, one Stetson runner was convinced he was ready to move to South Carolina.) To many others, it might have been what they considered the most beautiful course they’ve ever run on. On a picture-perfect autumn morning, they finally felt that it was truly cross country season. Each step on a fallen leaf produced a satisfying “crunch” that was pleasing to your senses, as well as your sense of time and place.
Of course, the business at hand was to win championships. And few coaches have been as successful at that business as University of North Florida’s Mark Van Alystyne.
“I thought today’s race would be between the kickers, and the front runners,” said UNF’s Van Alstyne. “We had a game plan for each individual. We knew we had to get three or four in the top ten, and our fifth runner had to come in (up front).”
For most of the race, it went pretty much according to Van Alystyne’s script.
“There were two kickers (sophomore Joane Pierre of Jacksonville, and Joan Tangwar of USC Upstate) and two front runners (2009 A-Sun Runner-up Mackenzie Howe and UNF’s Shelby Kittrell). Pierre outkicked Shelby at Mt. Dew (September 18; Pierre was first in 17:33.50, and Kittrell fourth in 17:38.17), and Joan (Tangwar) did it at the Upstate Invitational two weeks ago (October 16; Tangwar was first in 17:34.56, and Kitrell was second in 17:39.38) At the morning meeting, our strategy went something like this: (I told Shelby) your job is to get away from them when the finish comes up.”
It went pretty much as planned, up to and nearly including the finish. I asked KSU’s Mackenzie Howe if she, too, attempted to establish a lead prior to the finish.
“That was the plan,” confirmed Howe. “The first mile (5:24), we were all together (Tangwar, Pierre, Kittrell and Howe). My goal was to try to get rid of them as quickly as possible. They stayed with us (Tangwar and Pierre). It was to my advantage, because it tired them out.
“What was going on in my mind was that every year, I was runner-up.”
Mackenzie finished eighth in 2007 (19:07), second in 2008 (17:58), and second again in 2009 (17:31).
“This is my senior year, and I wanted to finish with the conference championship.”
About 100 yards before the finish line, Shelby had a step or two on Mackenzie. At the round, blue NCAA logo—about 50 yards to go--they were virtually even. By the time they reached the finish line, Howe had reversed the order, finishing first in 17:22.78. Kittrell was right behind her in 17:24.18.
“It was an effort,” she sighed. “It was by no means easy. It was everything I had left…but it is the last race of the season, besides the Regionals (November 13th, Hoover, Alabama).
“(There) it will be a little different. We are not going as a team. My goal will be to get fourth as an individual….stay in the pack and get to go to the Nationals in (Terre Haute) Indiana (November 20th). That is my ultimate goal; a big achievement for me.”
The biggest achievement for any coach is a team championship. And in that regard, Mark Van Alstyne and his UNF Ospreys won the Grand prize.
“They ran as a team. They were in it from the beginning of the season. Shelby’s strategy was to watch Mackenzie. She is the epitome of a front runner; follow her, and hopefully she (Howe) would pull her (Shelby) away from the kickers, and if not, tire them out. We got some unlikely help from Joane Pierre. She came up and pushed them for two miles. That may have cost her, because she made it to the last half mile and ‘collapsed’ (finishing third in 17:51.91).”
“She (Shelby) almost got a cross country championship to go with her indoor 5000 Conference Championship in 2010 (17:15.09 on February 27th). But she’s a sophomore, and we can work on that.
“Shelby (Fernandina Beach), Kayla (Jensen Beach), and Meggie Emons (Winter Park; 12th in 18:04) are all products of Florida. They are indicative of Florida’s talent. We have to emphasize in-state recruiting. Looking at our top five, you can see what we can do.”
As he previously predicted, their fifth place finisher played a key role.
“Kayla Conrad (24th in 18:37.28) ran a PR today, by about 20 seconds. She’s improved by about a minute and 20 seconds this year. She was a soccer player in high school, and never ran cross country. She was an 800 meter runner, and three time FHSAA winner. She won in tenth (2:19.08 on April 28, 2006), eleventh (2:17.22 on April 27, 2007) and twelfth grade (2:17.83 on April 25, 2008).”
Conrad also placed second to Joan Pierre (2:18.17) in the 2010 A-Sun Indoor 800 (2:18.37).
“She’s a great runner, and a better person. She’s also team captain, and the VP of Student Athletic Advisory.”
Rounding out the Osprey championship team were sophomore Ecaterina Gheorghiu (seventh in 17:58.96), junior Erin Nixon (tenth in 18:01.90), junior Brooke Baumann (47th in 19:25.53), and freshman Allison Spiegel (50th in 19:30.62).
TEAM RESULTS – North Florida, as previously stated, won with 55 points (2-7-10-12-24-46-48). Lipscomb only had one top ten finisher—freshman Dani Walker was fourth in 17:54.50—but bunched the rest (4-11-13-19-26-27-29)--to finish second with 73. With three freshmen, two sophomores, and two juniors, a sun may be rising over this Bison herd in 2011. Jacksonville was third with 96 (3-6-25-30-32-47-49). 86 runners finished for the 11 teams.
Mens’ Race
USC-Upstate sophomore Gilbert Kemboi was one of nine athletes from Eldoret, Kenya listed in the Men’s’ and Women’s’ programs of the A-Sun Championship. Eldoret is home of the IAAF High Altitude Training Center (for both Kenyan and international athletes) and, has, for years, produced some of the best distance runners in the world. Probably the most famous running product of the city is multiple Olympic medal winner, and former world record holder, Kipchoge Keino. Now retired from competition, he is the current president of the Kenyan Olympic Committee.
Simply known as “Gilbert” in and around Spartanburg (as in “Go Gilbert!”), Kemboi is easy to distinguish from the rest of “Team Eldoret.” He runs alone, as in waaay out in front.
“That was my plan,” he said after the Awards Ceremony. “I was actually going for the course record.”
Gilbert, who owns the USC-Upstate 8K record of 23:22.28—which he ran en route to finishing third at the Greater Louisville Invitational on October 2nd --came within five seconds of the Milliken record (23:54) at the October 16th Upstate Invitational (23:59.97).
“I just missed today,” he said of his 24:00.84, first place time. “I am not disappointed. Everything takes time.” He added, “Most of the time, I train here. It’s a good course.” However, “This course is hard. The weather is cold. That has an effect on us; it made it hard.”
I tried to outflank him and get a peek at the label on his racing singlet to see if he was wearing “Milliken Speedwear,” but he was too suspicious of my movements, and wouldn’t turn his back to me. To gain more time, I asked about any possible home course advantage, and he replied, “I don’t believe in a home course advantage. You’re just running. It has nothing to do with the course.”
Another Eldoret Gilbert, Gilbert Chemaoi—he finished 52nd in 26:50.69 for Florida Gulf Coast University—was happy to see his countryman at the meet. He also got between me and Gilbert #1’s label.
“We train together all the time in Eldoret. He is getting better than me, but I got injured during training.”
I asked him about his choice of schools, and his reply was, “Coming here, we went to different schools. (When I was looking for a school) I was looking for a school in the same conference, so I applied to FGCU for that reason.
“It was so nice seeing him. When he goes home, I sometimes send him to say ‘Hi’ to my family and friends.”
Incidentally, two of Belmont’s runners--sixth place finisher, senior Hillary Cheruiyot (25:08.22) and tenth place finisher, freshman Eric Kigen (25:22.22)—are also from Eldoret. East Tennessee State’s senior Ben Ronoh (fourth in 24:45.72) is from Sotik, Kenya.
MENS’ TEAM RESULTS – Sophomore Nabil Hamid, (Oromia Ethiopia), junior Jaakko Niemienen (Jyvaskyla, Finland), and senior Piotr Witzak (Warsaw, Poland) went two-three-seven (24:41.66, 24:44.22, and 25:11.88 respectively), creating a huge early lead for Kennesaw State. They finished with 55 points (2-3-7-16-27-35-39) to Belmont’s 68 (6-10-15-18-33-47). Third place went to USC Upstate (1-8-21-24-26-38-48; 80). 86 runners competed for the 11 teams.
FOOTNOTES
I want to extend an emphatic thank you to Milliken for their gracious hospitality in hosting this and other running events. Their park is a gem that is truly treasured by the running community. From the frequent and unsolicited compliments that I received during the course of my interviews, for many of the runners, it was considered the best course they had the pleasure to compete on.